Spice Hoarder

[Cooperman]

I must have hundreds of dollars worth of spices in my pantry, and some of them could be 20 years old. I use to think that quantity was better then quality, but now I'm thinking otherwise. I have everything from Chinese 5 spice to juniper berries. I have many of those Tone's restaurant size container which I'll never use up. I have at least 10 different rubs. Not to mention all the baking stuff. What made me think I need to get rid of some or most of these spices, was when I opened up a 20 oz Tone's lemon pepper, and it was wet and clumped together, so I threw it out. Some or most of these spices must have lost a lot of there flavor or freshness? I would like to know how others manage the shelf life of their spices, and what quantities they purchase, how you store them. etc.

[smurfy]

great topic Cooperman!!!!!!! I will be interested in responses also as I have spices that I think came over on the mayflower as well!

hopefully LL wont hijack this thread like he usually does!!!!!

[RebelSS]

I go thru mine every Fall, Cooperman. Tossed more than a few last Fall. I usually buy (or try to) the ones in glass, like Spice Islands or the better brands. Ones I use a lot of, like chopped chives, cilantro and dill, I'll buy a cheaper brand and in the bigger jars, pouring them into the glass ones I have saved.The ones like onion powder and rosemary go pretty fast. Mine are on a wall in the kitchen by a pantry cupboard, that I use a lot. Thirty six of those. (had to make my own rack) The others are in a tall "pantry cupboard". Nice and dark, which I think helps to keep them fresher. I also keep the paper seal after I pull it off and push it back into the cap,so it seals down tight. Other than keeping them cool (never put behind or above a stove) and buying a good brand, using them within 6 months or so, I don't think there's a lot you can do to keep them fresh beyond that.

[Dotch]

I tend to limit quantity and buy roughly what I think I will use so I throw very little anymore. Easier when it's just the two of us and we're not entertaining large groups frequently. Some of them go flat within 6 months to a year as Reb said so no need to buy extra just because it's on sale or it's cheaper per unit to buy larger quantities. Sometimes it's on sale for a reason and one of those reasons can be it's getting old. Brand availability is not always the same here either as it is in some of the larger markets so I don't get too hung up on that. Some brands of some spices I tend to like better than others. Some of the best curry powder I've bought is actually the little local store brand. I do buy stuff like Grill Mates seasonings as it's handy but there again, buying too much ahead, it tends to get cake up if you don't use it up fairly quickly once it's open. Cool, dark and dry for storage is key. 

[reinhard1]

Spices go flat over time and that includes sausage seasoning.  As said before keep them in a cool and dry place and make sure they are sealed all the time.  I try to rotate and watch what I have on hand with everything I buy fresh, froze, or dry stuff like seasonings but I screw up all the time and find things.  They should all have code dates on them, and they are usually long code dates.  I have some that supposed to go bad in 2019.  I don't pay attention to that.  Once the seal is broken that goes out the window.  good luck.

[leechlake]

The only thing we run out of around here is black pepper and garlic powder.  I'm very judicious on buying spices and just work with what's at hand.  I do make my own vanilla extract which is really good.  I grow the vanilla and it really makes the house smell wonderful. I'd pass on how I do it but this isn't the thread for that.  Great post on spices, thanks.

[Moon Lake Refuge]

I throw out half or more of what I buy  Think a small thing of damp rid or other moisture management is worth it in a pantry?  Do you all wait for the clumping as they get old or just throw by date or aged days?  My wife just purged almost my entire cupboard and even though a couple were dated I was still using them and had plenty of flavor.

[smurfy]

I actually grow some of my seasonings. Chives, parsley, thyme, oregano, cilantro, couple more I can't think of. Not a fan of rosemary though.

[leechlake]

1 hour ago, delcecchi said:

You grow Vanilla?   Got a greenhouse?  Or do you do it next to the rest of the herb under the halogen lights? 

Watch out for the sheriff with the ir camera in the plane... 

HIJACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ATTEMPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since I don't drink I'm pretty sure smoking weed isn't allowed either but next meeting I will check with some of the veteran guys and see what's allowed.  I think I could do some engineering if I got high. 

Kind of paranoid Del about that plane?  Don't take the foil hat off or they can see the mushrooms you brought home!!!

Edited March 18, 2016 by leechlake

[delcecchi]

No mushrooms or cactus.  You are the one with the grow operation growing 'vanilla".  

[ThunderLund78]

Please DO start a thread with the homemade vanilla extract, LeechLake... I'm intrigued.

[OLE77]

5 hours ago, smurfy said:

I actually grow some of my seasonings. Chives, parsley, thyme, oregano, cilantro, couple more I can't think of. Not a fan of rosemary though.

