Tired of your baked goods tasting like aluminum? Well, you have sodium aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminum phosphate in baking powder to thank for the metallic taste. So, what’s the solution? Simple: go for an aluminum-free baking powder.
Now, all baking powder brands are not free of aluminum, but the good thing is that many of them are. Here, I have curated a list of popular brands that offer aluminum-free baking powder and why you should buy one of those instead of regular baking powder.
Top Brands for Aluminum-Free Baking Powder
Baking Powder is a raising agent that aerates your cakes to make them light and fluffy. Regular baking powder manufacturers combine baking soda with some sort of acid – which in turn react to produce a fizzing effect. This makes your cream puffs and cupcakes rise.
Aluminum-free brands ditch both sodium aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminum phosphate acids, and use alternatives that prevent the metallic aftertaste.
Here, I have 9 baking powder brands that are free of aluminum.
1. 365 by Whole Foods Market
One of the most popular choices for aluminum-free baking powder is from 365 by Whole Foods Market. This comes as no surprise since Whole Foods has been a trailblazer in the American food industry when it comes to organic, healthy eating. Instead of aluminum-based acids, this brand uses monocalcium phosphate – which is another leavening acid. It reacts with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) which results in the rising effect you look for in cakes and other baked goods.
You can buy this aluminum-free baking powder easily from any Whole Foods Market or their website online. If you do not have the luck to find it there, you can order it via Amazon.
This product has good value for money. So, if you are looking for a leavening agent for your baking that is free of aluminum, then this is a trustworthy brand to go for.
2. Trader Joe’s Baking Powder
Another famous brand from where you can buy baking powder, without worrying about aluminum being present is Trader Joe’s. This particular product is double-acting baking powder from Trader Joe’s brand, thus it is available at all Trader Joe’s stores.
One downside is that if you are unable to find this in-store, Trader Joe’s does not have the ease to order online from their website. However, you can easily find their baking powder on several third-party websites.
This brand is a double-acting baking powder, which means that it will aerate batters and dough twice – once when it is mixed into the batter and again when the batter or dough is put in the oven (upon exposure to heat).
Based on customer reviews, the brand’s packaging varies to mention whether the product is aluminum-free. However, the ingredients list confirms that there is no aluminum used in the making of this baking powder, instead monocalcium phosphate is used. So, you can rest easy when buying this product.
3. McKenzie’s Baking Powder
McKenzie’s is an Australian-owned company that offers aluminum-free baking powder. Their product is also gluten-free. For the acid, they use Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and instead of the usual cornstarch, they use rice flour as their buffer ingredient.
A buffer like cornstarch (or in this case, rice flour) is used in baking powder to prevent premature reaction as it absorbs moisture. It also helps increase the shelf life of leavening powders.
However, when looking at the packaging for McKenzie’s baking powders, you will not find the aluminum-free label on the front. Regardless, when you inspect the ingredients at the back, you will find that it is indeed an aluminum-free baking powder.
4. Rumford Baking Powder
One of the oldest and most trusted brands for aluminum-free baking powders is Rumford. You can find this brand in most of the leading supermarket chains like Walmart and Kroger. Look for it in the baking aisle. If you find that it is out of stock in-store, you can check them on the grocery store’s websites online or log on to Amazon to order it from there.
Rumford is a very popular brand and is readily available. Therefore, you should not have difficulty finding it.
Rumford’s product is not only an aluminum-free baking powder, it is double-acting, non-GMO, and gluten-free. It contains monocalcium phosphate and baking soda, along with non-genetically modified cornstarch.
Rumford baking powder’s new packaging does not display the aluminum-free tag but all Rumford baking powders do not contain aluminum-based acids.
5. Gefen Baking Powder
Gefen baking powder is not only aluminum-free, but it also does contain any gluten or cornstarch. This is good news for people who have gluten sensitivity and for people with a corn allergy (it’s rare, it happens).
So, what does this brand use as a buffering ingredient in place of cornstarch? Gefen baking powder has three ingredients: potato starch, baking soda, and sodium pyrophosphate.
Used as a leavening acid, sodium pyrophosphate works well in double-acting powder because it reacts slowly in stages. According to the FDA, sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) is considered generally safe to consume; however, it is not “all-natural.”
This product has good value for money and easy availability in many of the top grocery stores across the country. You can also order it online via Amazon, in case you do not have Walmart or Kroger in your area.
6. Medley Hills Farm Double-Active Baking Powder Aluminum Free
Medley Hills Farm is a family-owned business based out of Ohio, who sell their own baking powder with no added aluminum. You can order the product directly from their website. In case of unavailability, the baking powder is readily available to order online on Amazon and several other third-party websites.
