Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-17
A BAKING POWDER MATTER.
MORE OF THE ALBANY NEWsPA-
PEE INVESTIGATION.

The Albany { n. Y. } Journal some time
upon the subject of baking powders, In
which it gave the results OF some tests OF
an elaborate character made for the pur-
pose of determining the question of which
is the best and wholesomest of these
articles. The analyses and tests required
were undertaken by Profs. w. q. Tucker,
OF the Albany Medical College, and w. p.
Mason. of the Rensselaer, Polytechnic In
stitute, of Troy, chemists OF the highest
standing and reputation, we'll known for
their extended and valuable services as
public analysts. Messrs. Tucker and
Mason, the Journal stated, had been
directed to procure from dealers in
Albany and Troy packages of baking
powder, to analyZe and critically examine
them, and to make their reports OF facts
found entirely without bias or favor.
The report proved a matter of interest
and Importance, and was widely copied
and commented upon. From the facts
present ted housekeepers had no difficulty
in determining for themselves the best
and most wholesome baking powder to
use The journal. its facts having been
questioned by local baking powder man
ufacturer, returns to the subject and pub
fishes the following interesting interview
with Prof Tucker. The facts before
stated are reaflirmed and emphasized in
the most breezy manner.
journal reporter recently visited
Prof. Tucker for the purpose of gaining
further information In reference to the
baking powder question. He was found
in the extensive laboratory OF the Medi-
- ut hr1f d
naturally submitted to an inquisitOrial
interview, the substance of which, here
given, will be found OF interest.
Doctor" SAID the reporter, sit appears
that one OF our local baking powder
manufacturers attempts to discred1t the
report some time ago published In the
journal with reference to baking pow
ders, for which the analytical eXamina-
lions were made by yourself and Prof.
Mason. Were your analysis and opinion
printed correctlyT
"They were," replied Prof. Tucker,
''literally."
lis there any part OF the report, or of
your views expressed therein, that you
would modiiyy'
"Not word. My examination was
most carefully and accurately made; the
deductions drew from the tests were the
Inevitable ones, and the opinions | ex-
pressed were unquestlonably correct"
"You say, doctor, that the Royal bak-
ING powder is superior to any other baking
powder which you have examinedV
'Tnat is my repOrtT
"Have you examined many other baking
powders?"
"Quite number"
wherein, doctor, consists this SUPER.
GRITTY which you find in the Royal over
other brandsY'
CAS- stated in my report, in the great
purity Of Its ingredients, in the unques-
toned propriety and wholesomeness oil
| those Ingredients, in the exact proper.
! tiOns OF the same, and the chemical accu-
racy aud skill with which they have been
combined. AS / SAID before, it is,
believe, a baking powder 'unedualed
for purity, strength and wholesome
ness.'"
doctor, the Journals readers would
| like you to inform them what are the
| peculiar virtues OF a good baking powder
over other and more old-fashloned meth
| DDS of raising bread, biscuit aud cake ~
THAT would require long answer
| something In the nature OF lecture
| Briefly, however, the advantage OF such
baking powder over yeast consists in
the quicker work it accompllshes, in the
preservation of some of the best elements
| of the -four which are destroyed in the
production OF the carbonic acid gas by
the use of Yeast, and in the absolute Ger.
tainty of sweet, light and dlgestible food
Over other methods for quick raising the
| merits OF pure baking powder are great
1t is always ready for use, the
acid and alksli are combined
in exact proportions TO produce
definite results, or to render the largest
amount OF leavening gas and leave moth
ing more than neutral residuum, whc
Is not the result where cream of tartar
and soda are bought separately and
mixed in the kitcnep, for it will always
occur where this is done that one or the
other of these substances will FREEDOM.
mate, making the food yellow heavy, utter
and unwholesome. Besi des, the cream Of
tartar which can be procured by the
housekeeper Is mostly adulterated, ad-
ding 10 the uncertainty OF the results OF
tine UNIV hols0meness of the food. AL
| these difficulties are avoided in the use of 8
pure, properly made baking powder"
"Will baking powders keep? How Ions
will they mold their strength? ~
"If properly made, until used. A per
feet baking powder must combine super
lative strength with power to retain it in
definitely. Baking powders generally al
! robbed OF toe necessary preserving
! agent in order to give present strength
or else have their efficiency largely de,
strOyed by the addition Of large quaint
! lies Of -four To prevent premature decom.
position. The method by which botk
! these qualities are retained IN the highest
| degree produces the perfect article, and
| this | believe is fully accomplished 10
the Royal BAKING powder. l have seer
| an analysis of a baking powder which
| showed u per cent. OF Rochelle salts
| The baking power was not fresh, and he.
cause of the impr oper manner Ia which il
mad been made the ingredients had com
bined. forming the purgatiye salt. | give
this as an illustration of those baking
I powders whose Keeping qualities are sac
| rifced TO present strength. How to gel
both strength and keeping quality 10 the
secret Of baking powder success"
doctor, what about ammonia in bak
ing powderW
'Sesqui-carbonate of ammonia is some
times used in the higher class OF baking
powders"
"Is il injurious or Objectionable"
"Nonsensel Quite the contrary. Il
has been used for generations In the finest
| food. 1t is a very volatile agent. liz N
/ entirely evolves IL into gas, leaving nc
residuum. We're il used in euhicion
! quantity TODD tue entire work Of aeratIOn
| | am inclined to believe II would be tn,
| acme OF leaVening agents. some or thC
| highest authorities, az Hassall, recon-
mend Its exclusive use Tor this purpose ii
! preference TO yeast or other kinds O
! leayen. 1t is universally admitted to b.
/ a wholesome and valuable agent. and nj
! al iaf al rpu1ltpfinn will qInaa ~ NJ ba -