Spices are every cook’s best friend. Cooking with them is easy, but storing them is another story. If you’ve been wondering, ‘how long does spice last,’ they usually last from 1 to 3 years.
Now, if you still have some spices that you haven’t used for years and you think it’s time to dispose of them, you can try to reuse them for different purposes instead.
If you’re wondering what to do with expired spices, here are some ways to use them:
They Can Be an Easy-to-Make Paint
If you have kids at home who want to paint but you’ve run out…no problem.
Old or new spices like turmeric, paprika, nutmeg, and cinnamon added to a small amount of water work great. Just be sure your children have on old clothes that you don’t mind getting stained.
If you’re thinking, ‘does turmeric expire?’ The explanation is that all of these spices have a shelf life. You can use them longer, especially if you will store them properly. Find out if it’s time to reuse your spices and whether you’ve been storing them for too long here.
Doing research about paprika, nutmeg, and cinnamon shelf life will help you pick the spices that need to be reused.
Freshen carpet
Especially if you have pets, carpeting can start to smell. An excellent way to freshen it is by sprinkling on a little bit of ginger or rosemary, followed by vacuuming. Just be sure to avoid any spices that could cause a stain.
Revive them
Don’t toss out your old spices…revive them. By toasting cumin seeds, black pepper, and even ground spices, their flavor will come alive.Â
Grow healthy plants
A lot of spices are rich in minerals and vitamins. So, by adding just a pinch to your plants, they’ll grow healthy and strong. One of the best options is a blend of ground thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and oregano.
Handmade soap
Instead of buying soap from the store, a lot of people now make it at home.
For this, you can use almost any spice you want or use more than one. Not only will you enjoy using it but this makes a great gift. Ginger, cloves, and cinnamon are favorites.
If you have these spices on hand, especially cinnamon, you may find out how long does cinnamon last here.
Potpourri
Instead of buying expensive candles or spraying your home with an air freshener, here’s a better option. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Then, add about one tablespoon of whatever spice you like best.
Not only will your house smell amazing but the fragrance will last a long time.
Make spice sachets
A great way to make drawers smell better is by placing a sachet inside. Spice sachets are also ideal for deodorizing closets, a basement, and even the garage.
How long does spice last: try making new blends
Mix different spices to make blends. For example, if you love cooking Italian food, mix oregano, garlic, salt, basil, marjoram, rosemary, and thyme.
Even if the spices are old, you can still cook with them. You just might need to use more to get the flavor you want.
Repel insects
With summertime just around the corner, you can expect to see all kinds of insects.
Thankfully, old spices will keep them at bay. Anything with a strong fragrance like peppermint and sage works amazingly well. Just sprinkle a little bit around the window sills and doors.
Infused oil
Whether you use infused oil in your bath water or as part of aromatherapy, you can create a concoction from old spices. For this, select the spice you like and then let it soak in jojoba oil for about six weeks. Then it’s ready to enjoy.
Plant them in your garden
You can plant a lot of old spices and they’ll grow just fine.
The best options include dill, cumin seeds, anise stars, and coriander seeds. Then, you’ll have new ones to add to your kitchen cabinet.
Homemade glue
Some people don’t think of garlic as a spice but it is. For lightweight items that have broken, here’s a cool trick. Squeeze the juice from raw garlic bulbs and then use it as an alternative to store-bought glue.
Deter animals from getting in your garden
Although you probably love wild animals, you don’t want them to destroy your garden. Old spices like cayenne pepper, chili powder, and red pepper sprinkled on the soil will work wonders.
Ever wondered, ‘does cayenne pepper go bad?’ Well, they do last for years but their quality can change over time. It may be time to use your old spices to keep your garden safe from wild animals if you think they’re no longer good for cooking.
Candle fragrance
If you enjoy making candles at home, give them a wonderful fragrance by adding some oil infused with spices to the wax. You’ll love how great this works.
Takeaway
Now that you already know the answer to the question, ‘how long does spice last,’ you can now start sorting your spice rack and get all those too old spices. What’s great is instead of throwing them away, you now have options to use them in more useful ways.
Source: Food Hacks, Earth 911, Bob Vila, Times of India