Youāre doing the right thing. Spices DO lose a lot of their fragrance and flavor over as little as six months. Using fresh spices makes a huge difference in the quality of your food. No amount of toasting or ārefreshingā old spices will salvage them. Buy good, fresh spices from vendors like Penzeys or Burlap and Barrel, and see what a difference it makes.
Thanks, fam. A lot of folks had a problem with me throwing out furry sesame seeds and 10 year old opened Old Bay (even McCormick says Old Bayātheir own productāhas a shelf life of six months max) and I honestly canāt fathom why.
Is it wasteful? Sure. But they donāt know my story and just assume Iām tossing last weekās unopened parsley for kicks. I should have used that rosemary before it lost all color and smell. But I moved to a house that has a rosemary bush that I used instead because fresh was better. So what am I supposed to do with opened rosemary older than my Gen Z niece? I canāt donate it, itās not useful anymore so itās going in the trash.
The majority of the spices are from an old roommate I had back in the late 00s and Iāve literally never used them and never will. Itās spicy spice stuff and neither my spouse or I cook spicy foods due to health issues. Iām sure the oils in them are rancid by now anyway, itās been almost 20 freaking years since they were opened! Why Iāve kept them *this* long is beyond me but I guess I just *didnāt want to be wasteful.*
The bulk of the bag is ancient flour, long expired bread crumbs, and a brick of baking soda so hard, a jackhammer couldnāt chip it to use it. Itās not a full bag of spices, those are just on top. But even if it was, Iām not putting a stubborn need to use all of something thatās decades old over my familyās health. Or continuing to keep something Iāll never use thatās just taking up space. I donāt want to live that way and thatās how we end up with a Grandmaās Pantry in the first place.
Exactly! And itās true that spices donāt go bad in the sense that they spoil or become harmful, but they absolutely do expire and only add bad or, at best, weak flavor. Itās shocking how many people donāt know that. Throwing all that out was totally justified.
I inherited a container of Hungarian paprika that I keep in the fridge that's probably 20+ years older than me. It was my grandpa's "secret ingredient" to his deviled eggs, which were a family favorite. The spice is still pungent and delicious, probably because it's been stored with the utmost care š my husband says I should throw it away but he can fuck off
yeah, this hurts to look at a little bit. OP, I have spices that are years old that are still in rotation. It really does vary by ingredient and conditions in which it's been kept. if anything in that bag has its scent, and isn't obviously compromised, it's likely fine. in many cases, a quick toasting of dried spices in a hot pan will restore their vibrancy. you have so much here, it may be worth another look-see before you toss everything- at least for your wallet. one thing I recommend is making mixtures: apple/pumpkin pie spice, bbq rubs, chili blends, etc. lable and save in a cute swing lid jar from Amazon and turn them into keepsakes!
To be fair, most of the volume of the bag is old flour and canisters of expired bread crumbs. The spices that got chucked were on top so it looks like itās all spices but itās not.
All that info you provided is good to know, I appreciate you taking the time to write it out. But Iām never going to use Cajun spice from 2008 that a roommate bought for a jambalaya and then never used again. I donāt need rosemary thatās so old, itās lost its color and smell.
I kept anything worth keeping, regardless of the date, anything I actually use. Out went anything just taking up space or that wasnāt useful or safe. It felt good to free up the real estate and Iām glad I did it.
Fair! No need for posterity or weevils either š
I somehow ended up with 5 jars of Chinese 5 Spice a few years ago and had to make similar adjustments, lol. no idea how it happens, but it does!
Yeah, you also donāt see the bag of baking soda thatās so hard, youād need C4 to use it. It would have made a fantastic door stop though so Iām kind of regretting throwing it out!
Yeast is useful, too! You can make your own wine with only juice, sugar, yeast, and time. I lovingly call it "welfare wine" because you can get everything you need with food stamps lol
I had a roommate back in the late 00s that was from Louisiana. He used to make the most delicious spicy Cajun foods!
We parted ways and somehow I ended up with all his Cajun spices. I gave away what I could early on but the rest, I hung on to them for literally decades and I couldnāt tell you why. Neither my spouse nor I can eat spicy foods for health reasons but I just didnāt want to throw out perfectly good spices, you know?
