The Absolute Best Way To Store Baking Powder

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If you enjoy baking at all, then baking powder will be an essential item in your kitchen to make cakes, cookies, and other baked goods rise. Even if you don't bake, baking powder is handy to have around — it's the secret ingredient for fluffier falafels, mashed potatoes, and pancakes (though it's best avoided in scrambled eggs as it affects the taste). But as we only ever use a little baking powder at a time, it's an ingredient that we can keep for a while. And as with all perishable items, how you store something can affect its shelf life. The absolute best way to store baking powder is in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.

However, just because you have an odd container of baking powder in your kitchen, doesn't mean it's still any good, as baking powder will lose its leavening powers when it expires. So ensure you don't store it in the cabinet above the stove due to the rising heat. Nor do you want to put it in the fridge, as the moisture can affect its potency, to say nothing of the odors that it may pick up from other foods. A pantry, cupboard, or drawer that maintains a steady temperature is an ideal spot. Most baking powder already comes in an airtight container, so you can store it as is, ensuring the lid is tightly shut.

Baking powder, if it hasn't been opened, tends to have a shelf life of 6-18 months from the date of purchase, and 3-6 months once it's been opened, per the USDA Foodkeeper App. If you're uncertain if your baking powder is still good, there's an easy test you can perform before taking a chance and potentially ruining your baked goods: It's the way Julia Child would test baking powder before using it, which entails mixing a bit of baking powder with hot water to see if it starts to bubble. If it does, then the baking powder is still good and if it doesn't or there are only very minimal bubbles, then the baking powder has expired and shouldn't be used to bake or cook with.

If you find that your baking powder has already expired and you can't run to the store to grab more, you can always mix some baking soda with cream of tartar or club soda, or try using one of these baking powder substitutes in a pinch. You can even buy it online if you're struggling to get to a store. Just be sure to properly store any future containers of baking powder to maximize its shelf life.