What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?

What's the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Short answer: acid. But it can make a big difference for baked goods, so let's explain. Baking soda has only one ingredient: sodium bicarbonate. read more

Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents, which means they are added to baked goods before cooking to produce carbon dioxide and cause them to rise. Baking powder contains baking soda, but the two substances are used under different conditions. read more

Baking powder on the other hand, is actually a combination of baking soda plus another acid, in the presence of an inert stabilizer (a fancy term for an inactive ingredient that keeps the mixture from reacting), which is often a bit of cornstarch. read more

The difference between baking soda and baking powder Baking soda and baking powder are both leaveners used in baking, but they are chemically different. The easiest way to explain it is that baking soda is a base—it’s alkaline. read more