Timeline for Do certain spices really go bad? or will people without refined palates usually not tell the difference, specifically chili powder?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| Aug 4, 2021 at 14:22 | comment | added | PcMan | Just time, does not damage any of the thing we call "spices", and will have only a small influence on "herbs". What does have a HUGE impact is the presence of oxygen to oxidize, the presence of water to induce micro-organism growth, the absence of an airtight seal to allow aromatic oils to escape. High temperature does not do damage by itself, but greatly accelerates other degrading. And the ultimate herb and spice killer: light. Especially UV light. 10 minutes of direct sunlight on your dried oregano does more damage than 10 weeks of storage in an airtight container in a dark, cool pantry. | |
| Aug 3, 2021 at 14:11 | comment | added | Joe | @Matthew: well, there’s probably been some air exchange from usage, but I was thinking of the case where you have something in a glass jar that you got relatively fresh and have been keeping in a dark cabinet, and then replace it with something in a plastic container that’s been sitting on a store shelf for 6 months. I’m not saying that it’s a common occurrence, just that the situation is complicated and just replacing your spices blindly (tastelessly?) is a waste | |
| Aug 3, 2021 at 13:02 | comment | added | Matthew | Not to disagree with what you wrote, but it's also worth noting that a spice that you just opened after it sat on the store shelf for a year is probably going to be a lot better than one you opened a year ago after buying it days after it was packaged. (But, yes, it probably won't be as good as one that was packaged a few days ago.) Improper storage (meaning, exposure to light or improper temperatures) can also have a significant effect; don't leave spices sitting out on your counter! | |
| Aug 3, 2021 at 8:58 | comment | added | Tim | "If your spices seem to have no scent, then you can try using more to try to get the flavors back in balance. Although beware, because sometimes an herb or spice might lose one chemical (that's more volatile), but still have others" Dried & picked oregano being an example for that. While the original flavour fades over time, the inherent bitterness is still there and your dish might get too bitter. | |
| Aug 2, 2021 at 14:53 | history | answered | Joe | CC BY-SA 4.0 |