Cleaning Out the Spice Rack - Big Y® World Class Market®

“The idea of spring cleaning is especially relevant to the spice rack,” says Kevan Vetter, executive chef at McCormick®, America’s favorite spice maker. “A lot of times people will keep the same herbs and spices in their cabinet for years, not realizing that flavor and aroma tend to fade over time.”

McCormick logo

He offers the following simple tips for ensuring your herbs and spices are at their freshest and ready to complement the season’s signature flavors:

Sight -- Check that the colors of your spices and herbs are vibrant. If the color has faded, so has the flavor.

Smell and Taste -- Rub or crush the spice or herb in your hand. If the aroma is weak and flavor is not apparent, it is time to replace it.

Storage:

Keep spices and herbs away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight.
Avoid storing spices and herbs over the stove, dishwasher, sink, or near a window.
Members of the red pepper family, including paprika and chili powder, will retain their color and remain fresher when stored in the refrigerator.

Usage

Try not to sprinkle spices and herbs directly from the bottle into a steaming pot. Repeated exposure to heat and moisture will hasten flavor loss and could result in caking. Instead, measure them into a cup, measuring spoon or bowl and then add them.
Be sure to use a completely dry measuring spoon when dipping it into a spice or herb.
Replace bottle lids tightly immediately after use.

Shelf Life

If you follow these simple storage and usage guidelines, your spices and herbs should retain their freshness for the following lengths of time:

Ground spices – 2-3 years
Whole spices – 3-4 years
Herbs – 1-3 years
Seasoning blends – 1-2 years
Extracts – 4 years

For more spice information and recipes, visit www.mccormick.com, or call 1-800-MEAL-TIP (1-800-632-5847).

McCormick & Company, Inc., the largest spice company in the world, keeps its finger on the pulse of flavor.