Unlocking the Truth About Baking Soda

Before you instinctively reach for that ‘orange box’ of baking soda, it's crucial to understand what’s in it.

Short & Sweet:

• Baking soda does not contain aluminum. Baking powder can contain traces of aluminum. I only buy pure, unadulterated baking soda and I only use cream of tartar (rather than baking powder).

• That orange box brand use a chemical process which turns trona ore into soda ash and then reacts carbon dioxide with the soda ash to produce baking soda. This isn’t necessarily bad, but cooking and baking with it is not recommended. Personally, I only use pure, unadulterated bags of baking soda in my home.

• Brands like Bob’s Red Mill and Prescribed for Life offer sodium bicarbonate which has come directly from the ground, in its natural state.

What is Baking Soda?

Baking soda, in its purest natural form, is a mineral known as nahcolite, naturally occurring in evaporated lake beds. Its historical use spans ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, who used it for mummification, medicinal purposes, personal hygiene, and more.

Natural vs. Chemical:

While baking soda is a natural product, variations exist. About a quarter of the world's supply pf baking soda undergoes chemical reactions for its production. Most notably, Green River, Wyoming serves as a major hub for chemically created baking soda which involves refining trona ore into soda ash.

Refining baking soda is the end result of what’s packaged in those orange boxes. This chemical creation process stands in contrast to the direct extraction of natural baking soda from the earth.

Marketing Tactics & Aluminum:

Organic baking soda does not exist. Labels claiming organic status are simply marketing tactics. Paul Pitchford, author of “Healing with Whole Foods” is against buying any household products stored in tins, cans, or hard cardboard as all of these containers are made with aluminum (including Tetra-packs).

There is no aluminum in baking soda. All baking soda is naturally aluminum free.

Anti-caking agents, coloring agents, emulsifiers, baking powder (but NOT baking soda), and sometimes soy-based infant formula use aluminum.

Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder:

Baking soda, activated upon contact with liquid, pairs well with acidic ingredients, causing the desired rise in baked goods. Baking powder is comprised of sodium bicarbonate and an acidic agent which offers a complete leavening effect, with variations in single-acting and double-acting forms. This means you don’t have to add extra acid to your recipes to get the leavening action. The acidifying agents can come in the form of cream of tartar or an aluminum-based acid.

To be clear, aluminum can be hiding in baking powder (but NOT baking soda). For safety, I only bake with cream of tartar (in a glass bottle) rather than baking powder.

There is also zero aluminum in cream of tartar. Cream of tartar is officially called potassium hydrogen tartrate or potassium bitartrate and it is not made with aluminum (unlike the tins below as the tin is specifically made with aluminum).

Natural Baking Soda:

Fortunately, sources offering 100% pure natural baking soda do exist. Brands like Frontier and Bob's Red Mill, mining in Colorado directly from the earth in its nahcolite state, epitomize the natural essence of sodium bicarbonate.

Is Baking Soda the Same as Washing Soda?

No. While baking soda can be used interchangeably with baking powder in recipes with only a flat cake as a result, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is chemically much different and should be used in washing, cleaning and household uses but not in food or baking.

The difference between baking and washing sodas is water and carbon dioxide.

Chemically, sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3 (1 sodium, 1 hydrogen, one carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules) while washing soda’s chemical makeup is Na2CO3 (2 sodium, 1 carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules). Both are alkalais, meaning the react with acids, and both are commonly used to absorb odors.

The reason washing soda is not used in baking and cooking is because it often reacts too strongly with the acid in the recipe which changes the taste or texture dramatically.

This chemical difference means that washing soda is stronger, making it excellent for things like stain treating, homemade laundry detergent and all purpose cleaner.

Negative Reactions to Baking Soda:

While baking soda is generally considered safe, various cases who developed metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte imbalances due to baking soda overdose have been documented. A review indicated that the most common reasons for bicarbonate exposure were antacid misuse, urinary drug testing alterations, treatment of urinary tract infections and as a means for body detoxification. A case of misuse as a remedy for gout was also identified. Link to pubmed article.

Bottom Line:

• Baking soda does not contain traces aluminum. Baking powder can contain traces of aluminum. I only buy pure, unadulterated baking soda and I only use cream of tartar (rather than baking powder).

• That orange box brand (and other similar brands) use a chemical process that turns trona ore into soda ash and then reacts carbon dioxide with the soda ash to produce baking soda. This is not necessarily bad, but I wouldn’t use it for cooking or baking. I would only use the orange box brand for cleaning… But personally, I still use unadulterated bags of baking soda in my home.

• Brands like Bob’s Red Mill and Prescribed for Life procure their sodium bicarbonate directly from the ground, in its natural state.