Does baking powder go bad (and how to tell if it’s still good)
Unless you’re a big-time baker, an opened pot of baking powder might sit in your cupboard for quite some time. If your naans are failing to rise and bubble as you expect it may be that your baking powder has lost its potency.
Or perhaps you’ve found an packet that expired a few months ago and you’re wondering if there’s a way to test if it’s still any good, so…
Does Baking Powder Go Bad?
Baking powder stays safe to use pretty much indefinitely, but it doesn’t retain freshness forever. It gradually loses potency, and at some point after the best before date, you’ll notice that it wont help your naans rise as well as they used to, or at all.
Fortunately, if your baking powder is already “expired” or stored for more than a few months after opening, you don’t need to hope for the best, instead, here’s a simple way to tell if your baking powder still works as a leavening agent.
How To Tell If Baking Powder Is Good:
VIDEO
How to Tell if Baking Powder Is Still Good?
To test if your baking powder is still good, grab a cup and add one teaspoon of baking powder into it, then pour around 1/3 cup of boiling water into the cup.
If the mixture bubbles heavily, your baking powder is good to go, however, if there are only a few bubbles your baking powder is losing its power and it won’t be good enough to perfectly puff up your naans.
Here’s what you’re looking for:
No, or very few bubbles mean it has lost its potency, and you should discard it:
How Long Does Baking Powder Last?
opened – 3–6 months
unopened – best by date plus around 6 months
Unopened baking powder lasts for a few months past the expiry date before it loses power. After opening the package it should retain its freshness for about 6 months.
credit: doesitgobad