Can you use baking soda instead of lye?

Many home recipes replace the lye with baking soda, but the results taste like breadsticks, not pretzels. Baked soda does a much better job of approximating true lye-dipped pretzels.

How does lye compare to baking soda?

Lye is a stronger alkaline than baking soda or sodium bicarbonate, with a pH reading ranging from around 13 to 14. Its base of sodium hydroxide is created commercially by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution, as well as reacting calcium hydroxide with sodium carbonate, according to the FDA.

Is lye the same as soda?

Key Takeaways: Caustic Soda Caustic soda is one of the common names for sodium hydroxide (NaOH). It is also known as lye, although lye may refer to either potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. Pure caustic soda is sold for making candles or soap. Impure caustic soda is found in drain cleaner.

What does lye do in baking?

How lye is used in baking. Lye is primarily used to make pretzels, and it’s the reason for their unmistakable shiny, mahogany color. To prepare, shaped pretzels are dipped in a lye bath, then baked in the oven. This method can also be used with rolls or buns.

What is lye used for in gardening?

Lye is a strongly alkaline so it could be used to reduce the acidity of the soil instead of using the usual agricultural limestone. However, lye is so strong that you run the danger of killing plants or making an area so alkaline that plants don’t want to grow there or irritating your skin.

Is there a difference in lye?

As far as I know, there is no difference, I have always used drain cleaner lye for my soap making. when making soap you should use food grade lye. Because of the ingredients that is use to make the lye is only safe for humans.

What is lye water used for in cooking?

Uses. Lye water is an ingredient used in Asian and African cooking for cooking meat, rice or noodles and vegetables like corn, beans, maize or okra to soften or add flavour or keep vegetables colour. Lye water can also be used in soap making and as a cleaning agent.