Do Spices Expire?
Spices Do Expire. Here’s Information On When And How They Expire
If you have begun your seasonal cleaning, try to be certain to include the spice rack. When cleaning out certain things, many think of the pantry, the freezer, and the refrigerator. Most, however, don’t even consider the spice rack. If you are wondering if spices ever expire, there is news that may well cause you to do a deep cleaning. Spices expire. If you wish to know how to tell when your spices expire, continue reading.
Store Spices In Their Original Container
The best way to store fresh spices so they’ll last is to either keep them in their initial, original containers or use ones that are similar to the original. The containers must be sealed and airtight. Seal the spices fully after each use. When seasoning blends are concerned, there is a guideline that says they last for two to three years. Store spices in an environment that is both dry and dark. A dark cupboard or a dark pantry will suffice.
The USDA considers spices to be products that are stable. They never actually expire. Although this is technically true, the flavor and the potency of the spice will change. The flavor and its potency diminish over time. Whole spices will be fresh for roughly four years. The expiration date, therefore, should be four years from the date of purchase. One to three years is the period that dried herbs will last. Consider the expiration date accordingly.
How Can You Tell If A Spice Has Reached Expiration?
Rub a small amount of it onto your arm and sniff it. If the spice is still fresh, it’ll be quite fragrant. If you cannot smell it, the spice is no longer fresh and has expired. Fresh herbs and vegetables will be fresh for about a week.
The color of dried, ground spices will tend to fade as they lose fragrance. The herbs that were fresh and leafy will begin to wilt.
It is suggested that you should put tape on the bottom of the spices when you purchase them. Write down the date of the purchase. When you decide to clean out the spice rack, doing this will make things a lot easier.
Ground and dried spices will tend to remain fresh for two or perhaps even three years. Steak seasoning that is bottled will last as long as two years.
Fresh basil may last for a week. Basil that is both dried and ground will last two or even three years. It’s the same for bay leaves that are ground and dried.
Spices do expire. It’s good to remember that if you enjoy fresh spices that have a strong flavor, keep a tab on how long you have them for and replace them if you do not use them all within a certain amount of time.
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Health Benefits of Chile Powder
The Many and Varied Health Benefits of Chile Powder
Chile powder is an amazing substance for a wide variety of reasons. Most people know it has a great taste, but that’s not where this substance’s impressive resume ends. Chile powder isn’t simply tasty. It also has a number of health benefits.
Chile powder alleviates coughing
One of the most important health benefits of chile powder comes from a substance called capsaicin. It works through a wide variety of different pathways within the body. But anyone who’s coughed while tasting something spicy may have experienced one of its most notable properties.
Capsaicin activates the transient receptor potential within one’s body. It starts by actually increasing one’s cough. But eventually, the transient receptor potential reaction is overwhelmed and it essentially shuts down for a while. Basically, one can think of the powder as a way of shorting out the cough reflex for a while. It’s best administered through a liquid that can coat the throat. Mixing 1/4th tsp chile powder into a cup of warm water is all it takes to find relief.
- Mix hot water and powder
- Drink the mixture while trying to maximize contact with one’s throat
- Wait while the capsaicin first triggers then suppresses the cough reflex
Chile powder can fight nasal congestion
Anyone who loves spicy food can attest to the fact that it can clear up congestion. One doesn’t even need to do anything special to take advantage of the health benefits of chile powder for nasal congestion. It’s simply a matter of eating or drinking something extremely spicy. On top of that, the powder also has some antimicrobial properties. This can help it fight off an infection while also clearing nasal passages.
- No special preparations needed
- Spices quickly reduce congestion
- Fights the infection causing the symptoms
Health benefit of chile powder can help people lose weight and keep it off
Weight is an important part of one’s health. And chile powder can help people burn fat or maintain a healthy weight. The powder is a known appetite suppressant. This means that meals using the powder are more filling. It’s also thermogenic which helps burn fat at a faster pace than normal. Finally, it’s a flavor enhancer with very few calories. It’s roughly half the calories of sugar per tablespoon. And the powder is roughly 1/4th the calories of cooking oil per tablespoon.
- Helps burn fat
- Appetite-suppressant
- Thermogenic
- Low calorie
You can find our blend of chile powder here.
Why Buy Spices Online vs. the Store
Gone are the days when you had no choice but to venture out to the store for your shopping needs. Today, online is the primary way consumers shop. But let me ask you when was the last time you went online to restock on cumin? You more than likely haven’t because you probably needed the cumin right this instant! There are several reasons why you should skip the store shelves and choose to buy spices online instead.
The first reason why to buy spices online is variety.
- Online retailers offer many unique and uncommon spices.
- Broaden your horizons on new spices, like Wattleseed or Grains of Paradise.
- Browse hundreds of spices and mix up your flavor pallet!
The second reason why to shop for spices online is that you’ll gain knowledge about the spice.
