Is it me or my baking powder?

seeker ↓

Mon, Sep 30 2024, 1:38 am

I noticed that some bites of some cakes have a bitter/sour taste. But not most bites of most cakes. Tonight it finally clicked that the taste is baking powder and I guess what happens is it doesn't get mixed in well enough, causing the sour-bitter taste when you get a bite with an unmixed bit of baking powder.

Now my question is am I not mixing well enough or is there something wrong with my baking powder that causes it to not mix in well?

My first thought was maybe it would help to combine my dry ingredients before mixing batter but then I realized I did that tonight and it didn't help. I was also a little lazy about mixing (didn't want to turn on electric mixer with people sleeping in nearby rooms) so there are quite a lot of little unmixed blobs (I thought they were flour and hoped they would dissolve or not matter. This was before my lightbulb moment that it was baking powder.)

Now I'm not sure whether to throw out my double batch of honey cake or just hope it's not too bad and act innocent if it is Sad

↑ seeker ↓

Mon, Sep 30 2024, 3:09 am

Bnei Berak 10 wrote:

Something is wrong with your baking powder. It shouldn't be lumpy.
Baking powder needs to be stored well closed and in a dry dark place.

The baking powder is not lumpy. It is very fine and powdery coming out of the container. It's not brand new (as evidenced by taking a while to realize that's the taste) but well within its best-by date. It's stored in a dark cabinet that's about as dry as the rest of my cabinets.

It only forms lumps when mixed into batter.

But yes I think something's wrong with it.

I believe the brand is bowl and basket from shop rite.

↑ Bnei Berak 10

Mon, Sep 30 2024, 4:13 am

seeker wrote:

I guess you mix it with the flour before adding to batter, right?

↑ seeker

Mon, Sep 30 2024, 4:20 am

Bnei Berak 10 wrote:

I guess you mix it with the flour before adding to batter, right?

Some recipes. I also have a few one-bowl, toss everything in and mix recipes. But it's been happening with both.