Does cocoa powder expire?

[siouxi31]

I'm dying to make a chocolate cake today but the cocoa powder I have is probably 3 years old. Does it expire?

 

[chell]

Mine has an expiration date on it. I don't think it can go rancid so give it a look and a quick sniff to see what you think.

 

[bicker]

There is a small amount of fat in Cocoa Powder, so it could theoretically go rancid. It would take a good long time, though -- more than three years I would think, unless it was poorly stored.

 

[siouxi31]

Thanks. I checked the carton and there is no expiration date on it. I'll give it a sniff. Hopefully I can tell if it is expired. I'm the worst at smelling things to determine if they're past their time.