What to Do With Expired Spices

If you’re like many, your spice rack contains a mix of flavors. You may have paprika for roasting chicken, cayenne for hot chocolate, and cinnamon for many dishes. Occasionally, you find old jars of spices and wonder if they still have value. What should you do with spices that seem past their prime? Experts provide insights on this topic.

Do Spices Go Bad?

"Spices don't truly expire like food can," notes Serge Krikorian, chef at Vibrant Occasions Catering. However, they can lose flavor and potency over time, but this often takes years.

How to Know When Spices Are Past Their Prime

Use these tips to decide if your spices have lost their effectiveness.

Check the "Best By" Date

After checking the spice packaging, locate the "Best By" date. This date often refers to when it was packed rather than harvested. When buying spices, aim for those with the latest dates. However, items past their "Best By" date are generally safe to use.

"After the ‘Best By’ date, spices might be less potent, but edible," states Ethan Frisch of Burlap & Barrel. You may need to use more to achieve your intended flavor.

Assess Their Potency

Avoid discarding spices purely based on the date; many remain usable. "The best way to evaluate spices is by smelling and tasting them," advises Lior Lev Sercarz, founder of La BoÎte. Ensure they retain a pleasant scent and flavor while avoiding rancid odors.

What to Do With Expired Spices

If you find that your cinnamon lacks flavor despite having a good scent, consider these options:

Replace Them

Frisch emphasizes, "Spices can be inexpensive. If yours have lost flavor, replace them. Fresh, high-quality spices cost around $10 or less per jar."

You should avoid cooking with tasteless spices, but throwing them away should be a last option.

Compost Them

If you compost at home or through municipality services, expired spices are compostable—verify local regulations for allowed items.

Give Them a New (Non-Culinary) Life

• Make a Simmering Potpourri: Combine water with your expired herbs and spices for a lovely simmering scent.
• Use as Insect Repellent: Create sachets of spices like bay leaves to deter pests—cockroaches dislike their scent. You can use expired cinnamon to keep ants away; simply sprinkle it in their paths.
• Deter Animals from the Garden: Sprinkling crushed peppers can keep deer, rabbits, and voles away.
• Create a Natural Fungicide: Mix expired cinnamon with water to combat plant fungus.

• Freshen Carpet: Sprinkle rosemary or ginger on carpets before vacuuming for a clean scent.
• Scent Homemade Soap: Incorporate aged herbs and spices into soap mixtures for enhanced fragrance.
• Color Easter Eggs: Use turmeric or paprika mixed with water to make a natural dye.
• Promote Plant Health: Herbs like thyme and oregano boost plant growth due to their nutrient content.

How to Keep Spices Fresh

To avoid expired spices, build a practical spice collection.

Most spices come from small farms, going through various sellers before reaching stores. This often results in older, less potent products on shelves. Find spices from specialty stores with better traceability for fresher options.

"Buy small amounts and replenish," advises Sercarz. Avoid buying excessive quantities, even at good prices.

Consider your cooking preferences; avoid buying spices you won't use regularly. Whole spices typically retain flavor better than ground ones, making them a better choice for infrequent users.

Store your spices in airtight containers in a cool, dark area. The location matters; avoid placing them near the stove.

Earlier, SSP told how to store spices for maximum freshness and flavor.