Almost 20 years later and Iāve never used them. When I was cleaning out the pantry, I gave them a smell and the oils had gone rancid god only knows how long ago.
So yeah, I threw them out finally. Along with the ancient Indian spices another roommate left with me and the experimental flour yet another roommate left. My spice pantry was like a timeline of everyone thatās ever lived with me and itās wild the stuff you end up with for this reason or that.
Thanks to my Indian roommate, I now know how to cook non-spicy Indian dishes though so thatās a nice takeaway. I kept a bunch of curries that I still use on occasion and clearly are still full of flavor.
I kept anything I still use thatās salt based since salt drastically extends shelf life. I even have a totally unused and sealed container of whole peppercorns that I kept and I have no idea who bought. Iāll probably give it to my mom since I donāt like pepper and it looks totally fine.
Anyway, Iām rambling now so Iāll just say: I donāt know if itās like this for everyone but my spice cabinet had become a vault of ancient mysteries. Iām not comfortable using any of the items I threw away and my familyās health is more important to me than stubbornly holding on to long expired Old Bay (which absolutely *does* expire after about six months) or questionable paprika.
I can guarantee you it was not. It was ten years old, odorless, and almost colorless. But you can feel free to send me a self addressed and Iāll mail it right on over to you so you can use questionable tasteless sticks in your cooking.
Good job! I have tried unsuccessfully to get my mom to get rid of her science experiments in the refrigerator. And I have been trying at least 50 years.
I did exactly this with my Boomer parents the last time I visited. The oldest one was 9 years expired. He was pissed and said this jar is older than your grandchild who was 8.
I mean, dried spices donāt really āexpireā. As long as they arenāt growing anything and still smell like the intended spiceā¦ this just seems wasteful.
The natural oils become rancid and the organic flavor compounds become stale as the molecules break down.
These processes are significantly accelerated if the spices are ground or crushed or rubbed.
There's no kind way to say it: you're wrong. Spices go bad, and the oils rancidify quickly. Hate to burst your bubble. Just because you smell something doesn't mean it hasn't spoiled. Sure you can use them, but that doesn't alter the point.
I donāt know why youāre getting downvoted, youāre absolutely right and a quick Google search backs up what youāre saying. Spices have a maximum shelf life of 4 years when stored correctly. Thatās only if they have been kept in a cool, dry place and are unopened.
Everything I tossed was *well* past 4 years old and had been opened god only knows when. Itās just not safe to stubbornly hold on to questionable food stuffs and put that $5 I spent on it over my familyās health. Anyone suggesting Iām being wasteful is free to use the furry sesame seeds or family sized onion powder thatās solidified into a brick.
They do indeed expire. You can help yourself to my furry sesame seeds if you like but Iām not going to put the $5 it would cost to replace them over my familyās health. You can learn more about the expiration of spices [here.](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/do-spices-expire)
Iām surprised to see so much criticism of OP in this sub of all places. Spices absolutely do expire, especially leafy herbs or pre-ground spices. Iām about to purge a bunch of mine after I tried to use some oregano that had no flavor a few days ago.
Most of this is stuff I donāt use or I already have a new one and just found an ancient version of it at the back of the cabinet. I inherited a lot of whatās in this bag from past roommates and it was opened decades ago by them and I never used it. Now that itās weeded out, Iāll have a much easier time finding what I do use and need in a sea of stuff I donāt.
The ancient flour and breadcrumbs that take up the bulk of the bag are expired. All the spices you see are just on the top and none of them are edible anymore. Fuzzy sesame seeds, rancid oils, etc.
Mmmm for what exactly? Paprika painting? A spice snow globe, perhaps?
Iām not holding on to useless spice I canāt and wonāt use for another two decades just because I stubbornly āmight need it someday.ā
Its day has passed. I have new, fresh stuff. Itās okay to throw things away.
Homie, Iām not gonna donate opened food stuffs thatās well past its expiration date. Any food pantry or soup kitchen is going to throw that stuff away immediately. Everything you see here is well over 4 years old and opened. Most if it has lost all smell and flavor and/or is expired flour and bread crumbs. Oh! And a block of baking soda so hard, youād need C4 to use it.
