What Is The Shelf Life Of Spices & How To Store Them?

Monday, October 19, 2020, 20:38 | Reviewed By Karthika Thirugnanam

If you walk into your kitchen and take a look at your well-stocked spice cabinet, you may have some spices that are past their expiration date, and you may not even have realised. Yes, spices like many other foods do have a certain shelf life and when they expire they may start losing their freshness and flavour.

Spices are the basic and the most essential ingredients used in a variety of cooking techniques. They enhance flavour, taste, prevent spoilage, and add a dash of colour to your food. Without spices, your food might look colourless and taste bland.

What Is The Shelf Life Of Spices & How To Store Them?

Spices have been shown to provide innumerable health benefits such as preventing and treating several diseases such as cancer, neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases [1]. Studies have found that common spices and herbs such as oregano, clove, rosemary and sage are high in antioxidants. In fact, eating spicy foods frequently has been found to lower the risk of complications from ischemic heart and respiratory diseases [2].

Spices are available in various forms: fresh, whole-dried and ground: [3]

Fresh spices - Fresh spices such as ginger and garlic contain more flavour than their dried form, but they tend to have a shorter shelf life.
Whole-dried spices - They have a longer shelf life. Whole spices are toasted and dried.
Ground spices - Ground spices which are purchased from the market lose their freshness overtime and typically do not last more than two to three years.

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What Is The Shelf Life Of Common Herbs And Spices?

Spices are made from a plant's dried roots, stem or bark, which are used to season food. Herbs are the dried or fresh leaves of a plant which are used for flavouring and garnishing dishes.

The shelf life of dried spices and herbs depends on the type, processing and storage. Dried spices have a longer shelf life than dried herbs because spices are freshly ground and are the least processed.

Ground spices typically have a shelf life of two to three years. Some of the common ground spices are:

Garlic powder
Ginger powder
Cinnamon powder
Cardamom powder
Turmeric powder
Chilli powder
Paprika powder
Mixed spice powder
Crushed red pepper flakes
Seasoning blends

Whole spices have the longest shelf life because they are less exposed to air, light and moisture and this helps them to preserve their flavour and aromatic oils than the ground spices. Whole spices can last up to four years if they are stored properly. Some of the common whole spices are:

Coriander
Whole peppercorns
Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Fennel seeds
Caraway seeds
Cloves
Cinnamon sticks
Whole dried chilli peppers
Whole nutmeg
Lemongrass

Dried herbs have a shelf life of one to three years. Some of the common dried herbs are:

Parsley
Basil
Oregano
Rosemary
Thyme
Bay leaves
Dill
Sage
Cilantro
Mint
Marjoram

How To Know Your Spices Have Gone Bad

When a spice has gone bad, it doesn't mean that it is not fit for consumption. It might just mean that the spice has lost its peak freshness, flavour and colour.

When you buy herbs and spices from the market, the expiration date will be written on the label. Make sure to use it before the expiry date as the flavour and quality of the herb or spice stays preserved within the time frame.

If you are not sure how long the spices have been there in your kitchen, check the scent and flavour of the spice. You can do this by crushing or rubbing a small amount of spice in your palm. If it does not have a strong scent and flavour, that means it has expired.

However, it is generally safe to consume dried herbs and spices which have lost their flavour and scent and they are unlikely to make you sick.

How To Store Spices To Extend Shelf Life?

Store spices in air tight glass jars or containers to minimise the exposure to air.
Store spices in a cool, dry and dark environment away from the stove or sunlight to reduce exposure to heat, light and moisture.
When using a herb or spice, do not sprinkle it directly from the spice container over the dish as the hot steam from the dish can enter into the container and moisten it. Instead, use a spoon to sprinkle the herb or spice into the dish.
If you notice any mould in your spice containers, throw away the spice immediately.
You can store spices in glass containers or ceramic jars as they are the best options. Plastic containers can also be used but they can absorb the colour and scent of different spices and let in small amounts of air.
You can store spices in stainless steel containers, but ensure that they are stored away from the stove.
Spices and herbs do not need to be stored in the refrigerator.