Baking Q - Sour Baked Goods

[bears]

I keep on getting a sour, metallic taste in baked goods (sweet breads, pancakes, cornbread, but not cookies or yeast breads). I'm assuming this is related to baking powder, but I switched brands and I'm still having issues. I've been mixing really well (with a whisk) and I'm still getting some pockets of intense sourness. 

Could this be something else?  Could it be the baking soda? Something else entirely?

[shauni27]

I have had this with baking soda; it is the worst.

[mala]

Are you sure you're not overmeasuring your baking soda? Maybe check your measuring spoons, esp if they're metal and they bent.

[Doggy Mommy]

When I had this happen to me, it turned out I had been using baking soda instead of baking powder.

[katfco]

Check your ingredients, but also check your utensils and bowls

[tacokick]

Does everyone taste this or just you?


A friend had this issue after Covid, anything with baking power or soda tasted off to her but most things were fine. It was like their favor became heightened to her.

I think some people are more sensitive to the baking powder taste than others (like cilantro or beets) in general and that can change overtime.

Also this is silly but are you using the right measuring spoon? The other day I realized I’d be using an 1 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon instead of a 1 teaspoon. It was part of a new set and the company had switched the colors and I didn’t notice.

[bears]

Jan 10, 2023 16:35:00 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Does everyone taste this or just you?


A friend had this issue after Covid, anything with baking power or soda tasted off to her but most things were fine. It was like their favor became heightened to her.

I think some people are more sensitive to the baking powder taste than others (like cilantro or beets) in general and that can change overtime.

Also this is silly but are you using the right measuring spoon? The other day I realized I’d be using an 1 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon instead of a 1 teaspoon. It was part of a new set and the company had switched the colors and I didn’t notice.

It's not the measuring spoons, I've had them for 15 years.

The kids taste it also... Not sure if my husband has (he may be too polite to mention it).

It's happened a few times, and it's concentrated in a few spots. So I'll take a few bites and it's fine, then a super sour bite.

[tacokick]

Jan 10, 2023 16:52:43 GMT -5 bears said:

Jan 10, 2023 16:35:00 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Does everyone taste this or just you?


A friend had this issue after Covid, anything with baking power or soda tasted off to her but most things were fine. It was like their favor became heightened to her.

I think some people are more sensitive to the baking powder taste than others (like cilantro or beets) in general and that can change overtime.

Also this is silly but are you using the right measuring spoon? The other day I realized I’d be using an 1 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon instead of a 1 teaspoon. It was part of a new set and the company had switched the colors and I didn’t notice.

It's not the measuring spoons, I've had them for 15 years.

The kids taste it also... Not sure if my husband has (he may be too polite to mention it).

It's happened a few times, and it's concentrated in a few spots. So I'll take a few bites and it's fine, then a super sour bite.

Hmm. The pockets do make it sound like a mixing problem but if you are whisking really well, that should eliminate that.

Have you tried sifting or whisking it though a sieve? Maybe it’s clumps too small to see?

[pierogigirl]

Can you try sifting it through a small mesh sieve in case there are small lumps?

I think baking soda is activated with acid. If there is milk in the recipe, try switching some of it to buttermilk or sour cream (both also make baked good extra moist) or a small amount of lemon juice (not enough to change the flavor, but enough to activate the baking soda).

[MixedBerryJam]

Jan 10, 2023 16:59:45 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Jan 10, 2023 16:52:43 GMT -5 bears said:

It's not the measuring spoons, I've had them for 15 years.

The kids taste it also... Not sure if my husband has (he may be too polite to mention it).

It's happened a few times, and it's concentrated in a few spots. So I'll take a few bites and it's fine, then a super sour bite.

Hmm. The pockets do make it sound like a mixing problem but if you are whisking really well, that should eliminate that.

Have you tried sifting or whisking it though a sieve? Maybe it’s clumps too small to see?

I was going to suggest this, esp with quick bread where you want to minimize mixing.  I've bitten into a lump of one or the other and learned to sift real good! 

[sonrisa]

Jan 10, 2023 14:04:24 GMT -5 bears said:

 I've been mixing really well (with a whisk)

Are you mixing really well into the batter itself? Or mixing it in with the dry ingredients before you add them to the wet ones? Even if the recipe doesn't call for it, you'll want your baking soda and salt mixed into the flour first - and with something that would break up any small lumps. (I usually us a spoon to press and break up any lumps).