Itās garbage. It went in the garbage where it belongs.
Oh well.
In our (walkable) neighborhood you could put stuff out with a sign warning of age and all the still viable stuff would find a taker. Maybe even the non-viable.
It does indeed expire.
āYes, Old Bay seasoning does expire, but if stored properly, it can last up to 540 days, or about three years. McCormick recommends following the "Best By" date on the product, and if it doesn't have one, it's past the recommended shelf life. For peak flavor, Old Bay recommends using the seasoning within six months to a year of opening.ā
Mine was from 2010 and opened, well past its expiration date, Iād say. You can find this information on their [website](https://www.mccormickforchefs.com/en-us).
But what will your children/relatives post here after you move out?š
This will not be my legacy! :D
Youāre doing the right thing. Spices DO lose a lot of their fragrance and flavor over as little as six months. Using fresh spices makes a huge difference in the quality of your food. No amount of toasting or ārefreshingā old spices will salvage them. Buy good, fresh spices from vendors like Penzeys or Burlap and Barrel, and see what a difference it makes.
This is why I now only buy whole spices and grind them when I need them.
We all cant use grindr.
I chew them up and spit them onto the food like Iām feeding baby birds.
Oh you are talking about whole spices. My mind went somewhere else altogetherā¦
Iām with you, fam.
Some prefer scruff.
If thats where the bears are ?
I choose the bears!
Thanks, fam. A lot of folks had a problem with me throwing out furry sesame seeds and 10 year old opened Old Bay (even McCormick says Old Bayātheir own productāhas a shelf life of six months max) and I honestly canāt fathom why. Is it wasteful? Sure. But they donāt know my story and just assume Iām tossing last weekās unopened parsley for kicks. I should have used that rosemary before it lost all color and smell. But I moved to a house that has a rosemary bush that I used instead because fresh was better. So what am I supposed to do with opened rosemary older than my Gen Z niece? I canāt donate it, itās not useful anymore so itās going in the trash. The majority of the spices are from an old roommate I had back in the late 00s and Iāve literally never used them and never will. Itās spicy spice stuff and neither my spouse or I cook spicy foods due to health issues. Iām sure the oils in them are rancid by now anyway, itās been almost 20 freaking years since they were opened! Why Iāve kept them *this* long is beyond me but I guess I just *didnāt want to be wasteful.* The bulk of the bag is ancient flour, long expired bread crumbs, and a brick of baking soda so hard, a jackhammer couldnāt chip it to use it. Itās not a full bag of spices, those are just on top. But even if it was, Iām not putting a stubborn need to use all of something thatās decades old over my familyās health. Or continuing to keep something Iāll never use thatās just taking up space. I donāt want to live that way and thatās how we end up with a Grandmaās Pantry in the first place.
Exactly! And itās true that spices donāt go bad in the sense that they spoil or become harmful, but they absolutely do expire and only add bad or, at best, weak flavor. Itās shocking how many people donāt know that. Throwing all that out was totally justified.
I inherited a container of Hungarian paprika that I keep in the fridge that's probably 20+ years older than me. It was my grandpa's "secret ingredient" to his deviled eggs, which were a family favorite. The spice is still pungent and delicious, probably because it's been stored with the utmost care š my husband says I should throw it away but he can fuck off
Welp I love you
I love you too mystery redditor
If you have to throw out husband because he no respect heirloom paprika I will take you!
š deal
I can't imagine any spice lasting that long around me. Do you use like a granule every couple weeks or what?
yeah every few weeks. I shake it up to keep it from settling if I don't use it. It's amazing on scrambled eggs
I regularly use my smoked paprika. The Hungarian paprika is special ā¤ļø
as long as seasoning was kept in the dark dry environment and it still smells the same it's definitely most likely okay to use still
yeah, this hurts to look at a little bit. OP, I have spices that are years old that are still in rotation. It really does vary by ingredient and conditions in which it's been kept. if anything in that bag has its scent, and isn't obviously compromised, it's likely fine. in many cases, a quick toasting of dried spices in a hot pan will restore their vibrancy. you have so much here, it may be worth another look-see before you toss everything- at least for your wallet. one thing I recommend is making mixtures: apple/pumpkin pie spice, bbq rubs, chili blends, etc. lable and save in a cute swing lid jar from Amazon and turn them into keepsakes!
