Advantages of using baking soda in preparing homemade food

Advantages of using baking soda in preparing homemade food

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is more than just a simple cleaning agent. This odorless white powder is known as a real magic in the kitchen with amazing uses in the culinary world.

It’s true that you may be more familiar with the cleaning power of baking soda for cleaning surfaces, but this valuable ingredient has countless benefits in cooking as well.

Advantages of using baking soda in preparing homemade food

In this article, we’ll take a journey into the fascinating world of science behind the magic of baking soda in cooking and explore its many benefits in detail:

1. The secret of puffing bread and sweets:

One of the most obvious manifestations of the power of baking soda is its irreplaceable role in puffing bread, cakes and pastries. But what is the secret of this magic?

Baking soda is an alkaline substance that performs a neutralization reaction when combined with an acid. In this reaction, carbon dioxide is released. Small bubbles of this gas are trapped in the dough and cause volume and puffiness of bread and sweets.

To activate baking soda, an acidic substance such as yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, or cream of tartar is needed. These acidic substances react with baking soda and provide the basis for the release of carbon dioxide bubbles and puffing of the dough.

Note: Remember that baking soda does not work on its own and must be combined with an acidic substance.

Proportion: For every 120 ml (½ cup) of flour, mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda into the dry ingredients.

Activation: To activate baking soda, you need an acidic substance such as yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, or cream of tartar. For every ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, add 1 tablespoon of these acidic ingredients.

2. Goodbye to hard and boring beans:

Baking soda is your savior in cooking legumes. If you’re tired of tough, time-consuming beans, peas, or lentils, baking soda is the secret to softening these nutritious treats faster.

Just add some baking soda to the water to soak the beans. This alkaline substance penetrates the surface of beans and weakens their cellular structure. As a result, the beans soften and cook quickly.

Proportion: For every 450 grams (1 pound) of beans, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the soaking water.

Soaking: Soak the beans with enough baking soda and water for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Cooking: After soaking, cook the beans according to the recipe.

Hints:

Only add baking soda to the soaking water, not to the cooking water.
Using baking soda to soak beans will reduce cooking time significantly.
To reduce swelling of the beans, you can change the water after soaking for 2 hours and soak again with baking soda.

3. The secret of delicious crispy meat:

In addition to bread and sweets, baking soda also shows off its magic in cooking meat. Adding some baking soda to the meat before cooking gives it a unique crispness and tenderness.

But how? By increasing the pH of the meat surface, baking soda makes the proteins in it mix better with water. As a result, the meat retains more moisture and eventually becomes crispy and delicious.

Proportion: For every 450 grams (1 pound) of meat, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the meat.

Marinade: Marinate the meat with baking soda, other ingredients of your choice and some oil for at least 30 minutes.

Cooking: Cook the meat according to the recipe.

Hints:

You can also add baking soda to ground meat to make hamburgers and kebabs more crispy and delicious.
For a stronger flavor, mix baking soda with some onion or garlic powder.
Be careful not to over marinate the meat as it may affect the flavor.

4. Unpleasant smell? Not anymore!

As a natural deodorant, baking soda is the enemy of unpleasant food smells.

Does the unpleasant smell of fish bother you? Add some baking soda to the marinated water to neutralize this unpleasant smell.

Do your vegetables smell unpleasant when cooking? Baking soda is the secret to preserving the pleasant flavor of vegetables during cooking. Simply add some baking soda to the vegetable cooking water to avoid this unpleasant smell.

Fish smell: For every 450 grams (1 pound) of fish, add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the water or add to the fish while cooking.

Vegetable odor: Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda for every 4 cups of vegetable cooking water.

Hints:

Add baking soda in small amounts and pay attention to the taste of the food.
Baking soda can be a substitute for vinegar in the preparation of sour sauce and give it a milder and more hearty taste.
To neutralize the smell of hard-boiled eggs, add some baking soda to the boiling water

5. Sour sauce without vinegar:

A creative alternative to vinegar in the preparation of sour sauce? Yes, baking soda does this very well.

By using baking soda, you can give your sour sauce the flavor you want and at the same time reduce the disadvantages of vinegar, such as acidity.

6. The electricity of dishes that shines:

The cleaning power of baking soda extends beyond kitchen surfaces. This amazing ingredient can help you in grilling dishes, especially burnt and greasy ones.

To do this, add some baking soda to your scotch or sponge and gently clean the dishes with it. Baking soda, with its mild abrasive properties, easily removes grease and grime and gives you shiny and clean dishes.

Add baking soda to your scotch or sponge and gently scrub the dishes with it.

Burnt dishes: For burnt dishes, mix baking soda with a little water to form a paste. Then the dough for 15 to 30

All in all, baking soda is a useful and widely used substance