Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (2024)

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March16,2016

6Comments

6Comments

Yes, all cooking is science; whether you're making waffles or a steak, you're enacting small transformations on a series of ingredients in order to create a very new result. But rarely, it seems, are those scientific transformations as immediate as what happens when you add baking soda to your cream of tomato soup.

Many cream of tomato soup recipes call for a small amount of baking soda (often as little as half a teaspoon) to be stirred into the tomato base just before the milk is added. Why is this? asked usclious on our Hotline. Cv came to the rescue, citing the Fannie Farmer Cookbook: Baking soda prevents the milk from curdling in the acidic tomatoes.

Tomatoes are naturally acidic, falling at about 4.6 on the pH scale. Baking soda, on the other hand, is naturally basic (or "alkaline"), about 9 on the pH scale. When you add baking soda to tomato soup (or sauce, or chili), it neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. Not only will this make the tomatoes taste less acidic (good news if your tomatoes turned out more sour than you expected), but it also means that you can now add milk to your soup without risking curdling it.

So what about creamy tomato soups that don't have baking soda added, like Amanda Hesser's Cream of Roasted Tomato Soup? The recipe uses cream instead of milk, which is crucial: The fat in the cream protects the dairy from curdling.

A little more science: Fat protects the proteins in milk. As Harold McGee explains in ​On Food and Cooking, fat globules attach to the milk protein casein when milk is heated. The more fat there is, the more the milk protein is protected—which prevents curds of casein from forming (a.k.a. prevents curdling).

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“When your tomatoes are acidic the baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, will foam up a little where it is sprinkled onto the soup. That's the sign of acid being neutralized.”

— Chris_Maurer

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What other wild food science tips and techniques have you picked up? Tell us about them in the comments!

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (3)

    Chris_Maurer

  • Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (4)

    Annette

  • Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (5)

    Ben Nguyen

  • Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (6)

    Susan Peaco*ck

  • Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (7)

    Caroline Lange

Writing and cooking in Brooklyn.

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6 Comments

Chris_Maurer December 16, 2021

I do this every time I make homemade tomato soup, but you must be sparing in how much you add. I usually add 1/8 teaspoon and would not recommend more than 1/4 teaspoon as the flavor begins to be detectable and it is not pleasant. When your tomatoes are acidic the baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, will foam up a little where it is sprinkled onto the soup. That's the sign of acid being neutralized.

Susan P. May 31, 2022

I agree, Chris. If you're not sparing the tomatoes end up tasting like nothing. Is 1/8 teaspoon enough to prevent the milk from curdling?

Chris_Maurer July 20, 2022

I've never used milk, only cream, but have never had a curdling problem with it.

Annette April 10, 2018

My mother taught me this 45+ years ago. Not only does it stop the soup curdling after adding milk or cream, it also reduces the excessive acidity often found in fresh, canned or bottled tomato products. I add a small pinch to almost all tomato recipes 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Ben N. March 19, 2016

Most tomato soup recipes use canned tomatoes (diced/whole, and/or paste).. how can it be done using fresh tomatoes? Roma?

Caroline L. March 20, 2016

hi ben! roma tomatoes are great for soup. i'd recommend roasting them first though! eliminating the tomatoes' wateriness will intensify their flavor—which is what tomato soup is all about! hope you have success... here's a great recipe if you need one! https://food52.com/recipes/23426-roasted-tomato-whipped-burrata-and-basil-oil-soup

Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why (2024)

FAQs

Put Baking Soda in Your Cream of Tomato Soup! Here's Why? ›

And the combination of baking soda and sugar completely eliminates the tomatoes' acidity, allowing their rich flavor to shine through.

Why add baking soda to tomato soup? ›

- Adding baking soda to tomato soup and tomato sauces helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Tomato flavors really shine, and your sauce or soup will not curdle if you add milk. - Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of tomato sauce or soup will make flavors sparkle and become less acidic.

Why would you put baking soda in soup? ›

And adding a ½ teaspoon of baking soda to simmering carrots or broccoli for pureed soups helps the vegetables break down quickly and create restaurant-level creaminess.

