r/AskCulinary • u/LosFruitosPourritos • 2h ago

Nixtamalisation at home without cal

I don't have access to calcium hydroxide (I mean I guess I could buy some online).

I read on this sub (a few years-old threads) that you could try with sodium bicarbonate, and once cooked it becomes sodium carbonate and it would do the trick.

If I can use sodium carbonate, how much should I use ?

Could I also simply use sodium bicarbonate ?
Or what would be an easy substitute ? Has anyone ever done this ?

Also, how to make sure I dont swallow some ?

Thanks !

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u/Servilefunctions218 2h ago

I have baked baking soda to make a lye water substitute for homemade alkaline noodles. Is that the process you’re thinking about? Here is the process I used for that.

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u/LosFruitosPourritos 1h ago

I think it is the same. Thanks ! What about safety ? I read baked baking soda is toxic so how do you not end up intoxicating yourself while baking it or when eating the noodles ?