How long do spcies and herbs keep their freshness? They do not have an expiration date on them; so, what is the trick to telling if they are fresh and strong enough to use in a recipe?
Just smell them?? Can they go bad, where it is not best to use them?
2007-11-21 07:21:46 · 9 answers · asked by shugeradog 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
I'm told you need to replace them every 6 months. Honestly, I only change them once a year. And, that would only be a handful that fit into the replace category because I go through my most used spices in 3-6 months.
Herbs will lose their flavor before spices will. Ground spices will lose their flavor before whole spices. So If you want to maximize your investment, buy whole spices, buy in small quantities and you'll only need to replace a minor part of your spice pantry on a periodic basis.
2007-11-21 07:27:32 · answer #1 · answered by mark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you talking about canned and jarred spices? Most of the television cooks/chefs I watch say that these type spices are likely too old by the time you get them home. Certainly there is a shelf life - I believe I've read that anything more than 2-3 months is probably long enough to let go. As they age, the flavor just gets less and less noticiable. I don't think that spices and herbs go "bad" in the sense of perhaps making you sick. Well, with one exception. If it is some sort of seed or oil, there may be a limit before the oil goes bad. A lot of chefs and cooks recommend keeping nuts and seeds in the freezer or fridge to extend their shelflife.
2007-11-21 15:26:02 · answer #2 · answered by Larry V 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not very long. If kept in a dark place and air tight you can extend their shelf live.
"Stored in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place, spices retain their potency longer than you'd think — as long as 4 years for whole spices, 2 to 3 years for ground spices, and 1 to 3 years for leafy herbs, depending on the herb. Whole peppercorns, nutmegs and cinnamon sticks hold on to their flavor for ages. Particularly potent whole spices, such as cloves, cumin, and cardamom will also last for a long, long time.
Herbs lose their flavor faster than spices. Dried herbs that have no color and no or very little smell when crumbled in the palm of your hand are probably too old for practical use. Yet even if they don't look all that green anymore, but still have some oomph when crumbled in your hand, use them freely. "
2007-11-21 15:28:02 · answer #3 · answered by Iris R 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Loss of flavour & spicy impact is evident after a year ,even if stored careully ,since they do not go bad in the sense they do not deteriorate ,yet after a year you will need to use a little more than the recipe states .Best to buy a new batch of spices & herbs after a year,nothing to beat freshly nipped herbs from a garden plant ,home grown .imparts more than flavour it gives a sense of satisfaction.
2007-11-22 10:27:58 · answer #4 · answered by dee k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Herbs should be fresh... you can grow them in the garden or in a window box. You can also freeze them. If you can't do that, you can usually buy the dried herbs and keep them for a year in a dark, room temperature place.
2007-11-21 15:56:10 · answer #5 · answered by Advantage-ME 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They usually just lose some flavor--mostly smell is the only way to tell. Gourmet chefs like fresh herbs, but most home cooks aren't that picky. My experience is that they still have flavor.
2007-11-21 15:25:51 · answer #6 · answered by Nemo the geek 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The little cans last about 6 months - at that point it's time to buy some new.
2007-11-21 15:24:28 · answer #7 · answered by RancherChef 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to know if they are fresh or not fresh, open a coke and spoil the coke in it .
2007-11-21 15:32:56 · answer #8 · answered by Dave B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
forever
2007-11-21 15:24:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