I bought two new cans of baking powder today (for the Bannock bread recipe in another thread), and I still have 2/3 of a can with a 1998 "best by" date on the bottom. Is there a way to see if the old stuff is still any good? I hate to throw anything away!

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 18, 1999

Answers

Bake a batch of biscuits. If they rise, ok. If not, you've got some small frisbees (or hardtack) and know to use the other stuff.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 18, 1999.

Out dated baking powder is a no-no. I doubt you will get a rise out of anything you bake. Maybe you can stir a little water in it to make a paste and use it as spackle.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 18, 1999.

Take your old baking powder and mix in a pitcher of water and poor over your car batteries. It cleans them good!

-- freddie (freddie@thefreeloader.com), November 18, 1999.

I've used baking soda and water to clean batteries, but the baking powder part is new to me?. I think it would be best to mix enough for one tiny pancake, and that way you wouldn't waste much flour. Then if its dead try some Viagra on it (just joking), Walter.

-- Walter Bright (relief@coastalnet.com), November 19, 1999.

Hmmm... maybe I'll just throw out the old can and buy another new one while it's still cheap.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 19, 1999.

Try mixing a half-teaspoon of the suspect baking powder into a half-cup of very hot water. It should bubble and fizz furiously. No bubbles - it's dead. Moderate bubbles - use half again the indicated amount of baking powder.

..........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@sprintmail.com), November 19, 1999.

Thanks for the tip Alan. This I didn't know, well we learn something new everyday. Thanks again, Walter.

-- Walter Bright (relief@coastalnet.com), November 19, 1999.

To test your baking powder--NOT soda--simply add some to some hot tap water and see if it fizzes. If so, it's still good.

-- Liz Pavek (lizpavek@hotmail.com), November 22, 1999.

Homemade Baking Powder Ingredients (6 servings) 1 lb Soda 1 1/2 lb Cream of tartar 1/4 lb Cornstarch --------------------------------- Picked this recipe up on the web somewhere. Does anyone know what they mean by soda" (is that Benzoate of Soda?)? Since I don't have a scale, can any of you experts calculate the quantities into cups and teaspoons? Thank you.

-- Midnightmom (myhouse@bigfoot.com), November 24, 1999.