Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Homemade baking powder

I just realized that many cooks do not know when a recipe needs baking POWDER or when it needs baking SODA to leaven a product.

Baking SODA can only be used in a recipe where there is an acid ingredient to work with it. So if your recipe calls for lemon juice, buttermilk, vinegar or other "acid" food, baking SODA will work to leaven it. For the soda to bubble, it needs an acid. No bubbles, no raising of the product.

If your recipe does NOT have anything "acid" in it, you HAVE to use baking POWDER. (unless you're using whipped egg whites folded into the batter), but then you wouldn't need anything else for leavening. Baking POWDER has both baking soda AND Cream of Tartar in it. The soda is a base, the Tartar an acid. Get them together and they foam. (Think baking soda and vinegar volcanoes from school.)

Homemade baking powder:
2 Tbs Baking SODA
1 Tbs Cream of Tartar
1 Tbs Corn Starch
Mix together and use as if it were commercial - 1 tsp for each tsp called for in recipe.
This one can sit on a shelf for a while.

Or
1/4 tsp Baking SODA
1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
Mix together and use right away.
Makes enough to equal 1 tsp commercial baking powder. (If you need 2 tsps, just double the recipe.)

8 comments:

MyBulletinBoard said...

I didn't know about the whipped egg white bit. Thanks. Now I know why some recipes (waffles, sometimes) specify that.

I've used your first recipe for homemade baking powder. It really works. I use it when I can't get bulk non-aluminum powder.

Hey, how did the challenge end up this past weekend?

Liz

Darlene said...

Great. I don't know when you looked at it last, so I don't know what you missed.

Sat Was Economic disaster. We've been out of work for two years. We can't afford gas to go anywhere and only have food storage to eat. Water cut off for nonpayment. Plan a nice meal and a fun family activity that doesn't cost anything

Sun started Sat late. Earthquake hit 2 days ago, you have no elect or water. Fridge stuff is spoiled. Freezer stuff is still good, but thawing. Can use stuff in freezer and in pantry.

Mon our Dr said we have High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Low sugar breakfast, low fat lunch, whole grains/legumes for dinner.

Tue was kids come in and have to have a dessert. You have no eggs or milk. After making the dessert, the challenge was ended and we could go to the store to restock.

debobrien said...

was that something that actually happened? or a scenario for learning survival?

debobrien said...

never mind I see now, there were several posts between the first and the last and didn't realize you were responding to the first

Darlene said...

It was a "shake down" of the things we (think) we have prepared in case of an emergency. Sort of a test. It was to let us know what worked for us and what didn't. It also let us know what areas we needed to work on and what areas were good and just needed to be kept up.

Darlene said...

lol, it's ok.
Thank you for stopping by.

Sheryl at Providence North said...

This is handy for when I run out! Thanks!

OK, so, for the self sufficient journey...how does one make baking soda and cream of tarter? Must go look that up too...

Darlene said...

I do believe cream of Tartar is from wine-making. And I believe baking soda aka sodium bicarbonate is harvested or mined.