by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Did you know there’s an easy way to test to make sure your baking powder is still good?

Yep, and using just water. So when you find that container of baking powder in the back of the pantry, don’t chance it ruining your recipe. Do this simple test first.

I was baking some Beer Bread recently. As I pulled out the ingredients for my bread I noticed I was dangerously low on baking powder.

But wait, didn’t I see a large container stashed  way in the back of the pantry just the other day?

I dug around until I found it. Wow, it’s apparently been in the pantry for quite some time. But it’s a large container. It seems such a waste to just throw it away.

I wonder if it’s still good… So I decided to run a quick test.

How Do You Test Baking Powder If Baking Powder Is Still Active?

It’s easy to test baking powder to make sure it’s still active before using it in your recipe.

I heated ½ cup of water in the microwave until it was very hot.

Then I measured 1/4 teaspoon from the older container of baking powder and dropped it into the hot water.

Hummm… Not much reaction at all.

What Should Baking Powder Look Like When Testing For Freshness?

I wonder how that lack of reaction compares to the reaction I’d get with my current (albeit nearly empty) reserves of fresh baking powder.

So I repeated the experiment, this time with 1/4 teaspoon of fresh baking powder and very hot water.

Wowser! The reaction was much more dramatic, immediately bubbling like crazy!

So although I hate to waste this huge mammoth container of baking powder I’d found in the pantry – out the door it goes!

Yes I hate food waste, but I’ve just saved myself the time, expense & heartache of a flopped recipe in the future.

Don’t Use Baking Powder That’s Not Fresh

Don’t risk your recipe turning out poorly by using baking powder that’s not fresh and active.

If you have baking powder in the back of your spice cabinet and wonder if it’s still got any ooomph, this is a quick & easy way to find out.

I’ve also heard you can do this same experiment with baking soda if you add a splash of vinegar to the hot water.

But heck, baking soda is used so often around our homestead whether Cleaning our Coffee Mugs or just general Non-Toxic Scrubbing Power when cleaning our home, it never has a chance to get old here. LOL.

~TxH~

Other Kitchen Hacks

• Paper Napkins In A Paperless Kitchen
• Make Your Slow Cooker More Efficient
  
• Keep That Broccoli Fresh
  
• What Do The Dates On Food Packages Actually Mean?
• Heat-Free Way to Peel Tomatoes
• Peel A Whole Head Of Garlic Cloves In Seconds
  
• Easier Deviled Eggs – No Mess!
• MYO Crispy Taco Shells CHEAP
• Tame Kitchen Appliance Cords
  
• Expand Your Muffin Tin Capacity With Canning-Jar Rings
  
• How To Tell If Your Baking Powder Is Still Good
  Making Self-Rising Flour From All Purpose Flour
• Easily Opening Those Stubborn Jars
• Sauté & Freeze Onions For Kitchen Convenience
• Roasting Peppers Quickly On Gas Stove Top
• Our Endless Soap Dispenser Setup
• …and many MORE!

See All Homestead Hacks

C’mon by & sit a spell!  Come hang out at our Facebook Page. It’s like sitting in a front porch rocker with a glass of cold iced tea.  There are lots of good folks sharing! 

And you can also follow along on  Pinterest,  Twitter,  Instagram

If you’d like to receive an email when a new blog post goes live,
subscribe to our Blog!

• 
• 
• 
•