So, I was in the kitchen the other day, trying to whip up some chicken, and I was getting ready to make it all crispy and nice. Usually, I go with cornstarch because, you know, it gives that perfect crunch. But guess what? I reached into the cupboard and – bam – no cornstarch. Panic mode, right?
But then I saw this box of baking powder sitting there, looking all innocent. And I thought, “Hmm, they’re both white powders, maybe this could work?” I mean, I use baking powder for cakes to make them fluffy, so why not for this, right?
I did a quick search on my phone. Some folks online were saying “no way,” and some are saying “give it a try.” They said that baking powder and cornstarch are totally different things. Baking powder makes cakes rise and be fluffy. Cornstarch is for making sauces thick or frying chicken crispy. They are not the same thing. If you want to replace baking powder, you can replace it with cornstarch, baking soda, and cream of tartar. There are some pros and cons to using cornstarch instead of baking powder. There’s a right way and a wrong way. I needed to find out for myself.
So here’s what I did:
- I took a few pieces of chicken and tossed them in the baking powder, just like I would with cornstarch.
- Heated up some oil in my trusty pan.
- Threw the chicken in and watched it sizzle.
The first thing I noticed? The chicken didn’t really get that golden-brown color I love. It was more like… pale. And the texture? Definitely not crispy. It was kinda soft, and not in a good way. I even tried to fry them for a bit longer, hoping it would magically crisp up, but no luck.
The verdict?
Yeah, baking powder is a no-go for replacing cornstarch, at least when you’re frying. Maybe it’s good for other stuff, but for that crispy, crunchy chicken? Nope. Stick to cornstarch, folks. Don’t make the same mistake I did! Now I know the difference between them, and why baking powder is a leavening agent, and why cornstarch is for thickening. Well, at least the dog got a few pieces of not-so-crispy chicken.
Lesson learned. Next time, I’m making a grocery list and checking it twice! I’m gonna make sure I have cornstarch before I start cooking. I’ll also be testing some other stuff. Baking soda, maybe? I’ll see if that works. Stay tuned!
