double-acting baking powder
Quick Summary
Double-acting baking powder is a leavening agent commonly used in baking. It is a mixture of a base (like bicarbonate), a weak acid, and diluents such as starch. This combination produces carbon dioxide gas and harmless salts when reacting.
The "double-acting" nature means it releases some carbon dioxide during mixing and then again when heated during baking. This two-stage release is efficient, preventing excessive loss of leavening gas before baking, which can happen with single-acting powders.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- baking powder
…baking powders are of the double-acting type, giving off a small amount of available carbon dioxide during the mixing and makeup stages, then remaining relatively inert until baking raises the batter temperature. This type of action eliminates excessive loss of leavening gas, which may occur in batter left in an…
Read More…baking powders are of the double-acting type, giving off a small amount of available carbon dioxide during the mixing and makeup stages, then remaining relatively inert until baking raises the batter temperature. This type of action eliminates excessive loss of leavening gas, which may occur in batter left in an…
Read More 
leavening agentChemical leavening agentsDouble-acting baking powder, the most widely used type, contains sodium aluminum sulfate and calcium acid phosphate and releases a small amount of gas when mixed and the balance when heated.
Read MoreDouble-acting baking powder, the most widely used type, contains sodium aluminum sulfate and calcium acid phosphate and releases a small amount of gas when mixed and the balance when heated.
Read More
