How To Store Baking Soda to Keep It Fresh

Baking soda is a staple in many homes because of its many uses. It’s most commonly used in cooking, and it can also deodorize appliances, freshen laundry, remove stains and more.

While it’s frequently used, some baking soda boxes seemingly sit in cabinets and pantries for months on end gathering dust. You might not realize it, but the potency of baking soda fades with time. Here’s how to store baking soda to keep it fresh.

Why Storing It Properly Matters for Freshness and Effectiveness

Baking soda chemically reacts when it combines with an acidic substance as well as a liquid. This chemical reaction, which produces carbon dioxide gas, gives baking soda its leavening property.

Essentially, the carbon dioxide gas released in the reaction results in lighter, fluffier baked goods. Older baking soda is less potent, so its effectiveness as a leavening agent is reduced. If your cookies, cakes and other baked goods are heavier than they should be, old baking soda may be the cause.

How Long Unopened Vs. Opened Baking Soda Lasts

Once you open a package of baking soda, the clock starts ticking. You can expect your baking soda to remain potent for only six months after the package is opened.However, if the package remains sealed, it can still go bad if it sits for too long. An unopened package should be replaced after three years.

Signs That Baking Soda Has Gone Bad

There are a few tell-tale signs that your baking soda has gone bad. Old baking soda won’t produce the same potent chemical reaction when it’s mixed with a liquid and an acidic substance, so less or no carbon dioxide gas is released.

As a result, baked items and other foods that require baking soda will be flatter and heavier. When baking soda is old, it clumps together. Even small clumps in your baking soda are a sign that a replacement is needed.

Best Ways to Store Baking Soda

While all baking soda will eventually go bad, storing it properly can help you get more life out of it. Here’s how to store baking soda to retain its freshness:

For Unopened Boxes

The best place to store baking soda, even unopened boxes, is in the fridge or freezer. If you don’t plan to use the baking soda right away, store it away in one of these cool, low-humidity places as soon as you get home from the grocery store. If you do plan to use it soon, store it in the pantry or a cabinet so that it is kept away from humidity and moisture.

For Opened Boxes

One of the top causes of baking soda degradation is humidity or exposure to moisture. You can minimize this exposure by simply sealing the baking soda in an airtight container once the package is open. Make sure to label the container.

Even baking soda that’s kept in a dry environment can lose its beneficial properties over time. You can further extend the life of an opened box of baking soda by putting the airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to Test Baking Soda’s Freshness

Baking soda clumps together when it is exposed to even a small amount of moisture. However, even if it remains a soft powder, it might still be bad. Because you can’t always tell how fresh baking soda is by sight, you’ll need to do a quick test.

In a bowl, pour a small amount of baking soda. Add a teaspoon of white vinegar. The baking soda is still fresh if it fizzes. If nothing happens, you could still use the baking soda without negative health effects. However, you won’t get the same results when baking with it.

FAQs

Can Baking Soda Be Stored in the Fridge or Freezer?

Yes, baking soda can be stored in the fridge or freezer. In fact, doing so will help you extend its shelf life and freshness.

How Long Does Baking Soda Last After Opening?

Baking soda maintains its freshness and leavening properties for only six months after you open the package. If you haven’t yet opened the package, baking soda is good for up to three years.

Can You Still Use Expired Baking Soda for Cleaning?

The same chemical reaction that gives baking soda its leavening properties for baking also gives it some of its cleaning power. However, baking soda has other properties, such as whitening, deodorizing and abrasiveness, that continue even after baking soda expires.

Baking soda is a powerful yet safe cleaning product that has broad applications around the house. While many people use baking soda and other natural ingredients, such as lemon juice and distilled white vinegar, for house cleaning tasks, others prefer to let the pros tackle the tough chores. At Cleanzen Boston MA, we eliminate the hassle of cleaning so you can enjoy an immaculate home without doing the work yourself. Schedule your first housecleaning service with Cleanzen today.