Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate.It is alkaline, which means it has a pH above the neutral 7 and reacts with acidic ingredients. Think about the old baking soda-and-vinegar school experiment.

Baking soda can also help take the rough edge off of an extremely acidic ingredient, like tart citrus juice. Although sugar also balances the puckering flavor, too much makes the final product cloying ...

Because baking soda needs an acid with which to react and baking powder already contains it, they can’t be used in place of each other, at least not without making other adjustments to the recipe.

Good for fresh produce Baking soda comes to the rescue when it comes to cleaning fruits and vegetables. A quick soak in a solution of water and baking soda helps remove dirt, pesticides, and wax ...