---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though they have long shelf lives…"
description: "\"Even though they have long shelf lives, chemical leaveners will lose potency over time. If the only box of baking soda you have around is the one that'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg"
---

#  Even though they have long shelf lives, chemical leaveners…

![“Even though they have long shelf lives, chemical leaveners will lose potency over time. If the only box of baking soda you have around is the one that's been absorbing odors in your fridge for the last few years, it's probably a good idea to get a new box just for baking.” quote by Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg)

> “Even though they have long shelf lives, chemical leaveners will lose potency over time. If the only box of baking soda you have around is the one that's been absorbing odors in your fridge for the last few years, it's probably a good idea to get a new box just for baking.”

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Baking soda loses its leavening power over time, especially after absorbing odors; fresh soda ensures reliable results in recipes.

**In simple terms:** Old baking soda may not work well.

Key Takeaway

Replace with fresh baking soda for best results.

Themes

cooking baking food safety

Mood

practical informative

Type

educational advisory

When to use this quote

- baking cookies
- making cakes
- cleaning
- food storage

Key Concepts

chemical potency freshness

Questions to Reflect On

- How often do you check pantry staples?
- What signs indicate a leavening agent is weak?

A Different Perspective

May be unnecessary for non‑baking uses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baking soda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baking-soda/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [It's filled with... baking soda. Because it really smells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-brien/it-s-filled-with-baking-soda-because-it-really-smells/)

[Kate O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-brien/)

> [My secret weapon is baking soda. It's a great natural exfoliator; you can put it in the shower and scrub down your body, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/my-secret-weapon-is-baking-soda-it-s-a-great-natural-exfoliator-you/)

[Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/)

> [“Baking soda can take the place of most scrubbing products – I find it very helpful on my stove top or counters when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-sangree/baking-soda-can-take-the-place-of-most-scrubbing-products-i-find-it/)

Kelly Sangree

> [The arts are not frosting but baking soda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-arts-are-not-frosting-but-baking-soda/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Between my advice and baking soda, we're gonna save the world - or at least make it more polite ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miss-lora/between-my-advice-and-baking-soda-we-re-gonna-save-the-world-or-at/)

Miss Lora

> [Sure, you can mix the flour, baking soda, salt, shortening, and the whole nine yards, but why wouldn't you just pull out a box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lee/sure-you-can-mix-the-flour-baking-soda-salt-shortening-and-the-whole/)

[Sandra Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lee/)

> [I was always Armie. There couldn't be a 90-year-old Armand and a 9-day-old one. And I heard enough jokes about baking soda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie-hammer/i-was-always-armie-there-couldn-t-be-a-90-year-old-armand-and-a-9-day/)

[Armie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie-hammer/)

> [I think if the ingredients have nothing that I recognize, that kind of scares me. I like unique ingredients - like charcoal and baking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/i-think-if-the-ingredients-have-nothing-that-i-recognize-that-kind-of/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [I said I want to get outside the box, but what can I change? I don't want my cookies to reek of ammonia, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-said-i-want-to-get-outside-the-box-but-what-can-i-change-i-don-t/)

[Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/)

> [I like to take mustard baths. I combine 4 lbs Epsom salts, 3 oz mustard powder, 12 oz powdered milk, and 1/2 cup baking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/i-like-to-take-mustard-baths-i-combine-4-lbs-epsom-salts-3-oz-mustard/)

[Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/)

> [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/)

[Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/)