How much baking soda to add to Campbell's tomato soup? ›

I add 1/4 tsp of baking soda directly to the tomato paste out of the can and mix thoroughly. I then add 1/2 tsp of flour for a little extra body and mix throughly. I add a dash of cream, then 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt.

What does baking soda do to tomato sauce? ›

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

How to make tomato soup taste better? ›

Garlic and onions make everything tastier! While the soup is cooking on the stove, sautee onions and garlic, adding them into the soup towards the end of cooking. Or for an aromatic that'll give a refreshing flavor, add chopped ginger into the soup while it's still cooking, stirring it in to blend the flavors together.

Does baking soda really help tomatoes? ›

Baking soda does not make your tomato sweeter, but it does prevent blight. Spraying a baking soda solution on your plants. will make the surface more alkaline, killing and preventing the spread of any further blight. It also keeps those pesky freeloaders.

How much baking soda do I add to soup? ›

If it tastes overly acidic or sharp, add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda. The soup will bubble and fizz wherever the soda lands as carbon dioxide is released. Give it a good stir to make sure the soda is fully spent; when the bubbles subside, taste again and add another quarter teaspoon if needed.

How to make cream of tomato soup without curdling? ›

I have read of a unique way to fix it: add a little bit of baking soda to the soup before adding the milk. The baking soda neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. Good luck!

How to make tomato soup more tomatoey? ›

For the most intense tomato flavor, include a couple tablespoons of tomato paste. To get the most out of it, add it to the pan when aromatics like onion and garlic are softened, but before adding the tomatoes. Let the paste cook, stirring frequently, for a few minutes, or until it starts to darken in color.

Why is my homemade tomato soup sour? ›

If you don't want to resort to sugar, baking soda, broth or cinnamon, you just have one thing left to do; cook the tomato as little as possible because, perhaps you can't imagine it, but the more tomato it cooks, the more sour it becomes.

How to add depth of flavor to tomato soup? ›

However, other spices and herbs can be added to some flavor. Rosemary and thyme, chives and parsley, even a zippy cheese such as feta can level up your tomato soup. Don't forget the cream. Add in coconut milk, heavy cream, or butter to give your tomato soup a silky texture.

Why does my homemade tomato soup taste bitter? ›

Another potential cause for bitter tomato sauce is simmering it in an aluminum pot or pan, which creates a reaction that accentuates the acidity of the tomatoes.

How do you fix too much baking soda in tomato soup? ›

If you've accidentally added too much, you can simply add more tomatoes. And yes, it is perfectly OK and safe to use baking soda as an ingredient in soup and other savoury recipes.

What happens if you put too much baking soda in a recipe? ›

It's important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.

Can you put baking soda in the toilet tank to clean it? ›

Sprinkle one cup of baking soda into the tank. Wait 30 minutes to allow the baking soda time to absorb odors and begin breaking down stains and fungi. Scrub the inside of the tank with a soft-bristled brush or abrasive sponge. Take care not to damage any of the internal plumbing components.

What does baking soda do to tomato juice? ›

Even a small amount of baking soda significantly raises the pH of the sauce. While this reduces acidic taste, it also tamps down on the brightness that gives the tomato complexity.

Does adding baking soda to tomato sauce help acid reflux? ›

If you're looking to make your tomato sauce more GERD-friendly, here are a couple of tips: Use less of it in your cooking – opt for light-sauce foods. Add small pinches of baking soda to your tomato sauces, but be careful not to salt the food beforehand.

Why should we avoid using baking soda when cooking? ›

Ingesting an excessive amount of baking soda can result in a variety of health concerns. Seizures, renal failure, and dehydration are all possible consequences of high salt content. It is the bicarbonate that has an effect on the pH of bodily fluids.

How to make tomato soup less acidic without baking soda? ›

One natural way to reduce acidity in tomato sauce is by adding a small amount of sugar or grated carrots. The sweetness helps counterbalance the acidic taste. Another option is to incorporate dairy products like cream, butter, or cheese, which can help neutralize the acidity.

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