25-minute experiment

Baking soda vs baking powder

Q: What does the baking soda vs baking powder experiment test?

It tests one variable: leavener. The idea is that batter with baking powder rises on its own, and batter with only baking soda stays flat and tastes soapy.

Which one raises the batter?

The idea

Batter with baking powder rises on its own, and batter with only baking soda stays flat and tastes soapy.

The one thing you change: Leavener

You need

1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
A pan

Steps

Make two small batters from half the flour, milk and egg each.
Add baking powder to one and baking soda to the other.
Cook a pancake from each until the middle is set, then compare height and taste. Don't taste raw batter, and skip this one if anyone is allergic to egg, milk or wheat.

What you should find

The powder pancake is puffy and mild. The soda pancake is flat, darker and tastes soapy and metallic.

From the app

Cook this with Chef Fizz

Step-by-step mode with timers, in the free app.

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The science behind it

Baking soda vs baking powder

Baking soda is a base. It makes gas only when it meets an acid such as buttermilk, yogurt, lemon juice, brown sugar or natural cocoa, and that gas lifts…

Read the explainer

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