> [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

## More by Claire Saffitz

> [Replacing white flour with whole wheat generally makes baked goods denser, drier, and more crumbly because the germ and bran in whole wheat absorbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/replacing-white-flour-with-whole-wheat-generally-makes-baked-goods/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Usually, turkey burger recipes result in something so lifeless and tasteless that drowning one in ketchup (that most perfect and delicious of condiments) doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/usually-turkey-burger-recipes-result-in-something-so-lifeless-and/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Always bake in the center of the oven. A pan placed too close to the bottom of the oven will receive more heat radiating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/always-bake-in-the-center-of-the-oven-a-pan-placed-too-close-to-the/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Cooking has always been work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/cooking-has-always-been-work/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Lame blades can dull relatively quickly, so after slashing several loaves the blade won't slice through the dough with tremendous ease. (When this happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/lame-blades-can-dull-relatively-quickly-so-after-slashing-several/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Always use liquid measuring cups to measure liquid and dry measuring cups to measure dry. Especially when measuring flour, accuracy is important, so using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/always-use-liquid-measuring-cups-to-measure-liquid-and-dry-measuring/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [I've always just operated with the attitude that if I work just as hard as I can, everything will be fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/i-ve-always-just-operated-with-the-attitude-that-if-i-work-just-as/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Depending on when vegetables are picked, they might take different lengths of time to cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/depending-on-when-vegetables-are-picked-they-might-take-different/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Poached quince are so tender, aromatic, and rosy that you'd hardly believe the raw fruit is white, fibrous, and hard as a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/poached-quince-are-so-tender-aromatic-and-rosy-that-you-d-hardly/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [True marshmallow - and I'm not talking about those ones from a bag - is nothing more than an Italian meringue set with gelatin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/true-marshmallow-and-i-m-not-talking-about-those-ones-from-a-bag-is/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [The mild creaminess of cottage cheese makes it a perfect blank canvas for almost any flavor combination, savory or sweet. Since it's so soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/the-mild-creaminess-of-cottage-cheese-makes-it-a-perfect-blank-canvas/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [One thing I hear a lot is that people feel less stressed out after they watch 'Gourmet Makes.' There's a transference of their stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/one-thing-i-hear-a-lot-is-that-people-feel-less-stressed-out-after/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [I don't like a too-perfect cake. You want people to know it came from your kitchen and not the cake case in the bakery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/i-don-t-like-a-too-perfect-cake-you-want-people-to-know-it-came-from/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [For reasons that aren't quite clear I derive a weird and almost inappropriate pleasure from making a cake that looks like a decomposing log.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/for-reasons-that-aren-t-quite-clear-i-derive-a-weird-and-almost/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [Simmering vegetables in a covered pot over low heat so that they steam in their own liquid - a French technique called a l'etouffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/simmering-vegetables-in-a-covered-pot-over-low-heat-so-that-they/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

[Explore all 100 Claire Saffitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

## More Baking soda quotes

> [I like to take mustard baths. I combine 4 lbs Epsom salts, 3 oz mustard powder, 12 oz powdered milk, and 1/2 cup baking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/i-like-to-take-mustard-baths-i-combine-4-lbs-epsom-salts-3-oz-mustard/)

[Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/)

> [I said I want to get outside the box, but what can I change? I don't want my cookies to reek of ammonia, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-said-i-want-to-get-outside-the-box-but-what-can-i-change-i-don-t/)

[Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/)

> [I think if the ingredients have nothing that I recognize, that kind of scares me. I like unique ingredients - like charcoal and baking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/i-think-if-the-ingredients-have-nothing-that-i-recognize-that-kind-of/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [I was always Armie. There couldn't be a 90-year-old Armand and a 9-day-old one. And I heard enough jokes about baking soda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie-hammer/i-was-always-armie-there-couldn-t-be-a-90-year-old-armand-and-a-9-day/)

[Armie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie-hammer/)

> [Sure, you can mix the flour, baking soda, salt, shortening, and the whole nine yards, but why wouldn't you just pull out a box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lee/sure-you-can-mix-the-flour-baking-soda-salt-shortening-and-the-whole/)

[Sandra Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lee/)

> [“Between my advice and baking soda, we're gonna save the world - or at least make it more polite ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miss-lora/between-my-advice-and-baking-soda-we-re-gonna-save-the-world-or-at/)

Miss Lora

> [The arts are not frosting but baking soda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-arts-are-not-frosting-but-baking-soda/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Baking soda can take the place of most scrubbing products – I find it very helpful on my stove top or counters when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-sangree/baking-soda-can-take-the-place-of-most-scrubbing-products-i-find-it/)

Kelly Sangree

> [My secret weapon is baking soda. It's a great natural exfoliator; you can put it in the shower and scrub down your body, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/my-secret-weapon-is-baking-soda-it-s-a-great-natural-exfoliator-you/)

[Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/)

> [It's filled with... baking soda. Because it really smells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-brien/it-s-filled-with-baking-soda-because-it-really-smells/)

[Kate O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-brien/)

[Browse all 11 Baking soda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baking-soda/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Even though they have long shelf lives, chemical leaveners will lose potency over time. If the only box of baking soda you have around is the one that's been absorbing odors in your fridge for the last few years, it's probably a good idea to get a new box just for baking.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claire Saffitz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-chemical-leaveners-will-lose/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baking soda"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-chemical-leaveners-will-lose/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/claire-saffitz-6148_good_even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-c_1432075.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even though they have long shelf lives, chemical leaveners will lose potency over time. If the only box of…” — Claire Saffitz",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Claire Saffitz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Even though they have long shelf...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-chemical-leaveners-will-lose/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/even-though-they-have-long-shelf-lives-chemical-leaveners-will-lose/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```