FOOD NEWS
The Easy Lemon Juice Trick You Need For Gauging The Freshness Of Baking Soda
By Garth Clingingsmith
Per NC State University, the only ingredient in baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which is “a base that reacts when it comes into contact with acids, like buttermilk, yogurt or vinegar. [...] This process is called ‘chemical leavening,’ because the trapped CO2 gas makes the dough or batter rise.” However, the older the baking soda is, the less it’ll raise your baked goods.
To check the freshness of your baking soda, all you need to do is activate that “chemical leavening” reaction with some lemon juice. Martha Stewart says, “Spoon some baking soda into a bowl [...] and add a few drops of an acidic liquid, such as lemon juice or vinegar. If it starts to fizz immediately and vigorously, the baking soda will still work well for baking recipes.”
The Food Marketing Institute’s ”The Food Keeper” suggests “storing unopened baking soda at room temperature for 18 months. After opening, store at room temperature for 6 months for best quality.” However, the life of your baking soda could be as little as 30 days if you are using it for other purposes, like an odor absorber in your fridge.