Coconut milk is an incredibly versatile cooking and baking ingredient which can add a creaminess, and sweetness to a dish without dairy.

Of course, if that recipe only requires half a can, what can you do with the rest (not to mention the unopened can in your pantry)? Can coconut milk go bad?

How is Coconut Milk Made?

There are several different varieties of coconut milk on the market, but all produced by grating the white “meat” of the coconut, and then squeezing or pressing the grated coconut meat to extract the milk. For thick coconut milk, no additional liquid is added, but for thinner coconut milks, the grated meat is soaked in water before being squeezed.

Thicker coconut milk is most often used in culinary applications – many soup and sauce recipes require coconut milk in the base, as do plenty of delicious desserts. Coconut milk can also be used as a non-dairy cream substitute in cooking and baking. Thicker coconut milk is very high in fat, and almost always packaged in cans.

Thinner coconut milks that have had a lot of water added to them are most often used as a milk substitute by vegans, and those with dairy allergies. These coconut milks are often packaged in aseptic, shelf-stable containers, though there are some brands of refrigerated coconut milk available.

Can Coconut Milk Go Bad?

Like all nondairy milk products, coconut milk can in fact go bad. The shelf life of coconut milk depends on the type of milk (thick, or thin), and the packaging. Unopened coconut milk that is canned, will have a shelf life of two to five years, when properly stored.

Coconut milk that is in aseptic packaging has a shelf life of between six and twelve months, and can last for up to a month after the printed expiration date when sealed and properly stored.

Finally, coconut milk that is sold in the refrigerated section and is not in aseptic packaging should be consumed within a week of the expiration date.

Once any type of coconut milk has been opened, it will begin to spoil. Thicker coconut milks will stay good for seven to ten days in the refrigerator, while thinner milks will spoil in about seven days. Be sure to check coconut milk for freshness before using or consuming it.

Signs that Coconut Milk Has Gone Bad

Mold is a strong indicator that coconut milk has spoiled. If there are any signs of mold or a film on the surface, the coconut milk should not be consumed.

Similarly, if the milk appears chunky, darkens in color, or starts to curdle, it has gone bad and should be discarded.

Smell is another good indicator of whether or not coconut milk has spoiled. If the milk smells sour, or rancid, then it should not be consumed.

If the container appears at all swollen or bulging, that is a sure sign that the coconut milk has spoiled, and the container should be discarded.

Separation of thick coconut milk is completely normal, and is not a sign that the milk has gone bad. Often, the fat will float to the top of the can, and the more watery liquid will sink. Shaking the unopened can, or stirring an opened one, can re-mix the coconut milk.

Storing Coconut Milk

Unopened, shelf stable or canned coconut milk should be stored in a cool, dark place free from heat or humidity. Once opened, the coconut milk should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Freezing a whole container of unopened coconut milk is not recommended, as this will not dramatically increase the shelf life. Freezing leftover opened coconut milk will extend its life to six months.

Coconut milk should be frozen in an airtight container, and can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight. Try freezing coconut milk in ice cube trays to add some creaminess to your smoothies!

Cocoa powder adds such a nice richness to so many recipes without adding extra sugar or fat, but after the holiday baking is over, you may be left with a pretty full container. Can cocoa powder go bad? Should you use up the rest of the canister, or will it keep indefinitely? Read on to find out!

Can Cocoa Powder Go Bad?

Like many baking ingredients, while cocoa powder doesn’t typically spoil for a very long time, it will eventually lose its potency and will no longer flavor your baked goods in quite the same way. When properly stored, unopened cocoa powder will have a shelf life of two to three years past the printed expiration date. After this, the quality will begin to degrade. Once opened, the official shelf life of cocoa powder decreases to about a year, though there is plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that unopened cocoa powder will last for much longer before going bad, or losing flavor.

There is also the chance that cocoa powder can spoil, or become moldy, though this is quite rare. So long as cocoa powder is stored properly, and clean utensils are always used, the main concern will likely be a decline in quality and flavor.

Image used under Creative Commons from Jayca

How to Test if Cocoa Powder Has Gone Bad

To tell if the cocoa powder is still good for baking and full of flavor, taste a little bit before adding it to the recipe to make sure that the final product will actually taste chocolatey. If you can’t taste chocolate, you might want to make a trip to the grocery store!

