Kitchen

[LizzieInSRQ]

I take older herbs and spices and mix together and make  my own rub/spice mixes and use them liberally especially in my favorite Instant Pot or braising dishes.

Im a daughter of a Depression Era mother. There is no way Im throwing these in the trash if they are not rancid. I break up the clumps if humidity has gotten to them. If some have lost their potency, I use twice as much. Ill add newer into the mix to pump it up. Adding lemon zest many times as well.

[beach-mom]

@bargainsgirl - My mom kept them forever. I keep them as long as I can, but if I go to use them and they smell bad, I will toss them.

 I still refill my mom's original glass McCormick jars. Some are stamped with the original price in blue ink, like 34c!   

[judy0330]

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@Shelbelle wrote:

Forever, if they look fine and taste fine ! sometimes the color can change a bit. 

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@Shelbelle  Me too!  I have a friend who tosses her spices the minute they hit the expiration date.  She goes on and on about how you have to do that if you want them to have full flavor -- blah -- blah -- blah.  She was over once and we were making something using Herbs de Provence.  She smelled it and said that was what she means about smelling and tasting fresh.  I didn't say a word.  No reason to tell her that the bottle was at least 10 years old!!

[AuntMame]

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@beach-mom wrote:

@bargainsgirl - My mom kept them forever. I keep them as long as I can, but if I go to use them and they smell bad, I will toss them.

 I still refill my mom's original glass McCormick jars. Some are stamped with the original price in blue ink, like 34c!   

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My mom grew up during the Depression and never threw anything out. At one point I saw that she had 40-year-old spices. But then, like many Depression-era cooks she simply didn't use spices. They couldn't afford them back then. Their seasonings were onion, celery, salt and pepper. 

The taste of aging spices depends upon the spice. I have cinnamon old as Moses and it still tastes and smells o.k. Though the taste may not be as bracing as fresh cinnamon. 

I have friends who buy new spices every year. I don't do that. I usually don't toss them until their good spice smell has faded. 

However...  If I'm having friends over for a dish that is heavy on the spices, like Italian food, I go all out and buy fresh spices. There is nothing like lasagna or homemade pizza made with fresh-as-you-can-find-them spices. 

[brandiwine]

We have a wonderful spice shop close by and they sell in bulk or bottle.  I can get as little or as much as I want.  That way, everything stays fresh & potent.

[RedTop]

I buy the smallest size available, date, and usually toss in 15 months.  I only use very basic spices, nothing fancy.  

[wagirl]

I keep my spices, dried herbs in a cabinet so they are in the dark mostly. I go by what they smell like, even taste like. If they look funky, out they go--just did a big purge when I moved. But one thing I did keep--was a small plastic jar of cr of tartar-----use by date was 1994!!! Just thought it was funny--won't use it of course. I know you use it in meringue and my SIL uses it in her cookies. I can't even tell you the last time I used--obviously before 1994!!

[KBEANS]

When I read that clumps in the spices could mean moisture got in and there's a possibility bacteria could form and be harmful; I tossed all my old spices and started fresh.

Anyone ever experience buggy spices? I have, chili powder. 

Could ruin a meal if you don't notice until after you added it in.

I buy small bottles and replenish by the suggested freshness date.

[Melzie]

I try not to throw anything out if I can avoid it. If a spice is old I'll do one of three things and this usually works for me. Sometimes there is still the essence of the spice inside even if the outside looks dried out. 

Crush it up to see if it still gives off its aroma.

Put it in a hot, dry, pan to try to revive it.

Put it in oil in a pan to moisten it and then add whatever else I'm making.