What is “single acting” baking powder as opposed to “double acting” baking powder?
Monica, Union, OH Double acting baking powder is the more popular and easier to find of these two varieties because it releases some of its gases when combined with wet ingredients and the rest of its gases when exposed to the heat of the oven. This means that it is less tricky for the cook to work with and if you get your goods in the oven a few minutes after you have mixed them you haven’t lost your shot at the leavening action of the baking powder Single acting baking powder (very hard to find, by the way) release all of their gases as soon as they are moistened. Thus the cook has to be speedy and immediately, after the baking powder has been blended in, get the goods in the oven or they won’t rise as much.
