Shelf Life of Spices & Dried Herbs: How to Know When Jarred Spices Have Expired by Margaret Steck
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Some cooking professionals will tell you to throw out any spices and dried herbs after six months from the date of purchase. But not all spices and herbs are created equal, and some may last up to four years in your pantry. The best rule of thumb is to check each spice’s potency before using it.
If ground spices don’t have any smell to them or they’ve lost their flavor, go ahead and toss them, and do the same with colorless, bland dried herbs, too. If you store your dried herbs and spices in a dark, dry location, they may last for a really long time!
Still worried? Here are some rules of thumb from an article on Woman's Day:
- Ground spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric) – two to three years
- Herbs (basil, oregano, parsley) – one to three years
- Seasoning blends – one to two years
- Whole spices (cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks) – up to four years
- Seeds – up to four years (except for poppy seeds and sesame seeds, which should be discarded after two years)
- Extracts – up to four years (except for vanilla extract, which may last forever)
Read about the health benefits of dried herbs and spices. And if you're not sure about your dried herbs and spices, order fresh from the links below.
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