Sweet spices could be used in potpourri, even added to water in an open pan and gently simmered to fragrance the house.

Sorry, I cannot think of a possible use for aged garlic powder or dried and faded herbs except to toss on the fire.

Carol

I can't afford to toss things. I just use them until they are used up, they still have some flavor, I just use more of them. I use them in sauces and soups and stews primarily. I made some chili tonight from some ancient chili powder, I just kept adding more and more until I finally was satisfied. You don't have to throw them out, just don't expect them to have much flavor left, but if you use a lot they will get used up fast.

I agree with lpinkmountain for most spices. Some of the mixes like Grill Seasoning I will toss after 2 years. I actually date my spices when I open them. Some of the seeds can be toasted in a dry fry pan until fragrant and then ground in a coffee grinder to use in recipes. (I don't use the coffee grinder for coffee just use this special one for spice.)

DL

I use mine in potpourri, old powdered cinnamon is a fixative for fragrance in potpourri or ornaments. Old bay leaves for roofing and other spices make great material for gingerbread/spice houses.
For powdered garlic you could soak it well with water, strain if lumpy or too granular to spray and pour into spray bottle for a natural bug repellent. Works great for jap beetles.
Don't forget , Roses Love Garlic.
Other than that, I toss mine in the veggie garden, or the slop bucket for the chickens to eat.

I use a LOT of garlic powder when making my homemade version of Liquid Fence/ Deer Off. If you are a gardener and have problems with deer or rabbits, use it in that. If not do you have a friend that gardens that might be able to use it?

Alexa

I, too, agree with what lpink said. I just use more than normal as required according to the flavor. I hate throwing things out.

I suppose there is a limit to how long they hold any flavor at all, but the recommended six months is too short for single gal me. I'd say two years would probably be OK but after that you are definately pushing it. But right now I'm using some spices my mom has probably had for 5 years, lol! Not garlic powder though! It was bouquet garni, and it still had some life in it.

Since I live alone, I buy most all my spices in the smallest amount possible and because I get them all from Penzeys that is easier to manage. The only ones I get in large amounts are cinnamon and ginger for holiday baking. When any bottled herb doesn't smell good to me, if it isn't one I would want in a potpourri or simmered for fragrance, it ends up in the compost pile. I figured since it came from plants they can't hurt my garden and may even help in some way. By now my garden plants might consider themselves as gourmet! It's problely just a mind trick, but I don't feel like I am wasting the money I spent because I don't just toss them into the trash. And any garlic cloves past using in the kitchen get planted with the roses. I have yet to see any garlic plants from the food store cloves, they just seem to rot into the soil and are never seen again. I hope the roses enjoyed them.
Kat

Depends; some items like paprika and red pepper go downhill pretty rapidly (i.e., less than a year). Storage has a lot to do with it. Keeping the spice rack next to a hot humid stove is probably the worst place to have them.

I find that I don't use a great number of different spices and herbs anyway, so I do have enough turnover that it's generally not a problem.

The only visible wildlife here is a brazen squirrel who would probably love to have tasty things squirted at him. Composting is done by city collection. There are lots and lots of roses, though! Please tell me more about garlic for roses!

My coriander sees also look a bit pathetic, but the dried chives seem green and fresh and sprightly.

Thanks for the suggestions. For the moment, I've just put the jars in their places, as place holders, if nothing else.

plllog,

I garden organically as I feed the birds and there are lots of neighborhood kitty's that visit my garden. So I don't use anything nasty in the garden. And I garden a lot with bare hands as I like the feel of different herbs and even enjoy getting my hands dirty. I do use heavy gloves when working around the roses. I have and read over and over Liz Druitt's book, "The Organic Rose Garden". It has become my go to book for anything to do with roses.

She writes that all alliums go well with roses, from garlic, chives, leeks and elephant garlic. The plants offer a focal point with their spiky leaves and alliums provide insect protection and even some fungus protection if allowed to remain for a period of years and increase the natural sulfur content of the soil. Roses with even an onion blooming through its branches will not have as much trouble with aphids or thrips. But the onions or garlic have to be close to the plant not two feet away.

I just plant the garlic cloves as close to the rose as possible. I also have Garlic chives growing among my roses and I really love the way the leaves and the tiny flower heads look even when the roses are done blooming. Most of my roses are the old once blooming roses. If I see a few aphids on a rose I try to hose them off and I love when I see the lady bugs chowing down on them.

I hope this helps. Happy gardening.
Kat

Oh, Kat, thanks!

Dozens of rose bushes came with my house, but I'm not a great gardener, and I don't use poisons. Thanks for the book suggestion. Once the whole kitchen remodel thing settles down I want to redesign my garden (as in put the roses in beds, rather than in the walk borders where they aren't happy). I had a landscaper who planted froufy ground cover amid some of my roses that just chokes them out, but I'd be happy to have some alliums to keep them company. That sounds pretty! As well as being good for them. It makes me sad when they look unhappy.

Most of my roses are hybrid teas, and they bloom year round because it's a bit warm for them. They get confused, poor things.

I really appreciate the help. I love learning things in unexpected places!

aftershave?

Here is a link that might be useful: