Spicy topic

Getting ready to move from London to Chicago and staring at my spices. Do you guys really throw yours out if they are 6 months old?

[Robin Garr]

Nope! The ones I use a lot get run through in six months or less, but i've got obscure spices that go back for years. As long as they taste okay, I'm fine with that.

Once a year for me. But it's the usual range of common herbs and spices, nothing exotic, and the local store sells them in bulk, so it's never more than a few dollars to replace them.

Agree with Robin. Whole spices hold much longer than a half-year, unless thou art especially fussy.

Might be wise to check what US Customs policy is on importing foodstuffs.

They're not known for their sense of humour.

[Jenise]

Might be wise to check what US Customs policy is on importing foodstuffs.

They're not known for their sense of humour.

Yes, the word 'herbs' can get your car searched. I drive a black Jag convertible which happens to be a drug dealer profile car, and once mentioned 'herbs' as one of the things in my grocery sack when crossing the border on my way home from Vancouver. My car was surrounded immediately and out came the canine sniffing specialist.

But back to the real topic: Whole spices and powdered versions of whole spices keep pretty well for a few years, but dried green herbs have a much shorter shelf life and I replace mine annually. I also buy direct from Penzey's so I'm getting the freshest stuff when I buy replacements--in fact, starting out that fresh changes your tolerance for old spices drastically. You get used to maximum flavor and a year later age is noticeable--the color's not as bright and when the color changes, so does the taste. You could say herbs are like wine that way.

Yep, quarantine issues can be interesting, we bought a couple sachets of pickling spices in Latvia, declared them on arriving home and it was actually rather a nice experience. The officers looked at the packet apologetically said they would have to open one to see what was therein (not a whole lot of Latvian translators available LOL) it was so weird, there was one whole spice we all were undecided about and they offered to go through the sachets and remove those so we could have the rest! Of course we chose to ditch them, they were bought on a whim and on special.

Having digressed, take the opportunity to start again, just buying as your need arises and you will always know that they cannot be older than when you moved!

[Jenise]

Might be wise to check what US Customs policy is on importing foodstuffs.

They're not known for their sense of humour.

As someone who crosses the border with food several times a month, I can avow that dried spices aren't an issue. They're not (usually) mistaken for drugs; it's fresh food that's a problem. And rice. We are only allowed to bring in rice grown in America or China, but not India or any other provenance. God knows why.

Peter, I like your new avatar!

[Robin Garr]

Peter, I like your new avatar!

In that photo, Peter bears a passing resemblance to my brother. I'm not sure what to make of that.

My avatar is a recent photo of me....