Can You Use The Fridge-N-Freezer Baking Soda For Cooking?

It is common to be confused between the Fridge-N-Freezer baking soda and baking soda. The former absorbs the odor in the freezer, while baking soda is for cooking and baking purposes.

So the answer is no, we don’t recommend using the Fridge-N-Freezer baking soda for cooking or using it as a multi-purpose.

And let me tell you the reason why. Both are baking soda which contains sodium bicarbonate but is used for different purposes. 

The Fridge-N-Freezer baking contains chemicals that might affect your health, but baking soda is 100% pure sodium bicarbonate, entirely safe for cooking purposes.

Baking soda can also be used to clean your fridge.

The Difference Between Fridge-N-Freezer Baking Soda and Baking Soda

It is essential to understand their differences and know their purposes.

Fridge-N-Freezer Baking Soda

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, labeled as Fridge-N-Freezer, is used to absorb the fridge’s odor and deodorizes food odors in the refrigerator that helps in keeping the food fresh for a more extended period.

When the box is placed inside the freezer, it immediately starts to absorb odor and should be changed every 30 days for optimal results. 

Its sole purpose is to keep the fridge smell-free from any unpleasant odor that lingers inside the fridge. Hence, it is not safe to use Fridge-N-Freezer baking soda for any cooking purposes as it has already absorbed the smells and might give off some fragrance.

To be more sure of it, the packet itself doesn’t recommend it for any cooking purposes and comes with a limited shelf life.  

Baking Soda

Baking soda is food-grade sodium bicarbonate mainly used for cooking or baking purposes as a leavening agent. It is a mild base. It produces carbon dioxide gas when mixed with acid like tartaric acid, vinegar, or lemon juice—primarily used in recipes that contain acidic ingredients. 

Baking soda is used for cooking purposes such as:

• It tenderizes the meat
• It softens beans and allows them to cook faster
• A pinch of baking soda to the boiling pot gives the green vegetables a vibrant color, but on the other hand, it can damage the nutrients.
• It increases the pH level in the chicken, making the skin crisp and brown.
• It effectively makes the potatoes extra crispy when frying; when added to mashed potatoes causes them to become fluffy.

One should also not be confused between baking soda and baking powder. Although both are used for baking but contain different chemicals, the difference is that baking powder contains acid, while baking soda needs an acidic ingredient to create a reaction.

Conclusion

There are similarities between them as it all contains baking soda, which might create confusion. But it’s best advised to know their properties and purposes and use them accordingly.

Fridge-N-Freezer baking soda is an odor absorbent and cannot be used as a substitute for baking soda. Likewise, there is also a difference between baking soda and baking powder and cannot substitute for one another.

I hope this brief explanation gives you some understanding and differences between them.