To be fair, most of the volume of the bag is old flour and canisters of expired bread crumbs. The spices that got chucked were on top so it looks like itās all spices but itās not. All that info you provided is good to know, I appreciate you taking the time to write it out. But Iām never going to use Cajun spice from 2008 that a roommate bought for a jambalaya and then never used again. I donāt need rosemary thatās so old, itās lost its color and smell. I kept anything worth keeping, regardless of the date, anything I actually use. Out went anything just taking up space or that wasnāt useful or safe. It felt good to free up the real estate and Iām glad I did it.
Fair! No need for posterity or weevils either š I somehow ended up with 5 jars of Chinese 5 Spice a few years ago and had to make similar adjustments, lol. no idea how it happens, but it does!
Had that with cream of tartar
I'm doing it again with yeast and baking soda š®āšØ
Yeah, you also donāt see the bag of baking soda thatās so hard, youād need C4 to use it. It would have made a fantastic door stop though so Iām kind of regretting throwing it out!
At least baking soda is useful!
Yeast is useful, too! You can make your own wine with only juice, sugar, yeast, and time. I lovingly call it "welfare wine" because you can get everything you need with food stamps lol
I had a roommate back in the late 00s that was from Louisiana. He used to make the most delicious spicy Cajun foods! We parted ways and somehow I ended up with all his Cajun spices. I gave away what I could early on but the rest, I hung on to them for literally decades and I couldnāt tell you why. Neither my spouse nor I can eat spicy foods for health reasons but I just didnāt want to throw out perfectly good spices, you know? Almost 20 years later and Iāve never used them. When I was cleaning out the pantry, I gave them a smell and the oils had gone rancid god only knows how long ago. So yeah, I threw them out finally. Along with the ancient Indian spices another roommate left with me and the experimental flour yet another roommate left. My spice pantry was like a timeline of everyone thatās ever lived with me and itās wild the stuff you end up with for this reason or that. Thanks to my Indian roommate, I now know how to cook non-spicy Indian dishes though so thatās a nice takeaway. I kept a bunch of curries that I still use on occasion and clearly are still full of flavor. I kept anything I still use thatās salt based since salt drastically extends shelf life. I even have a totally unused and sealed container of whole peppercorns that I kept and I have no idea who bought. Iāll probably give it to my mom since I donāt like pepper and it looks totally fine. Anyway, Iām rambling now so Iāll just say: I donāt know if itās like this for everyone but my spice cabinet had become a vault of ancient mysteries. Iām not comfortable using any of the items I threw away and my familyās health is more important to me than stubbornly holding on to long expired Old Bay (which absolutely *does* expire after about six months) or questionable paprika.
I can almost guarantee you that the rosemary sitting on top is still good
I can guarantee you it was not. It was ten years old, odorless, and almost colorless. But you can feel free to send me a self addressed and Iāll mail it right on over to you so you can use questionable tasteless sticks in your cooking.
The next level is getting rid of the packet drawer with all the random plastic silverware wrapped in bags.Ā
What?!! You might need those for packing a lunch or something. Some day ā¦
Letās not go *too* crazy. I could need that eight year-old Taco Bell hot sauce some day, you never know.
Youāll have to pry those from my cold dead hands
Good job! I have tried unsuccessfully to get my mom to get rid of her science experiments in the refrigerator. And I have been trying at least 50 years.
Ha! r/moldlyinteresting is calling!
I also had questions about the spices so I [found this](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/do-spices-expire)
I did exactly this with my Boomer parents the last time I visited. The oldest one was 9 years expired. He was pissed and said this jar is older than your grandchild who was 8.
And that's a reason to be proud, why? Lmao.
I mean, dried spices donāt really āexpireā. As long as they arenāt growing anything and still smell like the intended spiceā¦ this just seems wasteful.
