Is yeast powder baking soda

Release time : 09/11/2025 09:30:04

Bread and rice are the most important staple foods in China, whether steamed buns or baked bread, they all need to be fermented. So, when fermenting them, should we use yeast powder or baking soda? Are they the same thing? What's the difference? Let's find out today.

Is Yeast Powder the same as Baking Soda? Someone asked at a supermarket if they could purchase yeast powder, and the staff gave them baking soda instead. This raised the question: Is yeast powder the same as baking soda? The answer is: No.

Yeast powder and baking soda are not the same substance. Although both have a role in making dough rise, there are significant differences between them and their respective applications.

Soda ash is an alkaline substance, while yeast powder is an acidic substance. Although soda ash has a fermentative effect, the amount of carbon dioxide released during reaction is relatively low, so its fermentative effect is limited. Moreover, due to its alkaline property, it often results in a strong alkali taste in steamed buns and bread.

Yeast flour is effective in starting the fermentation, but its drawback lies in the fact that it requires a certain temperature and humidity for effective cultivation. In cold weather, it takes longer to start or may not start at all.

Yeast powder is a kind of yeast that has not been decomposed, while yeast is a kind of beneficial microorganisms, when the certain conditions are met, they can breed in large numbers.

When yeast is mixed into the dough, it begins to grow and multiply.

Yeast can secrete various substances, decompose starch into amylose and then into maltose, and finally produce a large amount of carbon dioxide gas.

The carbon dioxide gas is distributed in the gluten of the dough, making it into a sponge-like, porous and loose body.

Yeast primarily aids in the preparation of bread and steamed buns, often complemented with a higher proportion of medium and high-gluten flours. Its primary function is to expand gluten strength and increase the volume of dough, distinct from baking soda.

If yeast powder is unavailable, baking soda can substitute for it in making steamed buns.

However, if yeast powder is available, it is definitely better to use it as it is a pure natural product. It is healthier and easier to absorb, and the fermentation effect is good. When making steamed buns at home, using yeast powder for fermentation is best.

How to make steamed buns with yeast powder: First, follow the instructions to add the yeast powder into a bowl and dissolve it with warm water.

Then, pour the flour into a bowl and knead it until it's slightly soft. Cover it with a damp cloth and place it in a warm spot to rest.

Once the dough has expanded to become fluffy and filled with a large number of small bubbles, it is ready to be made.

After making the steamed buns, cover them with a dry towel and let them rest for about 20 minutes.

Once the water boils, put it in a steamer and steam for 15 to 20 minutes over high heat.

The steamed buns made with yeast flour look incredibly full and have a good texture, huh?

Yeast Flour Dough Preparation: What Needs to be Considered Many homemakers nowadays prefer to use yeast flour for dough preparation. While it may seem simple, there is actually a lot of knowledge involved in this process.

Before the advent of yeast, people would use old dough to make bread. However, because old dough has been stored for a long time and contains some bacteria, the bread made with it is not good. Moreover, making bread with old dough takes much longer than necessary, resulting in unappetizing steamed buns.

The yeast powder used today is a nutritious organism that is rich in nutrients. After using it, it can improve the nutritional value of noodles for absorption and utilization by the human body.

Generally speaking, as long as you follow the correct steps to make your dough, there is no problem that needs to be paid attention to.

A positive aspect is that yeast powder has no side effects, and people of average health can safely consume it. However, it should be controlled in amount; an appropriate amount is sufficient. Vitamin B deficiency sufferers are particularly suitable for this.

*The medical content involved in this article is for reference only.

If you experience discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on a face-to-face consultation with a medical professional.