Best baking powder, according to chefs
Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from America’s Test Kitchen, Rose Levy Beranbaum and America’s Test Kitchen tasting notes. Recommendations come from americastestkitchen.com, realbakingwithrose.com and reddit.com.
Baking · The ranking
- 1Top pick
Argo Double Acting Baking Powder
Chosen by- America’s Test KitchenVinegar guide
Also chosen by- America’s Test Kitchen · Vinegar guide source ↗
The baking powder ATK recommends in its baking-pantry guide and names the winner in its cookie-baking guide: cheap, double-acting and widely sold. Rose Levy Beranbaum found Argo’s aluminum-free version, which acts more in the oven, gives flatter tops in Bundt cakes.
- 2
Rumford Original Aluminum-Free Baking Powder
Chosen by- Rose Levy BeranbaumThe Cake Bible
Beranbaum’s “baking powder of choice”: an all-phosphate, aluminum-free powder without the bitter aftertaste she finds in powders made with sodium aluminum sulfate, “especially noticeable when added to pie dough.” It reacts fast, so get the batter into the oven quickly; in her cupcake tests it beat Rumford’s reduced-sodium version on flavor and texture.
- 3
Davis Double Acting Baking Powder
Chosen by- America’s Test KitchenVinegar guide
Also chosen by- America’s Test Kitchen tasting notes · Season 4 source ↗
Winner of ATK’s baking-powder tasting (Season 4, “Sunday Brunch”): all four powders lifted carrot cake to nearly equal heights with no off flavors, and Davis took the top spot. ATK still names it for the highest rise in its tall, fluffy buttermilk biscuits. Double-acting and easy to find.
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Questions, answered
- What is the best baking powder, according to chefs?
- MyTastr’s top pick is Argo Double Acting Baking Powder, chosen by America’s Test Kitchen. The baking powder ATK recommends in its baking-pantry guide and names the winner in its cookie-baking guide: cheap, double-acting and widely sold. Rose Levy Beranbaum found Argo’s aluminum-free version, which acts more in the oven, gives flatter tops in Bundt cakes. Source: americastestkitchen.com ↗
- What are the other top picks for baking powder?
- No. 2 is Rumford Original Aluminum-Free Baking Powder, chosen by Rose Levy Beranbaum (The Cake Bible). No. 3 is Davis Double Acting Baking Powder, chosen by America’s Test Kitchen. Each card above links to the original source.
- How does MyTastr choose these picks?
- Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.