why do my muffins taste metallic? (2024)

FAQs

Why do my muffins taste metallic? ›

That slightly bitter, kinda “tinny” flavor you often experience when biting into a muffin, biscuit or scone is the result of using a baking powder in high quantities — as is needed for these quick-rise treats — with aluminum in it.

There is an inexpensive and easy fix; next time you go to the grocery store buy aluminum-free baking powder. Not only does aluminum-free baking powder get rid of the taste of metal, it also puts our minds at ease here at Mason Dixie Foods.

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.

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. The root of this problem lies in the difference between using oil versus butter when baking cakes.

People who experience a metallic taste with medication use can ask their doctor if an alternative is available. Home remedies include avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake, drinking plenty of water, following good dental hygiene practices, and chewing sugar-free gum.

Heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion could be responsible for a metallic taste. Other symptoms you get with these conditions are bloating and a burning feeling in your chest after eating. To treat the underlying problem, avoid rich foods, eat dinner earlier, and take antacids.

High blood sugar also increases the sugar level in your saliva. And if your saliva contains more sugar, you're at a higher risk for cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The latter two can cause a metallic taste in the mouth.

Gum disease, and abscesses teeth can lead to this taste as well. Other causes could include peptic ulcer, food allergies, lead poisoning, selenium toxicity, copper overdoes, too much calcium in the blood, mercury poisoning, acute kidney failure, burning mouth syndrome, lichen planus, and even cancer.

Just keep in mind that too much baking powder will leave a slightly bitter taste in your baked good, so I wouldn't use anymore than 2 tsp of baking powder per 1 cup of flour.

How to improve the flavor of powdered sugar frosting: The starch added to most powdered sugar can make frosting taste slightly metallic. Here's how to fix that: Melt the butter and mix it with the powdered sugar, salt, and milk in a stainless steel bowl.

Why does my cake taste weird? ›

Another reason people end up with an eggy-tasting cake or even 'soapy-tasting' could be due to adding too much baking powder or bicarbonate of soda. These rising agents create a chemical reaction which causes the cake to rise faster and fall flat, making them dense and eggy-tasting.

Baking powder and milk or water react together to create bubbles—these bubbles are trapped in the batter, and make the cupcake lighter and fluffier. Eggs are a “binder”—they help hold the batter together. They also provide aeration, moistness, flavor and tenderness to the cupcakes.

Metal Leaching

The metal taste in your coffee and drinks is sometimes attributed to metal leaching. In recent years, there is an increasing focus on how susceptible is stainless steel to metal leaching.

The reason for this metallic taste lies in the canning process. Canned vegetables are packed in saltwater, which can pick up the flavor from the metal around it. This happens during the cooking process.

If your home's water has low pH levels, it can give off a strange taste that is often described as metallic. Water flows through aging pipes. If your city has an old water infrastructure (like many towns in America), metals can leech into your water as the water travels from the treatment plant to your home.