Ring in the New Year by cleaning out something old: your spice rack.
This is the perfect time to replace those old spice jars that have been
on your spice rack so long you can’t even remember when you bought
to them.
Ground herbs and spices retain their best flavor for only one year. so tone
Bring out those jars from times gone by. Whole spices will retain their flavor for
up to 2 years, so you can keep them a little longer.
To determine if a spice is so old that it needs to be replaced, check
see if the color has faded, or if the spice has caked. an unpleasant
The smell is another sign that the spices are past their prime.
Light, heat and humidity cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor
faster. Move your spice rack away from the stove if that’s where
you got it now. It’s also best to choose ground herbs and spices in
metal cans with tight-fitting lids (instead of clear glass jars) to decrease their
light exposure. Also, keep them in a cool, dry cabinet or pantry and
They will retain their flavor for longer.
Buy smaller amounts of herbs and spices that you don’t use much
often, then next year at this time “ring in the new” will be fast and
easy.