The second reason why to shop for spices online is that you’ll gain knowledge about the spice.- Product descriptions can include culture, country of origin, and traditional uses.
- Read about where and how the spice is sourced.
- Understand the flavor profile and explore recipes to use it in!
The third reason why to buy your spices online is you’ll omit the middle man.
- The process and production of spices is long: grower, harvester, initial processor, local traders, large processors, wholesalers, retailers, and last, you.
- The more hands the spice passes through the higher the cost.
- Buying straight from the source will ensure you’re buying spices fresh since they’re getting to you faster.
The fourth reason why to buy online is that you’ll be buying spices fresh and of higher quality.
- Did you know the turnaround time from picking to shelf is often 12-18 months?!
- Spices off the shelf will not be as robust since within a few months they lose flavor.
- Buying spices fresh will guarantee more flavor, aroma, and life.
- Buy spices whole for the longest shelf life and to avoid fillers, such as flours & stems, often included in ground spices.
So maybe it’s time to reexamine your spice cupboard… are some collecting dust? Toss them and check out online spice retailers for a restock of fresher, higher-quality spices. You’ll surely taste the difference and see why you should buy spices online vs. the store!
Syrian War Causes Spice Shortage – Aleppo Pepper
Aleppo Pepper is a “culinary casualty” of the Syrian War
The civil war in Syria is not only a humanitarian tragedy, but is also disrupting the global spice trade.
Syria’s rich, ancient food culture and balmy climate make it a top producer of many popular Mediterranean herbs and spices. The Spice Station’s supply of top quality Syrian sumac, cumin and za’atar has been cut off. Although we are able to find other sources of those herbs, the unique Aleppo pepper is only available from Syria.
Spice Station on TV in Santa Monica City
Check out the segment that Get Out! did on us here at the Spice Station on TV in Santa Monica City!
We believe that “Every neighborhood should have access to purchasing the highest quality product at affordable prices. Our goal now is to facilitate this process.“
Since this video of the Spice Station on TV, we decided to shut down all physical locations in 2017 and focus solely on online sales and wholesale distribution to restaurants, chefs and specialty shops that carry his brand. A few of our local retailers are Joe Barkeeper in Silverlake and Larchmont Village Wine, Spirit & Cheese.
Peter Bahlawanian continues to develop new spice blends and some notable clients include:
Wolfgang Puck ~ Trois Familia ~ INK ~ Baco Mercat ~ Bestia ~ Bavel ~ Orsa Winston ~ Bar Ama
Kooshi Gourmet ~ Forage ~ Blue Bottle Coffee ~ The Wing ~ Proof Bakery ~ Muddy Paws Coffee
Little Dom’s ~ Howlin’ Ray’s ~ Squirl ~ Stellas ~ Smalltown ~ Petit Trois ~ Beer Belly ~
This shift in focus allows you, the consumer, to buy spices online from an industry-trusted company with a long history of success. Allow yourself to explore our online shop of spices and seasonings from around the world and let imagination and creativity translate into a unique culinary masterpiece.
You can feel proud that the dishes that you make at home will be more authentic, have exotic, whole, real ingredients that have traveled from all around the globe. We hope that whether you are a novice or world-renowned chef, or somewhere in between that you find our online store for spices and seasonings will help you save time and keep you from spending too much money at your local grocery store on overpriced herbs and spices.
We are deeply dedicated and purposefully passionate about the quality of our products and the spirit within our online community. Since the inception of the very first Spice Station, we continually strive to be a community that is transparent, globally conscious, and thoughtful about everything we do. We embrace the diversity in our online community and encourage everyone to take more culinary chances and, well, spice it up a bit!
If you are interested in becoming a Spice Station partner or franchisee in your hometown, it will be a fulfilling and lucrative endeavor.
We highly encourage you to stay more connected with us here at the best spice shop in town (digitally speaking!) and learn more about cooking with new and exotic spices by reading the Spice Station blog! Over time you will develop or deepen your understanding of how to combine and balance flavors, an incredibly important concept when cooking. Your meals will be noticeably more dynamic in flavor and the envy of all at your table.
Have questions or ideas?! Want to contribute to our blog? We’d love to hear from you, please contact us today by clicking here!
A Day Late – Spices for Hangover Cures – Fernet Branca
Spices for Hangover Cures!
It’s actually 4 or 5 days late but let’s face it, having just started this blog, our readers are well, limited. The untimely subject of this blog is hangover cures and the role of spices and herbs therein. We have discovered what we believe is the Holy Grail of hangover cures. We all know that the best remedy for the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is…more alcohol. (Otherwise known as The Hair of the Dog.) But, there’s more to it than that and a way to fix it that wont have you spending yet another day stumbling around and making unwise decisions. It’s called Fernet Branca. Let’s explore how and what spices can help you the next time you need a hangover cure!
