The Life of Spice

I would smell them before you decide to throw them out,if they smell strong keep them,if there is very little smell,dump.

Throw

The two year thing is because they probably lose their potency after that time but don’t think they would do you any harm.....

Bin

I’d chuck them out.

Chuck them especially if they have been opened as they will have lost their potency.

Keep if they still smell how they should.

The smell test. They do lose potency after a while.

A Christmas recipe for gammon that I make every year, includes about half a teaspoon of allspice. So about every 2 years I chuck the virtually full jar and buy another. Waste really grieves me but I don’t see an alternative.

And ditto for the mixed spice in my Christmas puddings. I so rarely use it in anything else.

It's apparently a problem regarding toxins if there's a possibility that they may have become damp at all.

We had this discussion on Gransnet about a year ago and that's what I learned.

Other than that they lose their flavour in terms of the slow leakage of volatile oils.

As long as the spices are stored properly in airtight containers or bottles u can use them.
I have cloves, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns that I am still using.
The first 3 items were a bulk buy and I have had them over 5 years. They are expensive spices. However, they still smell fresh and taste wonderful so I sill use them.

There’s no point in using them if they have no savour. Taste/smell a bit; if you can’t detect aroma or taste, check ‘em!

Chuck 'em if they've been opened a long time. They will have lost a lot of their flavour and will smell differently. I found an opened jar of paprika at the back of a cupboard - even the colour had changed. I put it straight into the bin without a backward glance.

Thank you everyone. I’ve gone through my box and most have been put in the bin. Oldest was 2002! I tipped the spices in the bin and containers in the recycle. I thought maybe I’d have a very fragrant kitchen, but I haven’t. So definitely the right decision. Thank you everyone.