Not a Prime Rib fan Smurf. Rosemary, Thyme, Basil. Slow cook and enjoy.

[Cooperman]

We'll today will be a fresh start. Out they go. I'm not excited about the waste, but I am excited to open up all the cupboard space. And from now on I will take all your advice, and manage it better.

Thanks All

[RebelSS]

I just threw two away today, too. The lemon-pepper and my Cajun seasoning were el clumpo.  *TOSS* 

[Pat K]

My mother grew up during the depression and was a bit of a hoarder. One time trying to thin things out in her house, probably in the late 1990's, we convinced her that any food packages that didn't have a bar code on them were probably past their prime and should be pitched.

[delcecchi]

I can top that.  We went to clean out the garage after my dad passed, and threw away a jar with some bent nails, and a half used book of matches.  My mom got them out of the trash and said "someone could use those". 

We gave up, had a nice visit and went home. 

[RebelSS]

Thank god I '"partially hoard". I call it "constructive saving". Never would have found string otherwise to tie up the legs of my cornish hen I had for Thanksgiving dinner. Bought some cooking string the next day. Going in use on hen #2 in about twenty minutes....after I rub it with my still fresh sage, rosemary and thyme.....

[leechlake]

11 minutes ago, delcecchi said:

I can top that.  We went to clean out the garage after my dad passed, and threw away a jar with some bent nails, and a half used book of matches.  My mom got them out of the trash and said "someone could use those". 

We gave up, had a nice visit and went home. 

Del- that's your best post ever.  I spit pop all over the Mac screen.  It's just amazing isn't it?

[delcecchi]

1 hour ago, leechlake said:

Del- that's your best post ever.  I spit pop all over the Mac screen.  It's just amazing isn't it?

Thanks.  You can't imagine what all was in the garage.      The depression must have been something, eh? 

Here you go, lamb and freebies.  Bahhh

Don't say I never did anything for you... Penzy's is a fancy spice place with mail order and stores, including two in twin cities.  

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[RebelSS]

I thought about Del while I was preparing my hen today...had a new bottle of Rubbed Delmation Sage. O wait, it's Dalmation Sage. My bad. No dogs were harmed in the process. 

 

[delcecchi]

Found out "Dalmatia" used to be a country in Yugoslavia or Czechoslovokia or something, back in the day. 

[leech~~]

On 3/18/2016 at 0:54 PM, Cooperman said:

I must have hundreds of dollars worth of spices in my pantry, and some of them could be 20 years old. I use to think that quantity was better then quality, but now I'm thinking otherwise. I have everything from Chinese 5 spice to juniper berries. I have many of those Tone's restaurant size container which I'll never use up. I have at least 10 different rubs. Not to mention all the baking stuff. What made me think I need to get rid of some or most of these spices, was when I opened up a 20 oz Tone's lemon pepper, and it was wet and clumped together, so I threw it out. Some or most of these spices must have lost a lot of there flavor or freshness? I would like to know how others manage the shelf life of their spices, and what quantities they purchase, how you store them. etc.

I would pack them all back up on the Camel and take them down the trail and resell them in the next town.

Hey, if you have any old Saffron laying around at $ 368.00 per ounce I can sell that on the black market!

Edited March 20, 2016 by leech~~

[leechlake]

You guys have brought up a treasure trove of ideas for me.  My folks place up by Walker is going to be a gold mine when I go up this weekend.  The spice rack will be one thing but the cabinet really is where the winner's will be.  About twenty years ago they became obsessed with going on an adventure to the Co-op in Hackensack to buy bulk spices.

How much Saffron can a retired couple of two use?  The problem may be some things aren't even labeled anymore.  My dad made his own "home made" syrup.  Tough recipe of one cup water, one cup brown sugar, and one cap of maple exract.  There may be a gallon jug of maple that's fermented for twenty years. 

Del- and yes there are jars of nails in the garage too.  They also sometimes picked up others trash at the "transfer station" aka dump.  Dad had an eye for used grills and when they no longer worked he couldn't pull the trigger and bring them back up there to throw away.  Behind the garage looks like a grill grave yard.  

[lovebigbluegills]

When my sister and I cleaned out my dad's house, it was along the same lines as what some of you have posted. It was kind of fun going thru the canned goods and reminiscing about how old we were when that particular label was current. 

The garage was terrible. My dad went to alot of auction sales, and as most of you know, to get the one thing you want you have to get 4 boxes of worthless unusable junk with it. Well, there were quite a few of those boxes in there to say the least.

[lovebigbluegills]

I'll be checking that Penzeys page today, thanks for posting that Del. Never heard of the place.