baking powder and baking soda - what's the difference?

[mckenzie]

I've just downloaded a recipe to make some banana oat muffins and it's from an American website and says to use 2 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp baking soda. I thought they were the same thing
Are they not?

[chocoluvva]

Baking soda is bicarbonate of soda which won't on its own help your baking to rise.

Baking powder is bicarbonate of soda + cream of tartar and is used as a raising agent.

Self-raising flour would probably do if you don't have B.P.

[mckenzie]

Thanks very much choc

[CaseyShraeger]

You can use baking soda on its own if your mixture is quite acidic -- so if your mixture contains a fair bit of (for example) yogurt, chocolate, buttermilk or honey you often won't need baking powder and can just use baking soda. But (unless you're making things up from scratch) that will be stated in the recipe.

[mckenzie]

It's banana oat muffins. The recipe asks for all purpose flour bt maybe that's an American thing. I have baking powder but no baking soda although I do have bicarbonate of soda so will I use that instead f the baking soda?

[AppleOgies]

Americans call bicarbonate of soda - baking soda, they are one and the same thing.

[mckenzie]

Thank you Apples