Ammonium Bicarbonate In Food

Compared to baking soda ammonium bicarbonate will not affect the taste of flat baked goods.

Ammonium bicarbonate in food. Ammonium bicarbonate is used as a raising agent in flat baked goods such as cookies and crackers and other similar applications in the food industry. Bread and biscuits in which ammonium bicarbonate is used as a leavening agent in foods during which the ammonium bicarbonate decomposes and releases ammonia and carbon dioxide. Ammonium bicarbonate can also be used in the manufacturing of plastics and rubbers as a fire retardant. A leavening agent and the forerunner of today s baking powder and baking soda.

Ammonium bicarbonate is used as a raising agent in flat baked goods such as cookies and crackers and other similar applications in the food industry. In the fertilizer industry ammonium bicarbonate can be used as an inexpensive source of ammonia. Northern europeans still use it because it makes their springerle and gingerbread cookies very light and crisp. Originally made from the ground antlers of reindeer this is an ancestor of modern baking powder.

It was commonly used in the home before modern day baking powder was made available. Ammonium bicarbonate will also decompose during baking and release ammonia and carbon dioxide leavening gases without reacting with a leavening acid. Compared to baking soda ammonium bicarbonate will not affect the taste of flat baked goods. Vetter in encyclopedia of food sciences and nutrition second edition 2003.

Unlike sodium bicarbonate which leaves a residue of alkaline sodium carbonate ammonium bicarbonate leaves no residue when it decomposes by.