Advice needed regarding out of date herbs and spices

viv0147

I have been having a sort out of my kitchen cabinets and getting rid of anything out of date but I am unsure about the herbs and spices whether they are still useable, it seems a shame to throw them away but if that is the case so be it.
I have 13 jar’s of Schwartz miscellaneous herbs and spices use by date 2009 and 6 jar’s use by 2010 some unopened I bought these when I started cooking meals for myself and I went a bit mad buying them all lol. So assuming I need to throw them out what Herbs and Spices would you regard as essential for a kitchen. Thanks


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Tryingagainandagain

I can't help with an answer but I have the same problem.:rotfl:

unimaginative_user_name

If the jars have best before dates they won't do you any harm but you will probably find the flavour is not as good as when they were fresh.

If the jars have use by dates it's not worth the risk. As the product is dry it's probably ok.

Steve059

1. Don't throw them out, just in case you do ever need them.

2. When they do eventually run out, don't buy replacements.

3. Don't buy expensive brands like Schwartz.

pigpen

if the buttons on the jars are depressed they are still fine.. just make a point of using them asap.. I've just had the same issue with jars dated 2007 and beyond..

Spices.. ditto.. just make a point of using them up.. it isn't hard to fling in a spoonful when cooking.. keep them to the front of the cupboard so they are accessible.. I am working my way through a phenomenal amount at the moment!

Honeythief

I say throw them out. You won't get nearly as nice a flavour from old herbs or spices and you are doing your cooking a disservice by using them.

In future, buy just what you need from somewhere like an Indian supermarket and definitely don't pay those Schwartz prices.

What are essentials? Depends on what you cook most often. I would find things very difficult without cumin, coriander, garlic, and ginger, but that's because I mostly cook Asian-inspired food. I rarely use herbs, except oregano in tomato-based dishes and bay leaves in beef stew.

[Deleted User]

I buy mine from Macknade farm shop in Faversham as they do nice small amounts in sealed small cellophane envelopes that I repot in tiny lock'n'lock pots.When I repot them I always write on the label when I bought them and what they are in case I forget.I haven't got a very strong sense of smell.The smaller the amount it tends to get used more often whilst if I have bought a bottle then I forget its there and end up buying more .I keep my herbs and spices in a rectangular basket in my kitchen where I can see them and use them almost daily to liven up dishes.My favourites are cinnamon and ginger.or rosemary.I certainly wouldn't bother with the more expensive Schwarz ones ,for one thing you can't get a tea spoon into the bottle .The only thing I buy in larger quantities is Vanilla Essence which I buy a big bottle as I do use quite a bit in biscuits and cakes I hate those tiny bottles of 'flavouring'.I do buy vanilla sticks that I put into my caster sugar jar to flavour the sugar,I get those at the farm shop as well and they are only 60p for two.I must admit that if you live anywhere near to Faversham and like cooking, that shop is brilliant as its a bit like a Harrods food hall as they sell such a lot of gorgeous stuff.I could spend a fortune in there ,just the smell of the place alone its delicious :):)

honeythewitch

One day I will get around to having pretty labels on the jars, but in the meantime I cut off the bit of the packet with the name on and shove it to the front of the jar.
Glass jars are convenient but the light spoils herbs and spices so if it is something you dont use often it is better inside the cupboard. (Or fridge if anybody has the room)

BitterAndTwisted

Keep on using them until there's no discernable flavour or aroma left. There's no harm in using dried goods well past their "best before" date but with herbs and spices you'll probably need to use them in greater quantities.

yellowbelly3

I used to keep lots of herbs and spices for years past their sell-by dates - not any more! A visiting friend who had moved to France asked me if I would give her some of my Indian spices (ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, etc) as she had difficulty in sourcing them in her part of the country.

I had an e-mail from her about a month later, saying when she opened one of the containers to use, she saw it moving before her eyes! It was undulating with living creatures, tiny, tiny insects that must have been dormant in there.

I know not to keep flour past its use-by date because of weevils, now I know not to keep spices either! I don't think you would have the same problem with dried herbs, though, they should be fine.

Kirri

JackieO wrote: »

I buy mine from Macknade farm shop in Faversham as they do nice small amounts in sealed small cellophane envelopes that I repot in tiny lock'n'lock pots.When I repot them I always write on the label when I bought them and what they are in case I forget.I haven't got a very strong sense of smell.The smaller the amount it tends to get used more often whilst if I have bought a bottle then I forget its there and end up buying more .I keep my herbs and spices in a rectangular basket in my kitchen where I can see them and use them almost daily to liven up dishes.My favourites are cinnamon and ginger.or rosemary.I certainly wouldn't bother with the more expensive Schwarz ones ,for one thing you can't get a tea spoon into the bottle .The only thing I buy in larger quantities is Vanilla Essence which I buy a big bottle as I do use quite a bit in biscuits and cakes I hate those tiny bottles of 'flavouring'.I do buy vanilla sticks that I put into my caster sugar jar to flavour the sugar,I get those at the farm shop as well and they are only 60p for two.I must admit that if you live anywhere near to Faversham and like cooking, that shop is brilliant as its a bit like a Harrods food hall as they sell such a lot of gorgeous stuff.I could spend a fortune in there ,just the smell of the place alone its delicious :):)

^ I've wanted to go to Macnade for ages, that's just given me another reason!


Re the OP - the flavour seems to soon go from spices but I'd carry on using them and make a point of actually using them, now I've gone back to cooking everything from scratch, especially Indian inspired dishes, I'm actually using up spices very quickly, I'd forgotten how good turmeric is in things.