While it’s highly unlikely to occur, cocoa powder can also eventually go rancid. The process of making cocoa powder removes most of the fat (cocoa butter) from the chocolate, but some does remain in the resulting product. About half the fat in cocoa powder is saturated fat, which is more stable than its unsaturated counterparts and less likely to go rancid, but spoilage is still possible. Storing the cocoa powder in a very warm climate can increase the likelihood that it will go rancid.

To determine if the cocoa powder in your cabinet has spoiled, give it a good sniff! Rancid food has a quite unpleasant odor, and will be easy to identify. If you find that your cocoa powder has gone rancid, it should not be consumed, as it will not only taste unpleasant, but is likely to cause digestive problems.

In rare occasions where the cocoa powder has become wet, or is stored in a moist environment, it can potentially grow mold. Any sign of mold is an indication that the cocoa powder should not be consumed.

How to Store Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder should be stored in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container. Restricting exposure to moisture, heat and oxygen is important to keep the cocoa powder from spoiling. While for most people, storing cocoa powder in the refrigerator is unnecessary, if you live in a very hot climate, this may be the best option.

Be sure that the container powder is tightly sealed while in the refrigerator to prevent any excess moisture from coming in contact with the cocoa powder. Moisture will promote mold growth, even in the cold environment.

Freezing cocoa powder isn’t really necessary, as it won’t extend the shelf life much beyond regular storage. However, if you must store cocoa powder in the freezer, be sure that the container is completely airtight, as the freezer is actually a very humid environment. Freezer bags might be too porous and let moisture in, so a more rigid container is preferred. Cocoa powder that has been frozen will thaw quite quickly because of the low moisture level, and can be used as normal in recipes. Freezing will not change the texture, and should not change the taste if the container is sealed.

Chicken broth is such a common ingredient, that you may take for granted just how long it will last in your pantry. And then there’s the question of whether that half empty container you just put in the fridge is still good.

Can chicken broth go bad, and just what is the shelf life of chicken broth? Read on to find out!

Can Chicken Broth Go Bad?

Though sealed chicken broth has a pretty long shelf life, chicken broth actually can go bad.

Commercial chicken broth is packaged in aseptic containers, and if properly stored, can have a shelf life of around a year beyond the printed date. The same shelf life applies to chicken broth packaged in cans.

Once the broth is opened, the clock begins ticking, and the shelf life will decrease to about five days.

Homemade chicken broth has a similar shelf life to opened broth, though will stay good for a bit longer if the fat is not strained out. The chicken fat will congeal in the refrigerator, forming a seal over the broth that will protect it, and keep it fresh for up to ten days.

Of course, you should always check for signs of spoilage before using broth that has been stored for more than a few days.

How to Store Chicken Broth

Unopened, packaged chicken broth should be stored in a cool, dry place. Your pantry, basement or even kitchen cabinets are all suitable options.

Once opened, the chicken broth should be stored in the refrigerator, in a container that seals tightly. If the broth was canned, you should transfer the rest of the broth to another container.

Homemade broth should be allowed to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container, and stored in the fridge.

Chicken broth can also be frozen, to keep it for even longer. Freeze chicken broth in a freezer safe, airtight container. For easier thawing, first freeze chicken broth in an ice cube tray, and then transfer the frozen cubes to a sealed container. You can add a few cubes of broth to rice or other grains cooking on the stovetop, to add some extra flavor.

While chicken broth will technically stay safe to eat indefinitely in the freezer, it will eventually begin to degrade in quality. The broth can develop strange flavors over time.

For the best quality, chicken broth should be frozen for six months. To thaw, leave the container overnight in the refrigerator, or simply transfer the frozen block of broth from the container to a pot, and heat on the stove.

Signs Chicken Broth Has Spoiled

Visual signs are a good way to initially check if broth has gone bad. Any mold that may appear (either greenish blue, or white) indicates that the broth has definitely gone bad and should be discarded.

Mold is more commonly seen in homemade broths, as more solid particles are present. If the broth becomes cloudy, or bits of sediment form, it can be a sign that the broth has spoiled, and should not be consumed.

Smell is another good indicator that chicken broth has gone bad. If the broth begins to smell sour, or in any way unpleasant, it should not be consumed.

Whether or not the broth has been previously opened, if the container is swelling or bulging in any way, this is a sign that there is bacterial growth and the broth should definitely not be consumed.

Large or sharp dents in a can may also lead to bacterial growth and potentially botulism contamination. If you are concerned that the can of broth may be contaminated, boil the unopened can for 30 minutes to eliminate any toxins before discarding in the trash.

If you’re looking forward to a baking adventure, baking powder is a must-have. And in most households, it’s a staple that we always have stored somewhere in the kitchen.

But if you’re not that big of a baker and don’t use the powder that often, questions about its shelf life and spoilage arise eventually.

And even if you use baking powder regularly, like for making pancakes every week, it takes some time until you go through the whole container. And when you find that your baked goods aren’t as fluffy as they used to, you might be wondering why.

More often than not, it’s the leavening agent’s fault, especially if the issue seems permanent, not a one-off thing. Because even though the powder doesn’t go bad like dairy or fruit, it loses its potency over time.

Can Baking Powder Ever Go Bad?

Baking powder, similarly to baking soda and most spices, doesn’t really go bad. Not on its own, at least.

If water gets to the package, clumps will form, and the product is pretty much useless. So if the powder is clumpy, wet, or there are any signs of organic growth, throw the powder out.

While baking powder doesn’t spoil in the traditional meaning of the word, its potency drops gradually. And at a certain point, the substance becomes useless, at least when it comes to using it for baking purposes. When exactly does that happen?

How Long Does Baking Powder Last?

Baking powder lasts around six months to one year [1].

No matter if you buy it in small packets or big containers, there should be a best-by date printed there. And that date is a pretty good indicator of how long, at the very least, the powder should stay potent.

Of course, it’s not like the substance will be rendered useless the next day or week. That date is always an estimate. And when it comes to baking powder, it should retain potency for at least a month past that date, possibly more.

But when you’re preparing for a critical baking project, like a birthday cake, or some baked goods for a family gathering, having an estimate isn’t good enough, right?

It’d be much better to have a sure-fire way of telling if the powder is still potent or not. And fortunately for all of us occasional bakers, there is.

How To Test If Baking Powder Is Still Good?

Testing whether the baking powder is still active is super simple. You just need half a teaspoon of the substance and some boiling or very hot water [1].

Put the powder in a bowl and pour about 1/4 cup (~60 ml) of the water over it. The solution should bubble immediately. You should end up with a decent amount of foam on top. Something like this:

If it doesn’t fizz, or only foams a little, the baking powder is old and useless for baking. Discard it and open a fresh one.

If you have some opened or even unopened “expired” baking powder, always test it before using it. Especially if you haven’t used it in more than a couple of weeks. If you bake pancakes with it regularly, and they turn out just fine, you can be reasonably sure the leavening agent does its job.

How to test if baking powder is still okay

Print

A quick and easy way to test if your baking powder is still potent.

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Half teaspoon of baking powder

Tools

• Glass water pitcher or any other vessel

Instructions

1. Measure 1/4 cup (~60 ml) of water and boil it.
2. Transfer the powder to the vessel.
3. Pour the boiling water over the baking powder.
4. If it bubbles right away, the powder is still potent. If it doesn't fizz or only foams a little, it has lost its potency.

Now that you know how to test the potency of baking powder, there’s one more thing I’d like to cover.

If you transfer baking ingredients such as flour, baking soda, and baking powder to unlabeled containers, it’s easy to get them mixed up. Especially the last two, as they serve a similar purpose.

Fortunately, it’s easy to deal with this situation too.

How To Identify Baking Powder and Baking Soda?

There are some slight differences in texture between baking powder and baking soda. The latter looks a bit more grainy and feels somewhat coarser than the former [2].

But these are just minor differences, and if you don’t have both on hand to compare, it’s difficult to say which one you have.

Fortunately, baking soda has a similar process for testing its potency. The difference between both substances is that baking soda requires acid (like vinegar or lemon juice) to react [3]. It doesn’t react with water alone.

So you can run the baking powder potency test first, and if water bubbles, you know it’s baking powder. If it doesn’t, run the baking soda potency test described in the linked article to find out if it’s potent soda.

How To Store Baking Powder?

When it comes to storage guidelines, keep the baking powder in a cool and dry place, away from any sources of moisture.

If the substance is in a paper bag, after opening you can transfer it to an airtight container for bonus points. And if you take good and proper care of the container, its contents won’t ever “spoil.” They will still lose potency over time, though.

In a Nutshell

• Keep at room temperature, away from moisture
• If it’s near or past the date on the container, check its potency using hot water
• When not sure if what you’ve got is baking soda or powder, use the potency test for both do determine which one you have

References

1. David Lebovitz: How to tell if baking powder is still good
2. Joy The Baker: Baking 101
3. Wikipedia: Baking Soda