Hi, All!

Okay. I was given a bunch of spices from a friend several years ago. Some are in jars and some are in tins.

How do you know when they're too old to use, please? I mean, they look and smell okay...

Thanks!

Fresh is best...

I usually smell them to see if they are still potent enough. Its not that they will spoil (unless the absorb moisture and grow fungi) but rather that over time dried herbs will often loose flavor. Some aren't so bad, for instance salt, onion powder, and a few others tend last a while (I've had some for many years) while more leafy ones will loose flavor over time. The glass ones hold flavor best, tin next, and plastic last.

Hope this Helps.

Yes, it does help, InfoJunkie4Life!

I definitely agree about the leafy stuff! Like, it would seem like dried celery leaves would have a much shorter shelf life then say one of the powdery or grainy substances.

Thanks!

I agree they do lose flavor, but are still useable... so don't throw them out. I go through mine pretty quickly, so I'm not that concerned except for the Saffron my friend bought back from Turkey for me 10 years ago:eek: although I did use some a couple weeks ago and it was good.

I have heard not to keep them over your oven also 'whoops' again I have not had a problem. I keep a lot in plastic (which isn't good I hear) but it stacks well and I go through it. Most of it will last a very long time.
My cream of tartar will probably never go bad:)

I attached a picture of some of my spices:) above the stove and some in plastic in a cabinet. Ignore the kitchen, I am painting the cabinets and right now we are in a drying time.;)

Not keeping them over the stove/oven does make a lot of sense, JD!

With the way that I've been experimenting with cooking and baking, maybe I'll be going through my spices a lot faster!

Wow! You've got a rack as well as at least part of a cupboard fully devoted to spices! I wish that mine were stored that neatly!

Yep, a cabinet over the stove and a rack. Me too!

Are you saying that you do keep yours over the stove/oven, KISS?