I do not throw out spices. If anything, they lose their potency, and so I might add a little more of whatever if I have had it for a few years.

I remember reading a marketing expert's discussion of this ploy. The spice industry started this expiration date stuff. Throw out your spices after a year. A great way to sell more spices. But the product they found most impressive for selling more and more was Arm and Hammer Baking Soda. Throw it out but do so by pouring it down your sink to freshen your pipes. Or just buy it in the first place to pour down the drain. Put it in the refrigerator, the whole box, to freshen the refrigerator, and then replace it every so many months and throw the old stuff out, down the drain if you like.

Nope, I don't throw good money away.

I did when I was getting ready for our move to our downstairs Apt. I went through all the cupboards, closets and drawers, and brutally tossed stuff. I found I had a lot of duplicate containers of spices, so tossed the oldest ones. Sheilajoyce, I've wondered about that, of spices really do go bad. Recently I was going to make a salad that called for Cumin, and found I didn't have any, so asked a neighbor if she had some I could borrow. She gave me her container and I noticed it expired 4 years ago! But I couldn't go out to buy new, so I tasted it and it tasted like......Cumin. So I used it, and the salad tasted like it should. I usually buy spices in the smallest container, (I know I'm paying dearly for that) but I don't use them all that much and am more likely to use them up.

I mostly use Garlic powder, onion salt, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, and curry powder. Don't have a lot of the unusual spices. I buy these as soon as they run out, esp. garlic salt.

I'm going thru my spices today. I know many are over ten years old. Also checking my fridge for leftovers, anything open, "suspicious", etc. My compost pile is the place they are going, provided my dog Molly stays out of the pile. SHe's been known to go in there and graze, later vomiting.

I read a while back on how to check spices you are worried about. Put a small amount on a clean piece of tying paper and set on a table or counter overnight. In the morning if you see little trails coming out of the pile then toss the spice out !!!

I keep my spices in the door of my freezer. Now and then I go through them and toss certain ones. Not even sure why I buy so many differents kinds..there's only a few I actually USE! lol

I don't think spices go bad.They might get buggy but not bad.The ancient people used spices to preserve everything even mummies.a spice is a seed and a seed if it"s dry can't go bad.As long as it's in a dry container.Stop throwing away good money.

When i go to buy spices I get so damned mad I could spit...they have an entire isle in the grocery store devoted to spices, but it is an all day chore to sort through the nonesense and find real spices. They have all sorts of rubs and stubs and some things are even packed in tubs, but where are the spices? A hamburger blend, a steak blend, a pot roast blend, a fish blend, a chicken blend, seafood blend, shellfish blend, cajun blend and on and on, but where are the spices? Garlic salt, lemon pepper salt, sea salt, fine ground salt, and on and on..but where are the spices?

I grew up on a farm and we only ate what we raised so I learned how to cook from scratch and it is extremely rare if I open a cookbook.

I probably have over 50 basic spices in my rack, not to mention my herb garden and the ginger root and horseradish root in the fridge yet none of my spices last long enough to exceed the recommended shelf life.

Use the spice rack and bottles in the garage. Great for nuts, bolts, etc.
Kathy G in MI

For about the last 30 years I have been buying my spices in bulk at a natural foods store. Cinnamon costs about $5 for a jar at the grocery store, in bulk I buy about 3 tablespoons for less than $1. I then refill my spice jar. I used to do this with my flour, etc. Check out the spices and dry goods in a natural foods store.

What is "tying paper"?

And would the little trail be bugs?

Check your current spices first ... if you see movement among a couple, it probably indicates the presence of livestock ...

... which, if you choose to use them for their usual purpose, will add a little extra protein to you diet, that day.

On the other hand, if you spread them on a tray and put them in the oven on low for a while, the unwanted residents'll likely desert the place. It may work if you put the tray out into strong sunlight, as well, especially if you cover some pieces of cardboard with sheet aluminum and have the reflected sunlight shine on the tray, as well.

Probably a good idea to drop them into a sieve and give them a shake, after the livestock 's departure, to get rid of their offloaded material, as well.

I have a dim view of the claim that spices expire ... especially after a specified date. It depends on how they've been stored. I suggest that you try them to see whether they have retained at least a measure of their potency and be guided largely by that standard.

As to the future regarding the ones that you decide to discard, here's what you do.

Gather a dozen neighbours ... friends ... relatives ...

... well, not "gather" ... but contact them.

Ask their opinion, especially of the ones that use quite a lot of spices, as to the validity of the "expiry date" project ... whether they've used old ones and what results they've had.

See if they need some spices, of the kinds that you feel that you need to replace.

Check out a place that you can buy them in bulk: as Linda said, they come a lot cheaper, that way.

Buy some and share them with the other needy folks.

While you're at it ... possibly some of your contacts may know some spicy stories which they may be willing to share ... you could pass them on ... and gain a reputation (of sorts).

ole joyfuelled ... fuelled partially also by spicy stories ... but fresh out of fresh ones, at the moment

P.S. If you end up with some empty bottles - they're great for holding small screws, map pins, regular pins, thumbtacks, paper clips, etc. (a bit too small to store store teeth, though).

o j