Topic: YOU SAY BAKING SODA WE SAY BICARBONATE OF SODA.....I think???

[Duke Ellington]

Is American *baking soda*the same as UK *bicarbonate of soda*?  I get a little confused when using American recipes.

Duke

[RenishawPhil]

No to.make baking soda you need to add cream of tata to bicarbonate

[lottie lou]

Cream of Tartar + bicarbonate of soda = baking powder

[Duke Ellington]

hang on...... My American recipe uses baking soda. 
Is baking soda the same as UK bicarbonate of soda?
So should I use Baking Powder?

[lottie lou]

Baking powder (British) is a raising agent. 

[goodlife]

Yes..baking soda is same ...or that's what I've always used and its worked fine.

[goodlife]

http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/food_glossary/bicarbonate_of_soda.html 

[Duke Ellington]

Aaaaaaaah thanks Goodlife

[Jeannine]

Duke, it is definatley the same thing. Baking soda over here and Bicarb over there. Just another of the crazy cooking puzzles. Go ahead and interchange.

XX Jeannine

[Melbourne12]

Duke, it is definatley the same thing. Baking soda over here and Bicarb over there. Just another of the crazy cooking puzzles. Go ahead and interchange.

XX Jeannine

^^^ As Jeannine says.  Usually used by itself only in recipes that have some acid ingredient to release the CO2 gas.  Both British English and US English say "baking powder" to refer to the mixture of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar,