By Hints From Heloise
Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Dear Heloise:

I understand that baking powder has a shelf life, and that it can go bad. Can you tell us how long it remains good? Thank you.

Joe and Kay, via e-mail

It does have a shelf life, and here's how to test baking powder: Add 1 teaspoon of baking powder to 1 cup of warm water. If it starts to bubble, the powder is still active and can be used. No bubbles? Time for a new can.

Baking powder has a shelf life of about six months if stored properly -- meaning the lid is placed on tightly after every use, you use a dry spoon each time you scoop some out, and it is kept away from heat and moisture.

Did you know that you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar for baking powder? Don't make up a bunch of the substitute, because it doesn't store well. Substitutes can sure come in handy for many recipes.

It's really not a good idea to refrigerate baking powder or baking soda that is used for baking. The moisture from the fridge can cause the products to react in the can, thus making it unusable.

Dear Heloise:

I have two of those crystal salt-and-pepper sets with silver-colored tops. I forgot to empty them and wash the tops before storing, which due to the humidity in Houston is a big no-no. I had a hard time getting the tops off the salt shakers due to the fact that the salt had made a hard deposit. After scrubbing with a sponge and soaking overnight in sudsy water to no avail, I thought I'd try our old standby, vinegar. I put about 2 to 3 tablespoons in a cup of water and soaked the tops overnight, and it worked! All the salt crust was gone, and they screw on and off beautifully. I don't know if this would be safe if the tops were sterling, though.

Bobbie Perry in Houston

Nope, don't use vinegar on sterling silver -- it's not good. But vinegar is good for a million other things and is a great deodorizer, too. When painting, set out some small dishes of vinegar around the room, and the vinegar will absorb the paint smell.

You can also remove cooking odors from your home by boiling a cup of water to which 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar have been added.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it toHeloise@Heloise.com. Please include your city and state when faxing or using e-mail. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.

2006King Features Syndicate