Baker's ammonia

Hirschhornsalz or volatile alkali salt is a leavening agent ( food additive E 503 ), which is originally produced from antlers of deer. The term is misleading, since antler is not made of horn, but from bone. Hirschhornsalz consists mainly of ammonium hydrogen carbonate (E 503ii ) NH4HCO3 (two parts) in addition to ammonium carbonate (E 503i ) ( NH4) 2CO3 ( part ) and some ammonium NH4CO2NH2.

Production

The preparation is carried out by heating and sublimating a mixture of ammonium chloride, calcium carbonate, and charcoal.

Properties and Uses

On heating all the ingredients break down into carbon dioxide, ammonia and partially water.

In a pure form of this salt is also known as an ABC engine is derived from the old name of the pharmaceutical main component ammonium bicarbonate ( ammonium hydrogencarbonate ). Hirschhornsalz used for loosening of flat cakes, such as pastry, spiced biscuits, springerle, Americans, Hirschhorn cake or gingerbread.

Hirschhornsalz is not suitable for high biscuits (eg tall cake ) because ammonia would be retained, which can affect taste and color. Flat cakes which you can make with it, it is then very durable.

Hirschhornsalz different from baking soda among other things, the lack of acidic constituents. Hirschhornsalz should be kept cool and dry and separate (or well sealed ) from other baking aids ( for example, vanillin), otherwise deterioration takes place by released ammonia. The salt smell faintly of ammonia and tastes similar to ammonium chloride.

It is also for the production of artist paints ( casein - temperature ) is used.

Safety

Hirschhornsalz is harmful in direct consumption. By heating the ammonia is largely expelled. When baking with hartshorn the formation of acrylamide is particularly favored. Many bakeries therefore use baking soda as a leavening agent alternative. Ammonium carbonates 503 with no maximum limit ( quantum satis ) are generally approved for food in the EU as a food additive under the E number.

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Consumer Protection has found the end of 2008 Hirschhornsalz from China traces of melamine. The authorities launched a recall of the product which does not comply with food law.

Historical

Hirschhornsalz was formerly obtained by dry heating (dry distillation) of grated deer antlers, and later was used instead of the antlers, bones, horn, leather, nails and the like. It was used as a mild smelling salts, especially perfumed variants.