Is an expired ingredient causing your cake to leak?
When it comes to baking, the ingredients in your cake batter do more than just add flavor. They are necessary for the chemical reactions that transform these simple ingredients into a soft, moist cake. If you find that your cakes never turn out the way you’d like, then before you start blaming the recipe or your oven, consider another likely culprit: that container of baking powder that’s been sitting in your pantry for longer than you cannot. remember.
Since most recipes only call for 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking powder, if you’re not someone who cooks regularly, it may take a while to use an entire container. This means that there is a good chance that your baking powder is expired. And since it doesn’t really develop an odor or visual indication that it’s gone, it can be impossible to tell when you just glance at the jar of white powder as you drop a spoonful into your batter to cake.
Even though baking powder is a dry ingredient and looks like it could last a long time in your pantry, it’s actually only at its best for about three to six months, depending on whether the container is opened or not. Since baking powder’s main role is as a leavening agent, if it doesn’t work properly, your cake will sink and have a much denser texture.
Read more: 16 little-known facts about salt
How to tell if your baking powder is expired
The first rule of using baking powder is to always check the expiration date, but what if it’s still wreaking havoc on your cakes even though it’s not technically expired? There’s a really simple way to test the freshness of your baking powder. The substance doesn’t trigger these leavening chemical reactions until it comes into contact with water or heat, depending on the type of baking powder you’re using.
So, to find out if baking powder is expired, do a quick and easy test that has both of these elements. Place a small spoonful of baking powder in a bowl, cover it with a little boiling water and watch the reaction that occurs. If your baking powder is still working properly, it should bubble in response to this liquid and heat. If nothing happens, you should grab a new jar of baking powder before attempting another cake. And it’s not just a problem for cakes: expired baking powder will give other baked goods, including cookies, a denser texture.
How you use baking powder depends on the recipe, but don’t be tempted to double the amount in an attempt to increase effectiveness: adding too much can change the texture of the cake by incorporating too many bubbles and holes, and it could make your baked good taste bitter. Instead, to keep baking powder fresh for as long as possible, store it properly in an airtight container away from sunlight and heat.
Read the original article on Mashed.
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