Why Do My Banana Muffins Taste Odd? | Ask Nigella.com (2024)

Full question

My Chocolate Banana Muffins tasted really odd. Is it because the bananas were too ripe?

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Banana Muffins (from KITCHEN) are rich and moist muffins that are a perfect way to use up bananas that have become over ripe. Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is the raising agent and this can sometimes taste bitter or soapy if the wrong quantity is used. Make sure that you measure the bicarbonate of soda with a proper 1 teaspoon/5ml measuring spoon and the spoon measurement should be level. Also make sure that there are not any lumps in the bicarbonate of soda, so that you don't get pockets of bicarbonate of soda in the muffins. If it does have lumps then sift the flour, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda together before adding the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl.

Bicarbonate of soda needs an acid ingredient to react with to make it work and acid can also temper the bitterness. Bananas are usually slightly acidic, though the acidity drops as they ripen, and there is a very small chance that if the bananas were really, really ripe (ie completely black and shrivelled) then this could affect the way the bicarbonate of soda acts, though in this case the muffins would also not have risen much. If you used natural cocoa powder then this is also acidic, but if it was Dutch processed cocoa powder then that has a more neutral pH, and could have affected the muffins very slightly. However, we suspect that too much bicarbonate of soda or lumps in the bicarbonate of soda are a more likely reason for an odd taste.

Try This Tip

Bananarama - Freezing Bananas Past Their Best

From melbelline
  • 14
  • 2

Asked and Answered

Chocolate Banana Muffins With Coconut Oil

From Ekwoo
  • 14
  • 2
Why Do My Banana Muffins Taste Odd? | Ask Nigella.com (2024)

FAQs

Why Do My Banana Muffins Taste Odd? | Ask Nigella.com? ›

Our answer

Why does my banana taste bitter? ›

It happens because of the conversion of. Starch to sugar.

What causes a metallic taste in baked goods? ›

Baking powder is a leavening agent used in many baked goods to provide the fluffy texture we all love. Have you ever baked something and noticed a weird metallic taste? Well, that was probably the taste of aluminum.

Why does my banana cake taste bitter? ›

One of the most common misfortunes among bakers is that they are using too much baking soda or baking powder. Know that too much baking soda or baking powder in cakes will not just lead to a metallic and bitter taste, but it can also make a big mess in the oven as it will rise beyond expectations.

Why do my biscuits have a bitter aftertaste? ›

Editor: Yes, chemical leavening agents like baking powder can impart a bitter taste! Try using less next time and see if it makes a difference.

Why do my muffins taste bitter? ›

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is the raising agent and this can sometimes taste bitter or soapy if the wrong quantity is used. Make sure that you measure the bicarbonate of soda with a proper 1 teaspoon/5ml measuring spoon and the spoon measurement should be level.

Why does my banana bread taste weird? ›

You Use Underripe Bananas

If you've ever tried to mash green bananas, you know that's no fun. That's why you should use only very ripe bananas to make banana bread. Not only are overripe bananas easier to mash, they also give the bread more moisture, sweetness, and flavor.

Why does my baking taste like chemicals? ›

Using baking powder (a chemical leavening agent) often becomes tricky. How much is enough to leaven dense, oil-based cakes like carrot cake? Sometimes, we end up using too much baking powder to help this type of cake rise, and this mistake can unfortunately make them taste bitter or like chemicals.

Why does my food have a weird metallic taste? ›

Metallic taste is a symptom of some food allergies. If you experience distorted taste after eating a certain type of food, such as shellfish or tree nuts, you may have a food allergy. Speak with a doctor if you believe you have an allergy. You may also have a metallic mouth after eating pine nuts.

How do you get rid of metallic taste in cooking? ›

The vinegar lightens the perceived weight of the dish and the sugar masks the flavor of the vinegar. This technique is by far the easiest technique to use while cooking to overcome metallic tastes. A little bit of vinegar goes a long way, and this technique is best used inside of fully cooked one-pot type dishes.

Can you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

The experts at Allrecipes list excessive bananas as a common banana bread-making blunder, claiming it could make the bread feel a bit more hefty and moist in the middle. So instead of nice, airy, light bread, you might end up with mushy, dense bread that seems undercooked.

Why does my banana taste fermented? ›

Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten. Another sign that bananas have gone bad is if they start leaking any fluids.

How do you get rid of bitter taste in baking? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps. This is a good trick for if you're cooking and realize that you added too much of a bitter ingredient.

Why does my food have a weird aftertaste? ›

Dysgeusia is a type of taste disorder that causes food to taste different than it should. It is often caused by a temporary condition such as a cold, allergies, or pregnancy. However, it is sometimes caused by something long-term such as dementia or Parkinson's disease.

How do you get rid of bitter taste? ›

Overview
  1. Gargle with water.
  2. Using toothpaste, brush your teeth, tongue, roof of your mouth, and gums at least two times a day.
  3. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash.
  4. Drink liquids, chew sugar-free gum or mints, or suck on sour candies.
  5. Use plastic utensils if you have a bitter or metallic taste when eating.

Why does my baking taste sour? ›

This would mean the acids in the batter are reacting with the baking powder you are using. You may need in this case to reduce the amount of soda that you use. I find using too muck soda gives a recipe a harsh bitter taste. If the recipe ends up tasting sour, you need to use more soda.

How do you take the bitterness out of a banana heart? ›

Sit for at least 2 hours in the water to remove the bitter sap. The hearts can be eaten raw however, the florets need to be thoroughly cooked to become palatable - trust me, don't try them before cooking! Take a look at the vegan butcher for ideas and recipes on what to do with your freshly harvested banana blossom.

Why does banana Flavour taste weird? ›

Gros Michel bananas, on the other hand, are known to have high amounts of isoamyl acetate. Due to this, the taste of artificial banana flavouring is more akin to these bananas of old leading to headlines saying that our current banana flavours are based off of an “extinct” variety of bananas.

What does it mean when you have a banana taste in your mouth? ›

Eating sugary or sweet foods can cause a temporary sweet aftertaste in the mouth. However, a persistent sweet or fruity taste in the mouth can be a sign of a more serious condition. A sweet taste in the mouth can be a signal of the body having trouble regulating blood sugar, which may be due to diabetes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 5736

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.