Question for bakers here

[FakeNoose]

I'm wondering how long I can keep baking powder before I have to throw it out.

I have an unopened can of baking powder with no expiration date. However it could be 7 or 8 years old. I'm just guessing but I don't really know. Can anyone help?

Thanks

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

1. If you mix in a bit of water

With a small amount, it should bubble.

[FakeNoose]

4. OK very helpful - thanks!

I got some white foam and dissolving activity, so I think it's still good.

[IA8IT]

2. I vote toss. It's not gold

To check if your baking powder is still active, pour 1/4 cup boiling water over 1/2 tsp baking powder. If it bubbles, it's still good. If not, it's no good! If it foams when you pour over boiling water, the baking powder is active!

[FakeNoose]

5. Yes I did get foaming activity

I'm planning to bake a cake tonight and I wasn't sure if my baking soda was good.
Thought I had a newer can, but this was all I could find in my pantry.

I will buy more when I get to the store, but it won't be tonight.

[IA8IT]

8. Best Luck

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Soda or powder?

[FakeNoose]

11. It's baking powder and it's in a sealed can with no date

I buy baking soda rather often for different reasons, and it gets used up pretty quickly.

Baking powder is a different story. Haven't bought any in several years.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Above you said you were using soda (#5).

[TlalocW]

3. As a beginner baker

Spend the buck to get a new box. Put it in a jar. Put some blue painters tape on it and write the expiration date on the tape.

[FakeNoose]

6. Yes that's a good idea - will do that

I didn't realize there was no date on this can of baking powder I found in my pantry.

But it's from a store that I don't shop at anymore, so I know it's several years old.

[ratchiweenie]

7. If it's unopened I bet it's ok. Just my best guess.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I toss at 2 years. Always write the date on the top.

[TlalocW]

12. I always put it in a glass jar

Since they say you can open a box of it and put it the fridge to help with odors, I figure I should protect it from odors all the time.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. You put baking powder in the refrigerator? I keep

baking soda in mine.

[TlalocW]

15. Maybe I'm mixing them up in my head

Like I said... beginner baker.

[sinkingfeeling]

16. I think you might be. Soda comes in a box and can be used for a ton of household tasks.

Baking powder comes in cans or plastic containers.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/baking-soda-vs-baking-powder#summary

[TlalocW]

18. Well, either one

I normally put into glass jars just because I feel they keep fresher than in their original packaging.

[Freddie]

17. I buy a new one every year for holiday baking

And throw the old one away.

[irisblue]

19. I want to know how the cake turned out plz

[Warpy]

20. I've used shockingly old baking powder and gotten decent results

My yardstick for determining whether or not the stuff is still good is clumping. If any of it clumps together, no matter its age, I know the bicarb and weak acid have reacted with each other to enough of a degree to produce adequate water to cause the cornstarch to start to clump. At that point, it's time to buy a new can of it. Please note I keep it tightly sealed, even here in the desert.

[pansypoo53219]

21. oh, i keep old baking powder so i can play w/ biscuits. once cause old, i used 5tsp + made the

biggest + fluffiests biscuits. i put old baking powder aside for biscuits. i also have a cookie recipe my grandma used cream of tartar, ran out of that + used some old baking powder + they were better.

[Emile]

22. I asked Google and after 18 months throw it out

was the answer.

[Demsrule86]

23. I make my own baking powder as I hate Aluminum taste and even those BP's not supposed to have

it tastes like they do. 2 TSP of Cream of Tarter, 1 TSP of Baking Soda, and 1 TSP of cornstarch. So it is a 2-1-1 ratio...you can make any amount you want...way cheaper too.

[FakeNoose]

24. Well that's very cool - thanks for this tip