PrintOverheard at Goodwill...
"Spices don't go bad. They last for years!"
Talk about making my stomach cringe! The people in question were looking at a couple of those spice jar sets that you can pick up at your local big box discount store that are already filled with dried spices.
Now, the spice gods only know how long those spices had been in those jars and these ladies did not appreciate me saying "well, yeah, in fact spices do have a shelf life. You really don't want to use spices that you don't know how long they have been sitting around." One of them looked at me and said "Well, I have some that I have been using for years and years (shudder) so you have no idea what you are talking about!"
Well, yeah, I do, I have studied about them, but still. How long have you kept a spice around?
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14 Comments:
The other night I used some lavender that I bought at least 15 years ago. It was fine. I keep some whole spices in my freezer, where they last for years. I toast them and grind them in my spice grinder.
I rarely throw out dried spices or herbs. I try to use fresh herbs whenever possible, but when I use dry, I give the jar a good sniff. If it smells like nothing but dust, I do throw it out. If I'm desperate, I just use more than the recipe calls for.
Tom Steele at 3:28PM on 01/20/08
Isn't the general rule that they're good for about a year?
That's pretty much when I replace mine.
moibec at 7:13PM on 01/20/08
I use the few dried spices that I have to quickly for them to last a couple years. 15 years?! I'm amazed!
Lilartist at 8:00PM on 01/20/08
My brother worked in the food industry and at one time, worked for a spice supplier. He gifted us all with spice racks and spices. Keep in mind that these are supposed to be very high quality spices - he said they were good for three to six months! I don't want to think about the age of some in my cabinet. I worry less about the few I freeze. Those I use frequently do get used up, but others.......... Time to purge.
PerkyMac at 8:08PM on 01/20/08
So let's take, say, tarragon. In most climates, it grows in warm weather, you harvest it and dry it, what you don't use fresh. . Now if that dried tarragon is only good 3 to 6 months, what do I do after December, or March? Do without until summer? I have no patience with a claimed life-span of under a year. It's either stale stuff or none, unless it's something that's evergreen. Yes, I do have ancient ones. No, I can't say I use them, I just never get around to pitching them.
lemons at 9:44PM on 01/20/08
note to self: never buy food items at goodwill. as if there were any risk of that in the first place.
beth1 at 9:48PM on 01/20/08
It would be helpful, since they do have a shelf life, to have an expiration date, like most other products. I certainly can't remember when I bought all the spices in my cabinet, and who knows how old they were when purchased?
Perhaps my brother's company was covering their bee hinds, but it still leads me to believe that keeping a bottle of spice for years is not a good idea. I keep all my "seed" spices in the freezer.
Ditto beth - who would even think of giving food products to a thrift store, no less buying them. I've never seen anything like that offered alongside books and toasters.
PerkyMac at 10:55PM on 01/20/08
I just threw out about 2 dozen jars that I know are at least 9 years old - needed the pantry space. I can't remember the last time I used any of them.
maryannm at 9:30AM on 01/21/08
RE: " who would even think of giving food products to a thrift store, no less buying them. "
Poor people.
Someone might even purchase a set of spices just for the rack and jars?
SB (found a neat little can of Cream of Tartar that belonged to GF's late mother. It was labeled pre-zip codes)
srhcb at 11:25AM on 01/21/08
I meant old, out of date food products. Canned goods are not typically donated to thrift stores. Not that I've ever seen, anyway. You're right - a spice rack w/spices could more typically be found in a Goodwill, though.
PerkyMac at 11:32AM on 01/21/08
beth, totally agree!
These were spice racks with filled bottles of spices. There was dust on them so again, I don't know how old they were.
I believe McCormick or is it Spice Island does put an expiration date on their spices.
I was at Goodwill, not looking for spices, but for scarves for my 5 year old's upcoming sock hop.
SayWhat at 3:22PM on 01/21/08
I have a 28 year old can of mace (not the weapon) that I keep for sentimental reasons. As for everything else, it's labeled, dated and doesn't hang around longer than six months. I recently tossed a bunch of my roommate's spices that must have been in the kitchen since polyester suits were all the rage. I have learned to buy good spices (from Pendery's, Penzey's or a reputable brick & mortar establishment) in small quantities. You have to understand, I'm used to buying in bulk but this doesn't pay if the 55 gallon drum of cinnamon doesn't taste or smell like cinnamon after six months!
chiff0nade at 3:26PM on 01/21/08
I always label any new jars of spices I buy with the date I bought it, and toss them after about 6 months.... it's not that they go bad, just lose a lot of their punch.... it wouldn't hurt anything to use spices that are older, but you won't get the same flavor.
jeepgirl42 at 8:40PM on 01/21/08
I will never forget making deviled eggs at my sister's house because when I reached for the paprika in her spice rack and started to sprinkle it on the eggs, it came out BROWN. Turned out the can had belonged to our late grandmother who had been dead about 15 years. Of course,the eggs et al went right into the trash.
I should have known better, I guess. My sister hates to cook!
joannabar at 10:54PM on 01/21/08