Can I still use the following spices after the best by date? (meal, chef)
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I'm going to make dressing and probably meatloaf for thanksgiving. I was going to brave chopping a fresh onion until I looked in my cupboard and found a spice of chopped onion. The best by date says Mar 28, 2018. That's barely 7 months ago. Can I use it or should I go on ahead and get a fresh onion?
Also I have some old nutmeg and cinnamon in the cupboard as well. I'm going to make desserts so I'll have to eventually use them. Should I also get fresh spices are of those good to use as is?
Ground Nutmeg- Best By March 13, 2017
Ground Cinnamon- Best By July 25, 2018
I'm going to make dressing and probably meatloaf for thanksgiving. I was going to brave chopping a fresh onion until I looked in my cupboard and found a spice of chopped onion. The best by date says Mar 28, 2018. That's barely 7 months ago. Can I use it or should I go on ahead and get a fresh onion?
Also I have some old nutmeg and cinnamon in the cupboard as well. I'm going to make desserts so I'll have to eventually use them. Should I also get fresh spices are of those good to use as is?
Ground Nutmeg- Best By March 13, 2017
Ground Cinnamon- Best By July 25, 2018
You certainly can but they will lose a lot of their flavor if they are old. Nutmeg is probably not worth using, it does lose its strength but the cinn should be fine. I keep cinn for years.
The date on the spices/herbs is not a magical point in time when they suddenly lose half of their flavor. It happens gradually over time. It's not rapid nor drastic. Yours will certainly be fine. Are they as potent as the day you bought them? Perhaps not. Has the flavor degraded enough that there would be a noticeable difference? Probably not, unless you have a highly refined palate.
I would however suggest using a fresh onion instead of dehydrated flakes.
Spices won't become dangerous as they age. I use my nose to decide when they have lost too much flavor. If they smell good, I use them. If they smell weak, I buy new.
Spices can be expensive but I don't want to reduce the quality of my dishes or baked goods by using faded spices with reduced flavor.
Spices won't become dangerous as they age. I use my nose to decide when they have lost too much flavor. If they smell good, I use them. If they smell weak, I buy new.
Spices can be expensive but I don't want to reduce the quality of my dishes or baked goods by using faded spices with reduced flavor.
This. Sniff them to tell if they seem to be full strength. You can also taste a little. Use fresh onion though, not dehydrated or powder.
If you have doubts, don’t take a chance. Buy new.
Often you can buy a small amount if herb or spice in the bulk food aisle of a large grocer. That way you don’t end up with an old, expired tin of nothing much.
The date on the spices/herbs is not a magical point in time when they suddenly lose half of their flavor. It happens gradually over time. It's not rapid nor drastic. Yours will certainly be fine. Are they as potent as the day you bought them? Perhaps not. Has the flavor degraded enough that there would be a noticeable difference? Probably not, unless you have a highly refined palate.
I would however suggest using a fresh onion instead of dehydrated flakes.
Spices used to be slowly shipped thousands of miles from other continents on ships and in caravans. A few months in your cabinet is not going to do much damage.
I'm still using a rather large box of Cajun seasoning that I brought home from Mom and Dad's when we cleaned out their house. I can see why they never finished it as it must have been very spicy back in the day but it's just right for what I use it for.
If I were trying a new Cajun recipe I'd probably buy the new spices from the recipe.
Because I only do Thanksgiving once a year I buy fresh poultry seasoning and sage for the dressing every year. Everything's got to be the best for that meal! Only Chef Daughter and I would notice but that's half the family. LOL
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