What is Baking Soda?

Even if you are using self-rising flour when you add buttermilk or sour milk you ad a tsp. of baking soda. By the way you can write or call the baking soda people on the box. I use Arm & Hammer brand and they will tell you its uses and the difference. Either way the big bag can be used in the kitchen like the box and in the pool and to clean etc. and to raise bread made with sour milk or make your skin smooth in a bath.

When I hear about using baking soda in the laundry are you talking about the washing soda in the laundry isle or just the plain baking soda.

Baking soda is bicarbonate of soda, and yes, we(USA) do have self-rising flour.

Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for your very informed posts. NOW I know what it all means. I have written the basics down, so I don't have to ask again. LOL.
Again, thank you all so much for your responses,
Leah from Australia.

The reason bicarb or 'baking soda' is confused with the powder, apart from the name, is that it's IN baking powder, with either potassium bitartrate (cream of tartar) or [double-acting] sodium acid pyrophosphate to act with it to make the bubbles without yeast.
Why anyone would want to put chemicals in their food like that is a wonder, but it's all linked to Liebig and artificial fertilizers that have so depleted the soil.
We're also just starting to realize that nutrients in food behave differently from the 'same' nutrients in pills. Wisdom sure takes a long time...
And by the way, 'washing soda' is sodium carbonate, just to add confusion.

Baking soda would be bicarbonate of soda.

It is bi-carbonate of soda. Baking powder is something else.

Self-rising flour is plain flour with baking POWDER and salt. Thanks.

Yes, we have self-rising flour but I think (may be wrong) that most bakers use plain flour and add things to make baked goods rise. At least I do.

My box says that Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate. Baking Powder is corn starch, bicarbonate of soda, and several other things.

I'm an American living in Brisbane.Baking soda is bicarb. Baking powder is baking powder. All purpose flour is plain flour and has nothing alse added. Self rising has other stuff in it, but you will rarely see it in American recipes.

Baking Soda is Bi-Carbonate of Soda

Hope that helps.

Hi Leah (that's my daughter's name, too). In the USA, baking soda is, indeed, Bicarbonate of Soda ... or Sodium Bicarbonate (both are the same).

Yes, baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Also, we do have self rising flour here in the U.S. You can also purchase all-purpose flour and add baking powder.