How to tell if your spices are off, according to a food expert
Spices are known for their long shelf life, but that doesn't mean they don't expire.
Generally speaking, they can last anywhere from one to three years, depending on how they are stored.
Now, a cooking expert has revealed the easiest way to tell whether your spices are off and the best way to increase their longevity.
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Unlike many foods, spices aren't usually harmful to consume past their best-before date, but they do lose their flavour potency.
Cookbook author and RecipeTin Eats creator Nagi Maehashi has shared how to avoid cooking with expired spices and herbs that don't add aroma to meals.
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Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald, Maehashi explained herbs and spices are the key to elevating food.
The recipe writer says spices that haven't been packaged into well-sealed glasses or airtight containers are susceptible to moisture and don't retain freshness.
Storing spices in airtight containers is the best way to keep them fresh. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Maehashi stores her flavour creators in Kmart jars and a Bunnings spice rack, which you can also decant your spices into.
"I like to see my spices and grab them instantly, so I've never stored them in drawers," she said of her spice section that sits on her kitchen bench.
Maehashi recommends performing the sniff test to determine whether your spices have exceeded their use-by date.
"If it doesn't smell like it's supposed to smell, then you know it's completely dead,' she told the publication.
Adding expired spice into your cooking can make for a grainy and unflavoured meal. Getty Images/iStockphoto
"Spices that are too old lose flavour, and it doesn't matter how much cumin you put into a dish, you can't taste it, and the dish just gets grainy," she warned.
Due to the potent nature of spices, if you notice when smelling them that the scent isn't strong or you can't decipher what the spice is, you can reasonably assume it is out of date.
Store your spices in an airtight container or jar to avoid this situation.
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