Uses for Baking Soda You May Not Know

 We all know that baking soda is used for cleaning, health & hygiene, etc.  There are many, many uses.

It is also very useful when cooking - in ways that not many people may know.

This is how I buy it!  I use it for so many things.  I keep a sealed container in the cabinet (and date it) for kitchen use, have a container in the bathroom, a container in the frig and one in the freezer, and a container under the sink.

So very useful!

Here are a few ideas many don't realize.  I hope you find something you can use.

• A pinch added to water when soaking dry beans - helps remove gassiness.
• Add 1 tsp. baking soda to the cooking water for rice to improve fluffiness
• Omelets are fluffier if you add 1/2 tsp. baking soda to about every 3 eggs
• If your gravy separates, add a pinch of baking soda to help get the oils and fats to stick back together
• Tenderize tough meat by rubbing it with a little baking soda.  Let it stand for a few hours and then rinse and cook
• Rubbing b. soda into the fat surrounding pork chops makes them fry crispier
• To remove the fishy taste of fresh fish - soak raw fish for an hour or so in 2 Tbsp. baking soda to 1 quart of water.  Rinse and cook
• Add a pinch of b. soda to buttermilk waffles/pancakes to make them fluffier and lighter.
• Soften the strong taste of wild game by soaking in baking soda and water over night.  Rinse, dry and cook
• TEST your acidic level of tomatoes.  Dip a damp spoon into baking soda, then stir in tomatoes.  Bubbling means a high acidity level
• Cut the acid in tomato sauce or chili by adding a pinch of baking soda
• Eliminate the gas effect of baked beans by adding a dash of baking soda while cooking
• Cook cauliflower in water with 1 tsp, soda added.  Keeps it white and reduces odor
• If you have a boil water order - it does change the taste.  Soften the taste by adding 1 Tbsp. soda to a gallon of water
• A pinch in a cup of coffee takes away bitterness
• Add 1/4 tsp. of soda to 8 oz. of OJ, grapefruit juice or real lemonade and stir.  It will fizz (like soda pop), but reduces acidic levels.
• Add a pinch of soda to potatoes while mashing - it makes them fluffy
• Tart berries can be sweetened by adding a 1/2 tsp. soda before adding sugar.  You will use less sugar when making pies and cobblers
• Sprinkle baking soda on fresh pineapple to improve the flavor - especially if it is not quite ripe
• Add about a teaspoon of soda when making fruitcake to make the color of the cake darker and to soften the fruit a bit

I like to mix some baking soda with vinegar water to clean the waxy build-up on fruits and veggies purchased at the store.

Most people think of baking soda as a leavening agent and it is sooooooo much more.  It is probably the one item we can purchase that has the most uses.

It can sweeten fruit, remove acid, tenderize meat and fix many cooking mishaps.  It can make a good cook an even better cook!!!

I hope this helps and gives you some new ideas to try.

Baking soda - it isn't just for baking any more!!!!!!!!