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Have you started seasonal cleaning? While many use this refreshing time to clean out their pantries, freezer, and refrigerators, the spice rack always seems to go untouched. Contrary to popular belief and practice, spices do indeed expire. There are ways to tell specifically when your spices expire, but recently, McCormick Spices in Maryland posted a message to consumers regarding expiration dates.
Do Spices Expire?
The brand states that if you see Baltimore, MD on your McCormick spice label, that spice is at least 25 years old. Now that's some old spices in your spice cabinet. Current McCormick spices will read Hunt Valley, MD because that's where they are currently manufactured. Additionally, McCormick hasn't used rectangular tins for herbs and spices in 25 years, so if you have any of those lying around, go ahead and toss 'em because yes, spices do expire.



When's the last time you took a peek into your spice cabinet? You should see “Hunt Valley, MD” on McCormick labels. If...

Posted by McCormick Spice on Thursday, March 22, 2018

Because I'm from Maryland, McCormick Spices exclusively fill my spice rack because it's a nice taste of home even out here in Texas. Founded in 1889 in downtown Baltimore, McCormick has become a company synonymous with the Old Line State.

I could wax poetic about McCormick all day, but this brought up another question for me: Just how long do spices really last?
General Spice Care Amazon
Before we get into the common expiration dates of spices, it's important to note that the best way to store spices to last is in their original container or a similarly sealed airtight container. The shelf life of your spices isn't dependent on whether they're unopened or unopened, but that they're fully sealed after each use. As for seasoning blends, simply follow the two to three years guideline to ensure you take advantage of peak freshness.

It's best to store your spices in a dry environment and in a dark place, like a dark cupboard or pantry. Of course, how you organize your spices depends on your preferences, but I began to group mine by those with a shorter shelf life and those with a longer sell-by date. Spices in the red pepper family, like red pepper flakes and paprika, will store longer in the refrigerator, but the taste may slightly change.


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The spice cabinet is often overlooked during spring cleaning time. One place to start is cleaning out old spices. Here is the suggested shelf life of some popular spices: Ground Spices- 2-3 years Whole Spices - 3-4 years Seasoning Blends - 1-2 years Herbs - 1-3 years Visit link in bio for more info #linkinbio #realestate #realestateagent #realestatelife #stcharlesrealestate #spices #mccormick #springcleaning #spicerack

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Under Shelf-Stable Food Safety, the USDA defines spices as a shelf-stable product and in the case of spices, they never truly expire. What occurs over time is that the flavor and potency of that flavor wanes. Whole spices will stay fresh for about four years, while ground spices run between three and four years. For dried herbs, many will last from one to three years, but it varies depending on the type.

You can tell a spice is expired if you rub a tiny bit into your palm and take a big ol' whiff. In the sniff test, fresh spices will be very fragrant, and you'll know immediately if your spices are dull and without flavor from sitting around if you can't smell it.
Suggested Spice Expirations

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Who is jealous of my spice drawer?! It’s not quite finished yet as I didn’t have enough jars but I’m so pleased with the results so far! #goals #lifegoals #organise #organised #kitchen #spices #herbs #herbsandspices #spicerack #spicedrawer #jars #vegan #veganfoodie #vegankitchen #vegansw #veganslimmingworld #slimmingworldinsta #sw #swinsta #synfree #sundayfunday #myideaoffun

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Just about every fresh herb or vegetable will stay fresh for about five to seven days, and the ground and/or dried versions will stay fresh for about two to three years. The vibrant color of dried and ground spices and herbs will fade as they lose their fragrance and in the case of fresh leafy herbs, begin to wilt. For example, I knew my pumpkin pie spice was long expired when it was no longer a brighter orange, but instead a sad brown.

A good general rule of thumb is to put a small piece of painter's tape or Scotch tape on the bottom of your spices when you buy them and write down the date. This makes sorting through and cleaning out your spice rack so much easier. For the full list, and its exceptions, check out our round-up of spice expiration dates.


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YES!!! I'm spring cleaning like a fiend, and I just hung up my new spice rack! See it and more of my fave thrifting, organizing and cleaning tools on my Amazon page 💗 link in bio

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Allspice: Ground and dried allspice lasts about two to three years.

Basil: Fresh basil lasts about five to seven days, while ground and dried lasts about two to three years.

Bay leaves: Fresh bay leaves last about five to seven days, while ground and dried bay leaves last about two to three years.

Black pepper: Ground and dried black pepper last for about two to three years, while whole peppercorns last about five to six years.

Cayenne pepper: Fresh cayenne lasts about five to seven days, while ground cayenne pepper lasts about two to three years. Like paprika, cayenne pepper will last longer in the refrigerator, though it's not required.

Chili powder: Ground chili powder lasts about two to three years.

Cilantro: Fresh cilantro lasts about five to seven days, while ground and dried lasts about two to three years.

Cinnamon: Ground and dried cinnamon last about two to three years.

Cloves: Fresh cloves last about five to seven days, while ground and dried cloves last for two to three years. Whole cloves last four to five years.

Cream of Tartar: Ground and dried cream of tartar last about two to three years.

Cumin: Ground cumin lasts about two to three years.

Dill: Fresh dill lasts about five to seven days, while ground dill lasts about two to three years.

Garlic: Fresh garlic lasts for four to six months, while ground and dried garlic each last about two to three years.

Italian Seasoning: Ground and dried Italian Seasoning lasts for about two to three years.

Jalapeños: Fresh jalapeños last for about five to seven days, while ground and dried will last about two to three years.

Mint: Fresh mint lasts about seven to 10 days, while ground and dried mint last for about one to three years.

Mustard: Fresh mustard, not the condiment, lasts for about five to seven days. Ground and dried mustard, on the other hand, lasts for about two to three years.

Nutmeg: Ground and dried nutmeg last for about two to three years.

Onions: Fresh onions last for about five to seven days, while dried and ground onion powder lasts for about two to three years.

Oregano: Fresh oregano lasts about five to seven days, while ground and dried oregano last about two to three years.

Paprika: Dried and ground paprika last about two to three years.

Parsley: Fresh parsley will last about five to seven days, while ground and dried will last about two to three years.

Pumpkin Pie Spice: Ground pumpkin pie spice will last about two to three years.

Rosemary: Fresh rosemary will last about 10 to 14 days in the refrigerator, while dried and ground rosemary will last about one to three years.

Sage: Fresh sage will keep about 10 to 14 days in the refrigerator, while dried sage leaves will last about one to three years. Ground sage will last about three to four years.

Salt: Table salt keeps indefinitely, just like kosher salt and sea salt.

Steak Seasoning: Bottled or bulk steak seasoning will last about one to two years.

Taco Seasoning: Packets of taco seasoning will last about two to three years.

Thyme: Fresh thyme will last about 10 to 14 days in the refrigerator, while ground and dried thyme will last about three to four years.

Turmeric: Ground turmeric will last about three to four years.
Watch: The 12 Different Types of Salt

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The post When to Toss These 30 Common Spices and Herbs and Restock for Freshness appeared first on Wide Open Eats.
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