How Long do you keep spices?
 

I found cinnamon and baking powder in my cabinet that expired in 2012. So I bought fresh. The tv cooking shows say only keep spices for one year........ how long do you keep yours???

As long as they smell aromatic and fresh - some of them have been around for a loooooong time.

Are you supposed to get rid of them? It wasn't too long ago I went thru my space cabinet and I know many were over 35 years old - I did throw them out. Figured if they weren't used by now I never would.

Spices--if you can't smell them, you can't taste them. But they don't go bad. Just useless.

Now, baking powder, I think I'd throw it out if it has expired. I think it'll lose it effectiveness, but not sure if it actually goes bad. It's good that you bought fresh after 5 years. Ha.

I used to think that spices were good almost forever, but have changed my thinking since I learned that they are actually very good antioxidants. Now I believe they lose that quality if not fresh. But if they have no expiration date, who's to know when that time is?

I keep my spices in the freezer, so they don't get bad.

I think this question can go along with how often do you change the needle on your sewing machine!

If they are whole leaves they will last longer than the crushed pieces(oregano,thyme,etc). The oils will eventually dry out and lose their flavor.

My husband never saw a bottle or can of spice that he didn’t like, so my cupboard was overflowing with stuff that was sometimes used once and forgotten. I’ve purged most of it down to what I regularly use and that list is getting smaller as I get older and don’t cook much anymore. Most chefs agree that if you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it.

I keep my extras tightly closed in a dark pantry and have had some for many years. I do agree if you can't smell them, you can't taste them.