Aluminum free baking powder is one of the easiest low carb pantry staple you can DIY. A mix of two ingredients and you are home and dry.
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What is Aluminum free Baking Powder?
First off, we have to know what baking powder is before delving into what aluminum free baking powder is. Baking powder is a leavening agent used in baked goods. For some reason most baking powders used to have traces of aluminum in them.
When aluminum started to surface as a suspected causative factor to many diseases including cancer, people began to rethink the use of many things made with aluminum including pots and pans.
That's about when aluminum free baking powder became a thing. Though you would need to ingest loads and loads of baking powder with aluminum traces in them for you to reach the level of aluminum that can be harmful to the body, it doesn't harm you to switch to Aluminum free baking powder. Besides, it is said to make better baked goods.
Have you ever tasted any baked good that had a metallic taste? That's probably aluminum in the baking powder that is not aluminum free.
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What is the difference between Baking Powder and Baking Soda?
Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. When combined with moisture and an acidic environment like chocolate, yogurt, buttermilk the chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide bubbles which expand in oven temperatures. This is what causes baked goods to rise.
Baking Powder contains baking soda and an acidifying agent ( cream of tartar ) and a drying agent ( starch usually corn starch ) Simply put it has all it needs to make baked goods rise in one place ( alkaline- baking soda and acid- cream of tartar in one place making it a complete leavening agent on its own)
How to make Aluminum Free Baking Powder.
Below is an Easy Formula to make your own baking powder
1 Part Baking Soda + 2 Parts Cream of Tartar = Baking Powder
In other words,
1 tablespoon Baking Soda + 2 Tbsps Cream of Tartar = 3 Tbsps Baking Powder
If aluminum free baking powder isn't readily available in your area, you can easily make yours because it's so easy to make using the formula above.
Adding cornstarch or arrowroot powder helps improve the shelf life because it keeps the baking powder dry.
Here is the formula if using cornstarch or arrowroot powder
1 Part Baking Soda + 1 Part Arrowroot powder/ Cornstarch + 2 Parts Cream of Tartar = Homemade Baking Powder
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FAQs on Homemade Aluminum Free Baking Powder.
Q. Can I use baking soda and baking powder interchangeably in a recipe?
A. Not exactly. You can use baking Powder in place of baking soda in a recipe that calls for baking soda but you may need to use more baking powder for it to be effective.
However You cannot use baking soda in place of baking powder in a recipe that calls for baking powder because as mentioned in the post baking soda in its self needs an acid to create the chemical reaction that is required to make baked goods rise.
Q. What is the difference between Double acting and single acting baking powder?
A. Single acting baking Powder begins it's chemical reaction and releases carbon dioxide bubbles as soon as it comes in contact with moisture in the batter. Therefore it's important to put the batter in the oven as soon as possible.
Double acting baking powder works in two phases by creating the carbon dioxide bubbles twice. The first phase is is just like single acting baking powder where it begins reacting as soon as it comes in contact with the batter. The second phase is when the batter is exposed to heat in the oven.
Q. Where can I buy cream of Tartar?
A. In your favorite grocery store or online.
Q. Is baking powder Gluten Free
A. Most baking powders are gluten free. Commercial baking powders contain corn starch which is gluten free. This homemade aluminum free baking powder is definitely gluten free.
Q. How to store this homemade aluminum free baking powder
A. In order not to lose its potency, I would suggest you make a small batch at a time since you won't be adding cornstarch which would help absorb moisture and keep it dry. I would recommend you store in a clean glass jar. DO NOT store in the refrigerator. The condensation formed would make the baking powder lose its potency since it would react with the moisture before getting into the batter.
Q. I bake a lot and don't have time to make mine in small batches. Can I get aluminum free baking powder in stores.
A. Yes you can. Some stores carry it especially the Argo brand. But if your grocery store doesn't carry them you can order online
Below are some other aluminum free brands
- For non frequent bakers this would be the perfect size for you.
Q. Can this recipe be doubled?
A. Yes it can be doubled or even tripled
Q. How can I increase the shelf life of this homemade baking powder?
A. Adding corn starch or arrow root powder if paleo can improve the shelf life because the starch absorbs moisture and keeps the baking powder dry which extends the shelf life.
Have more questions? Drop them in the comment section below and I would gladly answer them
Further reading
https://www.thoughtco.com/baking-soda-and-baking-powder-difference-602090
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Homemade Aluminum Free Baking Powder
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Baking Soda
- 1 tablespoon Non GMO Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder Optional
- 2 tablespoon Cream of Tartar
Instructions
- Mix everything together in a clean dry bowl
- Store in an airtight dry container.
Can I use no sodium baking soda to make this recipe? I've been buying no sodium baking powder but it has gotten very expensive. I've been using EnerG brand of both baking powder and baking soda.
Hi Julie,
Yes you can. I haven’t tried it however I see no reason why it won’t work. Hope that helps.