Christine GallaryFood Editor-at-Large
Christine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and she has worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW.com. She lives in San Francisco and loves teaching cooking classes. Follow her latest culinary escapades on Instagram.
updated Jul 8, 2022
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Baking soda and baking powder are both essential pantry staples for bakers. They have long shelf lives, but can they go bad? The answer is yes. Both baking soda and baking powder will eventually expire. You’ll know when they won’t give your baked goods the lift that they deserve.
You might ask yourself, “How can I tell if it’s still active before I ruin my next batch of muffins?” To find out if your baking soda or powder is still effective, follow the steps below.
- Baking soda: Add baking soda to hot water with vinegar. If it fizzes, it’s good!
- Baking powder: Add baking powder to hot water (no vinegar needed). Look for the fizz.
Baking soda and baking powder are essentially chemical leaveners that react to temperature and other ingredients, so you are testing to see if the chemicals are still active. If they don’t fizz or bubble when added to the water, or water and vinegar, then they won’t give your baked goods the lift or tender crumb needed. It’s best to toss them out.
How To Test If Baking Soda or Baking Powder Is Expired
This test will help you know if your baking soda or baking powder will help your cakes and muffins rise, or if you should go out and invest in a new package. It’s so easy to do and only takes a minute, so get testing!
What You’ll Need
- Baking powder or baking soda
- Measuring cup
- Hot tap water
- 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon
- White or apple cider vinegar (if testing baking soda)
Instructions
1. Measure out the water.
First, fill a measuring cup with 1/2 cup of hot tap water.
2. If testing baking soda, add vinegar.
If testing baking powder, you do not need to add vinegar and you can skip this step. Baking soda, however, needs an acid to get a reaction, so add 1/4 teaspoon of a vinegar like white or apple cider vinegar to the water if you’re testing baking soda.
3. Add baking powder or soda.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of the baking soda or baking powder.
4. Look for fizzing!
After you add the baking soda or baking powder, look for an immediate bubbling or fizzing reaction. If it happens, your baking soda or baking powder is still good! If you see no bubbling, it’s time to get replacements.