This product is a double-active baking powder, which includes baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, and cornstarch. The presence of two leavening acids allows this baking powder to react with the baking soda twice – once when you mix the wet and dry ingredients for the batter and next when the batter is in the oven and being heated.
One thing to be cautious of is that manufactured on the same line where other products containing soy, milk, sulfites, and wheat are produced.
7. Bob’s Red Mill Double-Active Baking Powder – No Added Aluminum
Another brand offering aluminum-free baking powder is Bob’s, Red Mill. This product is a double-acting baking powder, which is not only aluminum-free but also non-GMO. However, packaging may or may not display the non-GMO. However, this brand’s baking powder has been verified by the Non-GMO Project.
You can directly order this brand from their website or through Amazon.
Like several other aluminum-free baking powder brands, this product also has two leavening acids, baking soda, and cornstarch.
Numerous consumers vouch for the quality of this product. The price point is also a huge plus, making this particular brand an excellent choice when looking for an aluminum-free baking powder.
8. Goldbaum’s Aluminum-Free Baking Powder
Goldbaum’s is a natural food company from New Jersey, which specializes in gluten-free products. Thus, it is no surprise they offer an aluminum-free kosher-certified baking powder.
This brand contains potato starch, sodium pyrophosphate, baking soda, and calcium sulfate.
Instead of monocalcium phosphate, this brand uses naturally occurring calcium sulfate as a leavening agent along with sodium pyrophosphate. They also claim to have zero cholesterol and carbohydrates.
This product is available on many third-party natural food websites, as well as on Amazon.
9. Argo Double-Active Aluminum-Free Baking Powder
And finally, on this long list of reliable brands that offer aluminum-free baking powders is Argo.
This product is a double-acting aluminum-free baking powder that saves your baking goods from the metallic taste that is very obvious when you use a baking powder with aluminum.
This baking powder’s ingredients include sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, cornstarch, and monocalcium phosphate, thus it is double-acting.
Moreover, a huge plus side to buying this brand of baking powder is that it is easy to use. It comes with a flip-up lid, through which you can easily fit a measuring spoon. Not only that, but it also has a leveler so you know that you are only getting the amount exactly asked for in the recipe. After all, baking is all about the science of measurement.
Even though you can find this product in leading supermarkets, in case it is not in stock, you can also order it from Amazon.
What’s the Deal with Aluminum-Free Baking Powder and Why Should You Care?
Now that I have discussed numerous brands that offer aluminum-free baking powder, another thing to ponder upon is why do you even need to use the aluminum-free variety in the first place? Many bakers you will come across do not bother with using baking powder that is free of aluminum, then why should you?
Well, first and foremost, with aluminum-free baking powder, you will be improving the taste of your baked goods by leaps and bounds. If you have ever bitten into a cake and found it to be bitter or have a metallic aftertaste, that is thanks to the aluminum-based acids used to react with baking soda for the raising effect. This taste can be especially potent if you are baking shortcakes or biscuits – basically, anything that requires more baking powder to rise properly.
Another that you might face while using baking powder with aluminum is that it tends to leave a purplish hue, especially when overused. So not only will you be compromising on taste but also on appearance.
What does science say about this?
From a health perspective, some experts believe that excessive exposure to aluminum can be dangerous for you. However, it is highly unlikely that you will consume enough aluminum while using baking powder to face any potential health threat. Moreover, the FDA has declared sodium aluminum phosphate (an aluminum-based leavening acid) safe to consume.
Regardless, it can cause baked goods to taste like metal. Therefore, if you have an alternative option that can result in just as fluffy and aerated cakes, without them tasting like aluminum, then, why not go for it?
The choice, however, is totally yours.
How to Tell If the Baking Powder You Are Buying Has Aluminum In It?
While researching for the most reliable aluminum-free baking powder brands, one consumer complaint that I came across the most was that even though the brand claimed that the baking powder was aluminum-free, there was no such label on the packaging.
Now if you are someone who has bought a certain baking powder brand only for the “aluminum-free” label to be missing, do not worry. Even if the package does not state that the baking powder is free of aluminum anywhere, you can always check the ingredients at the back.
Baking powder ingredients constitute baking soda, a buffering ingredient, and some sort of leavening acid. For brands that contain aluminum, the acids used are either sodium aluminum sulfate or sodium aluminum phosphate. if you do not see these “acidic salt” mentioned in the ingredients list, your baking powder does not contain aluminum, regardless of whether it is stated on the packaging or not.
Therefore, whenever in doubt, look through the ingredients list to ensure you are buying what you are paying for,
Why Do So Many Baking Powders Have Aluminum?
Another valid question when it comes to any aluminum-based baking powder is that despite the metallic aftertaste, why do so many brands still use it?
The reason is the ease of use. When you use baking powder with aluminum in any baked goods, it activates once it is put in the oven and exposed to heat. Thus, you get added time to linger about, without the fear of the aeration fizzling out before the batter has even hit the oven.
