Baking Powder is called for in a lot of recipes, but do you know what it does? It gives the same action as yeast, but acts much more quickly. It is a leavening agent that consists of a combination of baking soda, cream of tartar, and a moisture absorber (like cornstarch). It is used in batters where there is no acid present. such as many baked goods: cookies, cakes, pastries, pies, quick bread, etc.
Baking powder should be stored at room temperature in a dry place. A cabinet or pantry away from the sink or heat source (such as the stove, direct sunlight). Do not store baking powder in the refrigerator as it may shorten the shelf life due to condensation that occurs on the can.
One tip I wanted to pass along for measuring baking powder; when you first open a can of baking powder pull back the seal and bend it in half. This will create a rim for you to use when measuring out your powder. Simply scoop your measuring spoon down into the powder and pull out under the rim of your can flattening out your measuring spoon and giving you an accurate measurement.
Baking Powder has a self life of about 24 months from the date of manufacture. If you have older baking powder in your kitchen you can test it to see how effective it still is. First stir the contents of the can to see if there are any lumps. Lumps are an indication that the baking powder has picked up moisture, and has started a reaction in the can. Next, stir 1 teaspoon baking powder into 1/3 cup of hot water. If it bubbles gently, it is fine to use. If bubbles are few and far between, then you should probably get some new powder.
Other uses for baking powder besides baking: some use it as carpet freshener. Simply sprinkle on your floors and vacuum up. You can also pour some down your garbage disposal followed by some warm water to absorb orders.
If you have any tips or hints for using baking powder I'd love to hear them, or if you have any recipes that call for baking powder be sure to link them up to this month's Iron Chef Challenge.
This post was linked to: Mingle Monday on Kd Buggie Boutique, Homemade Linky Party, Mingle Monday on Add a Pinch.
2 comments:
Great tips! I didn't know that about the shelf life! Thanks!
Good to know about the carpet thing! Learned something new today : )
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