Jan 20 2015

Tuesday’s Tip with The Kitchen Whisperer

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It’s time for Tuesday’s Tip with The Kitchen Whisperer and today we’re going to talk about spices. LOL Wha? I can’t help it. It’s just something that will pop up in my head whenever I hear the word spice. I know, I’m a dork but hey, you love me… right??? <insert excessive batting of the baby blues here>

With the holidays long gone I’m sure it’s about time to restock your pantry with chocolate chips, nuts and spices. Now while you may still be sticking to your new year’s resolution eat healthier, we can overlook the chocolate for now (yes I’m shocked too that I just uttered those words) and concentrate on your spices.

Dried spices have a shelf life; meaning they actually do go bad and expire. When’s the last time you used that container of paprika or marjoram? Has the paprika changed from a fiery bright orange to more a brownish rusty hue? But the real test to see if they are any good? Smell ’em. Your nose, knows. Remove the spice from the jar and take a whiff. *Note if you have asthma you may not want to do this. Trust me, it’s hell getting a nostril full of nutmeg and the not being able to breath. However when you smell them, the smell will be really strong. With herbs, you want to go one step further and rub them between your fingers. If the smell still isn’t strong, they’ve probably lost their luster. (Sometimes herbs don’t smell in the jar, but when rubbed they smell — so they’re still good to go.

So how often should you replace them? The general rule of thumb is every 6 months but if you keep them in a dark, dry area in an air tight container they can last up to a year. You want to ensure that the spice jar is tightly capped and kept away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight (don’t store your spices over the stove, dishwasher, sink or near a window). You might also consider refrigerating spices that belong to the red pepper family — like paprika and chili power. This will help them retain color and freshness.

What I will often do is buy the spices in bulk and make up some spice jars for holiday gifts. It saves me a couple of bucks and this way I know my friends are using fresh spices. Normally I write a note on the basket saying “Out with the old and in with the new! Toss your old spices!”