Whats the difference between baking powder and bicarbonate of soda?
And can they go stale? Food editor at Super Food Ideas, Kim Coverdale, says: These raising agents are not interchangeable. Bicarbonate of soda, or bicarb for short, is a pure raising agent. It must be mixed with an acid to activate, which causes the baked item to rise. It’s normally used in recipes containing an acidic ingredient, such as buttermilk, lemon juice, orange juice or chocolate. Baking powder contains a mild acid and mild alkali, which activate when combined with moisture and heat. Yes, they can go stale. Check the use-by date and store in an airtight container. I’ve heard that some potato varieties are better for mashing than others. Can you tell me which ones? Taste deputy editor Simon Wilkinson says: Most of the varieties in supermarkets – such as coliban, sebago and desiree – make a good mash. Try leaving the skins on when boiling – it should peel off easily when they are cool enough to handle. Or cut in large chunks which will mean less water gets into the mash. Some of