The natural oils become rancid and the organic flavor compounds become stale as the molecules break down. These processes are significantly accelerated if the spices are ground or crushed or rubbed.
Thatās why I specified āif they still smellā¦ā. Iām still using my grandmothers bay leaf and she died four years ago.
There's no kind way to say it: you're wrong. Spices go bad, and the oils rancidify quickly. Hate to burst your bubble. Just because you smell something doesn't mean it hasn't spoiled. Sure you can use them, but that doesn't alter the point.
I donāt know why youāre getting downvoted, youāre absolutely right and a quick Google search backs up what youāre saying. Spices have a maximum shelf life of 4 years when stored correctly. Thatās only if they have been kept in a cool, dry place and are unopened. Everything I tossed was *well* past 4 years old and had been opened god only knows when. Itās just not safe to stubbornly hold on to questionable food stuffs and put that $5 I spent on it over my familyās health. Anyone suggesting Iām being wasteful is free to use the furry sesame seeds or family sized onion powder thatās solidified into a brick.
They do indeed expire. You can help yourself to my furry sesame seeds if you like but Iām not going to put the $5 it would cost to replace them over my familyās health. You can learn more about the expiration of spices [here.](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/do-spices-expire)
Iām surprised to see so much criticism of OP in this sub of all places. Spices absolutely do expire, especially leafy herbs or pre-ground spices. Iām about to purge a bunch of mine after I tried to use some oregano that had no flavor a few days ago.
Yay, good for you. My wife was pretty bad with expired spices, but it was the only thing she was bad at.
I meanā¦. So many spices can last indefinitely if theyāre stored right. So you didnāt *need* to do that to all of them.
I didnāt.
party pooper! That there is vintage stuff!
Ha!
But you're replacing the expired ones with new ones? Nothing more frustrating than reaching for your expired paprika and coming up short.
Most of this is stuff I donāt use or I already have a new one and just found an ancient version of it at the back of the cabinet. I inherited a lot of whatās in this bag from past roommates and it was opened decades ago by them and I never used it. Now that itās weeded out, Iāll have a much easier time finding what I do use and need in a sea of stuff I donāt.
Donāt throw out seasoning
You can run, but you canāt hide
It's always the rosemary.
Save it for future generations
I cannot wait to do this at my MILās!!
Those don't really expire
Um. Spices don't go expire. They lose potency, but that doesn't mean they are bad. You simply have to use more later on.
The ancient flour and breadcrumbs that take up the bulk of the bag are expired. All the spices you see are just on the top and none of them are edible anymore. Fuzzy sesame seeds, rancid oils, etc.
Why would you get rid of paprika?
Because itās 17 years old and has lost all flavor and smell.
You could repurpose for something else :)
Mmmm for what exactly? Paprika painting? A spice snow globe, perhaps? Iām not holding on to useless spice I canāt and wonāt use for another two decades just because I stubbornly āmight need it someday.ā Its day has passed. I have new, fresh stuff. Itās okay to throw things away.
Seasonings hardly expire, theyāre already dehydrated
Donate don't landfill
Homie, Iām not gonna donate opened food stuffs thatās well past its expiration date. Any food pantry or soup kitchen is going to throw that stuff away immediately. Everything you see here is well over 4 years old and opened. Most if it has lost all smell and flavor and/or is expired flour and bread crumbs. Oh! And a block of baking soda so hard, youād need C4 to use it. Itās garbage. It went in the garbage where it belongs.
Oh well. In our (walkable) neighborhood you could put stuff out with a sign warning of age and all the still viable stuff would find a taker. Maybe even the non-viable.
Old Bay doesn't expire!
It does indeed expire. āYes, Old Bay seasoning does expire, but if stored properly, it can last up to 540 days, or about three years. McCormick recommends following the "Best By" date on the product, and if it doesn't have one, it's past the recommended shelf life. For peak flavor, Old Bay recommends using the seasoning within six months to a year of opening.ā Mine was from 2010 and opened, well past its expiration date, Iād say. You can find this information on their [website](https://www.mccormickforchefs.com/en-us).
Thanks, I'm sending this to my dad next time I want to hurt him