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Herbs & Spices: Keeping Tabs on Dried Spices

Source of Recipe

The Spokesman-Review


Recipe Introduction

"It's important to go through the home spice rack once a year and pitch," says Eric Case, owner of the Herb Co. "It's all on its way to being sawdust."
-- Tips for Keeping your Spices in Good Shape --

* Use the touch test. If they are moist and oily to the touch, they are probably in good shape. If they're dry like dust balls, they are past their prime.

* Grind your own. Consider buying whole spices and grinding them yourself to preserve their essential oils.

* The clump factor. Spices clump for 2 reasons -- one good, and one bad. Spices with a high oil content tend to clump. Spices that have been kept too long also will clump if the volatile oils have evaporated. If it's hard to break up, like a sugar cube, there probably is little smell or flavor left.

* Create your own spice blends. Spice blends are a quick and easy way to give foods a complex flavor. Find the flavors you like and start to personalize the blend. You can basically come up with an armada of 10 to 12 seasoning blends and you're ready to cook. It makes a lot more sense than keeping 472 different herbs and spices in the cabinet.