favor-“ette”: a baking soda tip

December 7, 2018/

And baking powder too…..

Even the most baking-averse folks tend to succumb to the holiday spirit and fire up their ovens this month. And why not? Nothing’s better, IMHO, than a batch of freshly baked deliciousness delivered from your kitchen.

And this tip is just for you.

Since I bake all year round, I never worry about whether or not my baking soda and baking powder are fresh. I use them both regularly and so they get used up before they have a chance to go stale.

But for those of you who only pull out those boxes and cans occasionally, take a few minutes to do a quick test to make sure they’re still fresh. The last thing you want is an expired ingredient to undo your cookies, cakes and brownies!

How to Test Baking Powder and Baking Soda for Freshness

For baking soda, start with 1/2 cup HOT tap water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of white or apple cider vinegar, followed by 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. You should see immediate bubbling/fizzing.

For baking powder, start with 1/2 cup HOT tap water, followed by 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder. Again, you should see immediate bubbling.

Of course you can always look at the expiration date on the package. But that’s not always reliable – especially once opened – and given how relatively inexpensive it is to replace these items, better safe than sorry.

Now get baking! (Need inspiration? Check out all of my baked treats on Pinterest!)