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Even if you are the most amateur home chefs, you know that spices are the key to enhancing flavor. But … are you checking in on expiration dates?

Wait … do your dried herbs and spices go bad????

Not really. Most pantry items can last for years, if not indefinitely, including dried herbs and spices. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a shelf life in terms of freshness and flavor aka the things that matter most.

Things like air, excess heat, and even bright lights can cause your dried herbs and spices to start to lose flavor over time and if they lose flavor, well, what’s the point in using them?

The expiration date listed for your spices matters in terms of flavor, not a risk of making you sick. The longer you go after they’ve “expired,” the less taste they’ll bring to your dish.

If you’re like me, you like a good set of guidelines. Look no further:

In general:

• Ground (dried) spices will last 2-3 years.
• Whole spices will last 4-5 years.

You can apply this rule of thumb to:

• Asian spices (ginger, star anise, lemongrass, etc.)
• Indian spices (cardamom, garam masala, turmeric, etc.)
• Mexican spices (annatto, chile, oregano, etc.)
• Mediterranean spices (rosemary, thyme, sage, etc.)
• Moroccan spices (paprika, nutmeg, Ras el hanout, etc.)

If you have a super experienced palate and are sensitive to taste and flavors, some chefs recommend chucking ground spice after three months and whole spices after 10 months and starting fresh.

Salt, however, you can store indefinitely.

What do you think? Have you ever thought about this before? Was this information helpful? What other types of information would you like to read about here?

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Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

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