How do you know if spices are past their expiry date?
When it comes to spices and herbs, we often think they can stay in the drawer forever without going past their expiry date. But is that actually true?
It’s very easy to put jars of herbs and spices in the drawer or kitchen cupboard and then forget about them. Until you need them again for a particular recipe. How do you know whether you can still use them? And after how long should you replace them?
Replace them
Fresh herbs such as mint and basil are nice and easy: the leaves turn brown and the stems start to droop. Dried herbs are harder to keep track of, but we should still do so. Not all herbs stay delicious for as long as we think.
Where to store them
In principle, you can store most dried herbs and spices for as long as you like; it takes quite a while for them to actually spoil. Their flavor does deteriorate significantly after a certain amount of time. To extend this process for as long as possible, store them in a dry, not-too-warm place where mold cannot easily grow.
Less delicious
All herbs and spices get their flavor from aromatic oils that evaporate easily and gradually disappear. The longer you store them, the less delicious the herbs smell and taste. Ground spices such as turmeric and ginger powder in particular are best not stored for too long.
How long, then?
Our advice: replace ground spices in jars every year; for the rest of your spices, you can allow two years before throwing them away. Tip for when the flavor starts to fade: simply add a little extra.