On the other hand, leisure is one luxury you will not have when using aluminum-free baking powder. Aluminum-free baking powder reacts with liquid rather than heat (unless they are also double-acting). The problem is that this makes them fast-acting and if you take too much time in mixing the batter and placing it in the oven, the baked good might not rise as well.
However, you can prevent that by adding the baking powder right at the end, when you are ready to place it in the oven. So, even if it’s a risk, it’s a small one.
Single-Acting Baking Powder Vs. Double-Acting Baking Powder
If you have gone through the list, you may have noticed that most aluminum-free baking powders are double-acting. Even though I have briefly explained what double-acting baking powder is, let’s look at it in a little detail.
In any recipe, double-acting baking powder can be replaced by single-acting baking powder. Even though they produce the same amount of gas, you need to know the difference in their chemical composition to use them properly.
Single-acting baking powder reacts with your batter as soon as you add it, so if you overmix the batter or wait too long to place it in the oven, the result might be unrisen flat goods.
However, if your aluminum-free baking powder is double-acting, then, it will cause some aeration while mixing the batter, but most of the bubbles will be created upon exposure to heat. Thus, if you are prone to making errors (like forgetting to preheat the oven, we’ve all been there), or just want some more leeway when baking, then this type of baking powder is your best bet.
Since double-acting baking powders are basically foolproof, most of the brands used by home-based bakers are of this kind. Single-acting baking powder is only used for commercial use. Or, you can make your own homemade baking powder using a simple recipe- that would be single-acting as well.
Here’s How You Can Make Your Own Aluminum-Free Homemade Baking Powder
I have gone on and on about why should you use aluminum-free baking powder and what are the most reliable brands to buy it from, but what if you cannot
If you have been raking through your grocery store’s racks for aluminum-free baking powder to no use, and haven’t had any success with online delivery, do not panic. There is a rather simple solution for that – you can make your very own homemade baking powder, that too without a trace of aluminum.
An aluminum-free homemade baking powder is not only simple to whip up, but it is also pocket-friendly and you do not have to taste any metal in those cupcakes you have been craving – a win-win-win situation if there was ever one.
So, how do you do it?
The basic formula is to mix baking soda with something acidic so that it reacts to release carbon dioxide, causing the batter to rise.
The acidic compound can be anything from lemon juice to vinegar but assuming you want to store your homemade baking powder, you should opt for cream of tartar.
For every one part of baking soda, use two parts of cream of tartar. In other words, for three tablespoons of baking powder, you need one and two tablespoons of baking soda and cream of tartar respectively.
Now, you may worry that moisture may render your homemade baking powder useless. To improve its stability and shelf life, you can add some sort of buffers like cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
Adding the same amount of buffer as the baking soda will help you store your homemade baking powder for a longer time.
The recipe, including a buffer, should look something like this: one part of corn starch (or arrowroot powder, depending on the availability) + one part baking soda and two parts of cream of tartar.
A good tip is to write the “manufacturing” date on the jar of your homemade baking powder. It should be good for at least over a week.
You can check if your aluminum-free homemade baking powder is still good by adding some warm water to a tablespoon. If the concoction foams up, it is still active.
What Happens If You Add Too Much Baking Powder to a Recipe?
I admit that I have done it. In fact, at some point, we all have done it. When baking, especially if you have not had much rising action using a certain recipe, it is almost too tempting to not tweak the baking powder ratio. What could possibly happen? Well, in simple words, a lot.
It is prudent that you stick with the amount of baking powder mentioned in the recipe. Using too much baking powder can not only make the batter bitter, but it can also cause excessive rising action, which can cause your baked goods to collapse later.
However, if you have committed the ultimate sin, you can rectify it with a few easy fixes.
You can try to remove the excess if you haven’t mixed in the dry and wet ingredients. Another fix could be increasing the quantity of all the ingredients respectively.
In case you cannot use these fixes, you might just have to start over.
Conclusion
And, there you have it – your ultimate guide to aluminum-free baking powder and why you should use it. I hope that you found this article informative. I gave you the names of the brands that offer aluminum-free baking powders and alternatives that you can use if you cannot get them.
In a nutshell, aluminum-free baking powder is your safest bet to tasty baked treats without any horrible purplish hue or metallic aftertaste.
Even though there is still much debate on if you should use aluminum-based food products, there is no harm in switching them for aluminum-free baking powder for the simple reason that the result will taste much better.
Most of the options on the list are not only free of aluminum but also double-acting, so you have the added cushioning that allows for foolproof baking. Moreover, many of the options I have given you are non-GMO and gluten-free, so you can safely bake some of your favorite treats.
Thus, if you plan on switching to aluminum-free baking powder, this article is all you need to read.