The Correct Method To Retailer Your Baking Powder, Based mostly on an Skilled

Whether or not or not you’re a sort of people who solely bakes for specific occasions like birthdays and holidays or the type who bakes practically day-to-day, you perhaps have a stash of baking powder someplace in your kitchen. Baking powder is a leavener that makes baked gadgets gentle and ethereal and helps them rise.

Sadly, within the occasion you employ inactive baking powder—that is, baking powder that’s gone unhealthy—in a recipe, you’re liable to complete up with treats that are as exhausting and flat as hockey pucks. That’s in all probability not the look—or model or texture—you want, notably for a special occasion.

How and the place you retailer baking powder has fairly lots to do with whether or not or not it’s current, energetic, and in a position to make use of everytime you need it. So stay away from baking disasters by storing your baking powder accurately. Right here is how.

The Proper Method To Retailer Baking Powder

The best place to retailer baking powder so that it retains current and energetic as long as attainable is in an airtight container, away from direct daylight, oven, and vary, and ideally at a safe temperature (about 70°F), says Penny Stankiewicz, a chef-instructor of the Art work of Cake Adorning on the Institute of Culinary Education in New York Metropolis.

Fortunately, most baking powder is purchased in an airtight container and chances are you’ll maintain it there—no have to change it to a unique container. In case you’ve gotten a pantry, it’s a good spot to keep up baking powder.

Why You Mustn’t Retailer Baking Powder inside the Fridge

“​It’s greater to keep up baking powder at cool room temperature barely than inside the fridge,” says Chef Stankiewicz. “The powder can resolve up humidity from the fridge, along with undesirable meals aromas.”

Merely think about the reality that people use baking soda to intentionally take up moisture and odors—baking powder does the an identical issue. Besides you want it damp, smelly, and presumably inactive, maintain your baking powder out of the fridge.

Can You Retailer Baking Powder inside the Freezer?

“If making an attempt to retailer baking powder a bit longer, you’ll be able to put the lined container in a single different air-tight container and freeze it,” says Stankiewicz. “This may occasionally assist lengthen the shelf life.”

It is as a result of the freezer tends to be a dryer environment than the fridge, she explains. “Nevertheless searching for in small portions, and using it, is the proper technique,” she supplies.

How Prolonged Does Baking Powder Ultimate?

Baking powder must be used inside six to 18 months of the date of purchase whether it is unopened and inside three to six months as quickly as opened, in line with the USDA’s FoodKeeper App.

Whereas it’s technically protected to utilize baking powder earlier its expiration date, Stankiewicz doesn’t advocate it. “​The best apply is to purchase small portions that you just simply’ll use inside a few months,” she says. “I would not perception my specific cake to baking powder on the sting of an expiration date. It could lose a number of of its potential to raise your baked gadgets as a result of it ages.”

How To Inform if Baking Powder Is Nonetheless Good

For those who occur to’re undecided of how outdated your baking powder is or whether it is earlier the expiration date and also you would not have time to run to the store, chances are you’ll merely examine it to see whether it is nonetheless energetic.

“Baking powder is activated by liquid and by heat,” says Stankiewicz. “You’ll examine its freshness, or leavening power, by inserting some in a bowl and pouring scorching water over it. If it bubbles up, it’s good to utilize, however when there could also be low to no bubble train, it’s most interesting to purchase a current can.”

The Takeaway

Maintain your baking powder in a tightly sealed container in a dry place away from gentle and heat to extend its shelf life. Try to make use of it up inside three to six months of opening it, and when uncertain, examine it by together with scorching water to a small amount of baking powder in a bowl. If it bubbles up, it must be good to go for regardless of fabulous baking enterprise you take note.