The Difference Between Baking Sodas

I use baking soda for a lot of things. And I use 2 different kinds depending on what I am using it for.

There is a huge price difference in the different qualities of baking soda. And there is a reason for that.

The Arm & Hammer was $1.24 for 2 lbs. That's $0.62 / pound. The Bob's Red Mill was $2.45 for 1 pound; obviously $2.45 / pound. That's almost FOUR TIMES more expensive.

I use Arm & Hammer or a store generic brand (whatever is cheapest) for cleaning.

I use Bob's for all my cosmetic purposes (deodorant, skincare, exfoliant, toothpaste, & shampoo) and for baking.

So what's the difference and why is Bob's so much more expensive? 

First, the aluminum debate. Arm & Hammer and generic brands used to have aluminum in them. Supposedly they do not have aluminum anymore. Occasionally, I run across an article that says they did an independent test and it tested positive for aluminum. But overall, the consensus is that A&H is now aluminum free. Baking powder, on the other hand, does contain aluminum in generic brands.

But here's the important part and why I splurge for Bob's. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It's a natural occurring chemical reaction. Bob's mines it directly from the natural source and bottles it. They don't do anything to it, they sell the naturally occurring product.

A&H (and generic brands), however, create the sodium bicarbonate in a lab. It's a chemical process that starts with the same raw materials (trona ore found in sandstone and shale). It's just not the naturally occurring process. The process includes carbon dioxide and crystallization, things that happen when nature produces baking soda as well. So A&H isn't necessarily bad, it's just not, well "natural." 

So, for a couple dollars extra, I splurge for the the all natural baking soda for everything except cleaning (links above to all my cosmetic recipes). The A&H is just not the same.