When to Revamp Your Spice Rack Ingredients
Do you still have the same spice rack (and spices) that you received as a wedding gift 15 years ago? How do you know if old spices are dangerous to use? When do spices they spoil and how?
Spices never get too old to use! But they DO spoil. Spices and dried herbs are not perishable so you do not need to worry about getting sick when cooking with old spices. A great way to ruin the flavors of your spices, though, is to shake the bottle directly over a steaming pan while cooking or storing on the back ledge of your oven. Heat and moisture can make your spices lose their unique flavors.
Rules Of Thumb for the BEST spice flavors:
- Buy WHOLE spices (like vanilla beans) every 4 years. Some spices like whole peppercorns and cinnamon sticks hold up indefinitely.
- Buy your GROUND/DRIED spices every 2 years.
- Buy HERBS every year or when they lose their color.
Store spices and herbs in a cool place in air-tight containers to keep the unique flavors in tact for longer.
What do YOU have in your Spice Rack?
Common WHOLE spices: allspice. peppercorns, nutmegs, cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans (soft is ideal), cloves, cardamom and cumin.
Common GROUND/DRIED spices: adobo seasoning, cumin, cayenne pepper, celery seed, chili powder, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cream of tartar, nutmeg, oregano and mustard seed.
Common HERBS: bay leaves, tarragon, oregano, thyme
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Published in: Cooking
CHAN LEE PENG | Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
This is a very useful info. Thanks for sharing, my friend, and have my liked it. Thanks again.
Juice My Lemons | Aug 4, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Chan, You’re the best!