Okay cleaning out my spice cabinet and I found some spices that were expired. Here's a couple of examples. A big thing of cayenne pepper that says "sell by" April of 2011 (it is dry and powedered). Also a bottle of Kikkoman sweet and sour sauce (unopened) that is "best by" in April of 2011. How do I know if they are still good and when to throw them out? Is there a rule of thumb on how long after the date to throw out spices liquid or dry?

They need to be thrown out as they are almost a year past their expiration date.

Safer growing your own spices. In particular, the ones you use most often, with exception of curry medley unless you mix your own. Try it this summer, depending on where you are; cuttings can be frozen by washing, drying and chopping and put in Zip lock bags. This works for me and I don't have a lot of time to fool around with storing, but like fhe fresh herbs even frozen.



If they don't have the original scent, then they are not good to keep.

I have always gone with the notion that if it still smells like it should... I will use it.
My spices do not have a date on them and some are from the garden, so I have no clue how old they are.

Both will be fine.
The only dates that really need to be paid attention are Use Bys on fresh produce.

There is a growing industry in the UK that specialises in selling past code goods, like those you have mentioned.
I have had packet rice and other dried products a year and more passed date.
Sauces will not last as long, but a year to 18 months is well within tolerances.
If in doubt simply sample a small amount as they will not do any harm even if they don't taste any good..

I'm with the other poster, I always smell my spices and sauces before using them every time. If it smells like whatever it's supposed to smell like, it goes in the pot. :)

Smell and taste is the way to go.
Cinnamon is particularly vulnerable to "becoming old" and gets a bitter taste when expired.

Watch for bugs in old spices.
I use them years after they expire if they smell OK and have no bugs. A lot depends on how you store them.
The entire food industry wants you to throw them out and buy buy buy. They also worry about being sued. They put too many minutes on microwave food directions and all sorts of overdoing it. Use common sense.