# Soda vs. Powder?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 11, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129 "2003-06-11T15:59:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![parlo\_americano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b19c9b/32.png) [@parlo\_americano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parlo_americano)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129/1 "2003-06-11T15:59:10Z")

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What exactly are baking soda and baking powder? And why do I put them in so many baked goods but not any main dishes?

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**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129/2 "2003-06-11T16:03:46Z")

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[From the SD Mailbag.](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbakingsoda.html)

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129/3 "2003-06-11T16:11:53Z")

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Straight Dope Staff Report: [What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbakingsoda.html)

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129/4 "2003-06-11T16:13:34Z")

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That will teach me not to preview.

By the way, welcome to the SDMB, **parlo americano**. You can search for Cecil’s columns and Staff Reports written by Cecil’s minions at [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/)

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**Author:** ![parlo\_americano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b19c9b/32.png) [@parlo\_americano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parlo_americano)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129/5 "2003-06-11T16:27:03Z")

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Thanks. I’ll check there first next time I have a question.

So can baking powder be used in main dishes that are very acidic to reduce the sour taste?

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soda-vs-powder/181129/6 "2003-06-11T17:59:39Z")

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You can get away with adding a little bit, but too much will impart a yucky, semi-salty flavor.