Thanks for coming, today’s guest poster is Lori from A Bright and Beautiful Life, she shows us how to make our own baking powder! Here’s Lori:
You may ask, “why make your own baking powder?” I would have asked the same question a year or two ago.
One day, back then, while I was baking I happened to look at the ingredients on my container of baking powder and noticed that it contained aluminum sulfate in addition to cornstarch and baking soda. Knowing that metals as additives are not good for the body, I started doing some research and this is what I learned: The human body is able to excrete aluminum in it’s natural form but aluminum, like mercury, as an additive is toxic to the body, specifically the brain. So with a bit more research I learned that I can make my own baking powder and that the aluminum isn’t necessary.
A small adjustment is necessary so it’s good to understand the properties of the ingredients and how they work.
Here’s a short summary of baking powder. Baking soda is an alkaline substance and cream of tartar is an acidic substance, and they react together to make carbon dioxide gas bubbles {leavening} when combined with a liquid. So when baking powder is added to a liquid it starts the leavening process. If the item to be baked isn’t placed in the oven fairly soon {usually within one hour} after mixing it will lose it’s ability to leaven properly because too much of the leavening action took place outside the oven. In the early 1900s “they” started adding aluminum sulfate to the baking powder because when heated the aluminum will react with the baking soda and cream of tartar and start another leavening process {I guess to make it fail-proof for cooks} ~ which is why it’s called “double-acting” baking powder. Homemade baking powder is “single-acting” because it will only have one leavening action.
It’s hard to avoid all aluminum, but this is a small thing I can do to help keep it out of my body and those of my family. It is possible to
Hi there. I’m Lori from A Bright and Beautiful Life. Like most women, my life revolves around my amazing hubby and children, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love to cook, craft, read, and organize. And I love everything that’s beautiful. You, too? Drop by anytime to see my projects, recipes, and book reviews at A Bright and Beautiful Life.
You can also find Lori here:
Thanks so much to Lori for taking the time to guest post with us today! If you would like to guest post like Lori please see my guest post page, thanks for reading!
Comments & Reviews
Carrie says
No way! I had no idea about the aluminum (had never peeked) and that I could make it. Thanks!!
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks for reading!
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says
Dana,
This is a great way to save money too. I pinned it.
Annamaria