Variety Is the Spice of Life, But What Is the Shelf Life of a Spice?
Memorial Day is just around the corner and it officially kicks off the hectic moving season. As final preparations are made, your kitchen will likely present a few items that still needed to be wrapped up. If you had a good head start, your pantry, fridge and freezer should have been emptied and cleaned out of its contents by now. But alas, that may not be the case. By any means, you may have done your best to cut down the amount food you need to move with you. The fewer items you've got, the better it is.
When moving, the distance of your new home will dictate what food items you can carry or not. If the move is a short-distance one (say next town or a few blocks down the street) then you can obviously keep the majority of your food supplies. Another factor to consider is the length of time you'll be without your fridge or freezer. Such condition will determine whether you can carry a few perishables or not, or perhaps, will only have to bring dry goods to your new home. Bear in mind, most foodstuffs have an expiration date stamped on them so you'll be able to discern whether to keep them or toss them out. However, a close inspection on some food items reveals that they don't have the vital dating information. With no expiry dates to guide you, how do you determine the shelf life of a spice? How will you know if the food is or isn't safe to use? Do spices ever go bad?
Spices don't normally spoil. Instead, they lose their potency or their strength. You can consume an older spice without worrying about getting sick. What you'll notice, however, during the taste test is that the seasoning past its prime will not possess the same intense flavor that you commonly detect.
Whole herbs and spices last much longer and will remain fresh for up to 3-4 years. If you detect no aroma, it's time to throw them away.
Ground spices are easily exposed to air and have a shorter shelf life compared to whole spices. They will typically last for about 2-3 years. It's important to consider, however that ground spices before they are sold in the market were for a certain period of time stored in a warehouse so the their shelf life upon purchase may even be shorter.
Dried spices and herb mixes usually last for about 1-3 years.
Spices placed in airtight containers and stored in a cool, dry and dimly-lit place keep their freshness the longest. Exposing your herbs and spices to air, moisture and heat will erode them of their potent flavors so make sure that they are properly stored at all times.
If you're unsure of the freshness of a spice, throw it out. It's better to start fresh in your new home than to make use of unquestionable spice that can potentially harm you and your family.
When moving, the distance of your new home will dictate what food items you can carry or not. If the move is a short-distance one (say next town or a few blocks down the street) then you can obviously keep the majority of your food supplies. Another factor to consider is the length of time you'll be without your fridge or freezer. Such condition will determine whether you can carry a few perishables or not, or perhaps, will only have to bring dry goods to your new home. Bear in mind, most foodstuffs have an expiration date stamped on them so you'll be able to discern whether to keep them or toss them out. However, a close inspection on some food items reveals that they don't have the vital dating information. With no expiry dates to guide you, how do you determine the shelf life of a spice? How will you know if the food is or isn't safe to use? Do spices ever go bad?
Spices don't normally spoil. Instead, they lose their potency or their strength. You can consume an older spice without worrying about getting sick. What you'll notice, however, during the taste test is that the seasoning past its prime will not possess the same intense flavor that you commonly detect.
Whole herbs and spices last much longer and will remain fresh for up to 3-4 years. If you detect no aroma, it's time to throw them away.
Ground spices are easily exposed to air and have a shorter shelf life compared to whole spices. They will typically last for about 2-3 years. It's important to consider, however that ground spices before they are sold in the market were for a certain period of time stored in a warehouse so the their shelf life upon purchase may even be shorter.
Dried spices and herb mixes usually last for about 1-3 years.
Spices placed in airtight containers and stored in a cool, dry and dimly-lit place keep their freshness the longest. Exposing your herbs and spices to air, moisture and heat will erode them of their potent flavors so make sure that they are properly stored at all times.
If you're unsure of the freshness of a spice, throw it out. It's better to start fresh in your new home than to make use of unquestionable spice that can potentially harm you and your family.
