People seem to think that spices and herbs last just this side of forever, but that is not the case. They lose flavor, texture and color over time and they no longer season your food well. The flavor can also taste old when the spice gets old. Here's keep your herbs and spices fresh for the maximum amount of time.
Instructions
Check What You Have
1. Look at your spice and herb jars and see how old they are. You may be amazed to find that some have been around longer than your firstborn. These will not taste good. Sadly, all you can do with these out of daters is toss them. Do this first so you can start with a clean slate.
2. Are you planning on moving? You may have to move-those spices anyway. Just about everyone stores them right near the stove where they're handy but this is one of the worst places to put them. Spices and herbs don't like the heat. In fact, they're downright persnickety and they don't like the light or moisture either. These things sap the spices of their flavor and that's what we buy them for, right? So they've gotta move.
3. The absolute best place to store these are in the freezer in airtight containers-like zippered bags you've flattened all the air out of. The refrigerator inside a drawer-at about mid shelf if possible-is a close second for perfect places.
4. If you're like most people, you don't have a few spices-you have half a cabinet full and there's just no room in the freezer or fridge for all of them, so now what do you do? Think dark, think dry, think cool. No, not the root cellar (you have one of those).A drawer isn't a bad choice but it has to be away from the sink, stove and dishwasher. Where? I'm sorry. I'm not making this up.This is what the spice people tell me we have to do.
5. Try a spice rack that fits in the back of a cabinet or use the aforementioned drawer that may or may not exist away from everything in your whole kitchen. Spices lay flat and organize nicely in a drawer and there are a ton of spice racks to choose from that go inside a cabinet.
6. The best deal is a pantry closet which is usually not right next to the stove or sink or fridge. If you don't have drawers in the pantry, try this. Get a sturdy box lid and use it just like a drawer. Just don't get one too big that will bend when you try to take it out.You can also do this in a freezer-just cover the whole box lid with that press and stick plastic wrap so everything stays in the box.
7. Use this rule for seasonings. Whole spices can maintain their quality for up to four years (some sources say two, some five, some six so I went for the middle of the road). Ground spices and most herbs and blended seasonings last only six months-one year-but just from cooking experience, this is a really conservative figure. I'd say if it's not longer than two years old, try it and see. It may be fine if you add just a little bit more than usual.
8. Happy cooking-- and label reading and tossing and moving and storing. Well, happy whatever anyway!
Tags: away from, longer than, them right
