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Does anybody shake their baking powder?

14 years ago

I've been cooking and baking for a long time, so why is it that I just saw for the FIRST time on the baking powder can DIRECTIONS!!! Has this little message always been there??

So why does it say "Shake Before Using"? Is it to poof it up so that it isn't packed into your spoon. Or has the stuff on the top lost some of its oomph?

Did everybody else know about this but me?

Grace

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Comments (24)

Fori
14 years ago
Funny!

I just saw that a week or two, also! Maybe it IS a new message (Clabber Girl brand?). At any rate, it makes it much messier when you open it since it gets between the lid and the metal top so I probably will skip shaking in the future.
shellm
14 years ago
Who Knew??

Shelley
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althetrainer
14 years ago
Definitely messy! I am a single scooper and it always worked for me so I probably won't shake it neither.
lindac
14 years ago
I am in the unusual, for me, position of using up a container of baking soda before it expires!!
Don't know what....but I must be making a lot of fattening stuff!
Both cans in my possession say to shake....I never do....and I am not about to start now!!
Linda C
Terri_PacNW
14 years ago
Yeah I've shaken it..on accident as it fell off the shelf onto the floor..the next time I opened it..what a mess!!
Cloud Swift
14 years ago
I've never shaken it (except perhaps accidentally) and never had a problem with my baked goods rising.
weedlady
14 years ago
Well I'll be! Yep, there it is in the small print... All these years...
Maybe it has to do with being sure the several ingredients stay mixed evenly, but I think more likely to fluff it up since it becomes packed down from standing (sitting?). Cuz here's the thing: when I put in my measuring spoon, I habitually give the contents a STIR--not a shake--so that it loosens up the powder & fills the spoon readily! (Reminds me of the James Bond line ... LOL)
gbsim1
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh, you just don't know how glad I am to hear that I'm not the only one who had never seen the Shake Before Using directions!!!!! Must be something new.

I"ll keep everybody posted as my curiosity got the better of me and I emailed Rumford and asked them what the reason was.

Like Linda, I'm a big bp user and have never had a tin go stale on me. I've always thought my baked goods rose just fine without the shake.

I was surprised when I googled Rumford though to see that Rumford and Clabber Girl are owned by the same company.

Grace
dgkritch
14 years ago
Stirred, not shaken, like weedlady!

Never noticed it either!

Deanna
shaun
14 years ago
Well how weird is that? I never saw that either! I'll go in there and give it a good shake, just because.
JoanM
14 years ago
So what you are saying is that there are directions on baking powder? Interesting. Never even thought to look. LOL
caliloo
14 years ago
Ive never shaken Baking powder intentionally either - Like Shellm said - who knew?!?!?!

Never had a problem either....

Alexa
lowspark
14 years ago
What'll they think of next!?
loagiehoagie
14 years ago
Sometimes I shake my booty, but never my baking powder.

Sounds painful :-)

D-
coconut_nj
14 years ago
LOL Duane. Nope, no shaking but I do usually stir it round a bit to loosen it up. I figure that's the shaking directions point, to prevent the dreaded 'clumping'.
Marilyn Sue McClintock
14 years ago
I must be the odd one here because I have always shaken my can of baking powder!

Sue
sally2_gw
14 years ago
It never occurred to me, either. Hmm.

Sally
User
14 years ago
I just went and read my can of Baking Powder just in case I've been missing something too. But there are no instructions to shake. The most common brand of Baking Powder in Canada is Magic Baking Powder. I've been using this brand all my life.

Ann
arlinek
14 years ago
I'm thinking I'd better go and read my salt container now, too!

arline
OklaMoni
14 years ago
I don't shake my baking powder, nor any of my other "spices" I use for baking and cooking.

I have a nice tupperware container from the 70's that I transfer my baking powder in to, when I get a new can. Then I write the expiration date on it, as I don't bake much anymore since my girls grew up.

To me, it is just as weird as the expiration dates that show up now on everything... that "didn't used to expire".

Moni
Marilyn Sue McClintock
14 years ago
I think the reasoning for shaking the baking powder is because it tends to settle and if it is too settled your measurments may not be true. It has more air in it after being shaken, sort of like sifting flour.

Sue
trixietx
14 years ago
Well, I just checked my Clabber Girl can and it says to shake before using. I have never seen that before, but never looked for directions on the can either. I don't even stir mine. It will be interesting to see what the reasoning is for shaking.

That funny, Duane!
dedtired
14 years ago
Who would ever think that baking soda comes with directions? I better go check the box of salt and the bag of sugar to see what I've been missing.....
jean_mi_z5
14 years ago
Hmmm..I'm wondering if it means to shake before initial use. Before opening because it settles during shipment??

Just thinkin'.

Jean

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