With a small amount, it should bubble.

I got some white foam and dissolving activity, so I think it's still good.

To check if your baking powder is still active, pour 1/4 cup boiling water over 1/2 tsp baking powder. If it bubbles, it's still good. If not, it's no good! If it foams when you pour over boiling water, the baking powder is active!

I'm planning to bake a cake tonight and I wasn't sure if my baking soda was good.
Thought I had a newer can, but this was all I could find in my pantry.

I will buy more when I get to the store, but it won't be tonight.

I buy baking soda rather often for different reasons, and it gets used up pretty quickly.

Baking powder is a different story. Haven't bought any in several years.

Spend the buck to get a new box. Put it in a jar. Put some blue painters tape on it and write the expiration date on the tape.

I didn't realize there was no date on this can of baking powder I found in my pantry.

But it's from a store that I don't shop at anymore, so I know it's several years old.

Since they say you can open a box of it and put it the fridge to help with odors, I figure I should protect it from odors all the time.

baking soda in mine.

Like I said... beginner baker.

Baking powder comes in cans or plastic containers.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/baking-soda-vs-baking-powder#summary

I normally put into glass jars just because I feel they keep fresher than in their original packaging.

And throw the old one away.

My yardstick for determining whether or not the stuff is still good is clumping. If any of it clumps together, no matter its age, I know the bicarb and weak acid have reacted with each other to enough of a degree to produce adequate water to cause the cornstarch to start to clump. At that point, it's time to buy a new can of it. Please note I keep it tightly sealed, even here in the desert.

biggest + fluffiests biscuits. i put old baking powder aside for biscuits. i also have a cookie recipe my grandma used cream of tartar, ran out of that + used some old baking powder + they were better.

was the answer.

it tastes like they do. 2 TSP of Cream of Tarter, 1 TSP of Baking Soda, and 1 TSP of cornstarch. So it is a 2-1-1 ratio...you can make any amount you want...way cheaper too.