How Old?!?

[cinnamonswirls]

Thought I'd just check the date on my ginger...2004! Check all of them mainly 2005/06!! some 07 some as far back as 02

Only one 2010....

Ouch - do spices go off? I've sort of wondered why they taste a bit dusty subtle

Do I bin and start again? or in the spirit of frugality just forget about it for a while?

I found old cuppa soups in the back of my cupboard last week dated 2006.
I kept them, figuring powder doesn't go off.

With spices though, the flavour isn't so good if they are old, but they won't harm you.

I used some dried chives in a sour cream potato bake on Sunday.
They were Aug 2010.
Lost a bit of colour( I keep in a dark pantry) and tasted a bit like teabags!

Spices do go off, especially the ones with volatile oils.... once evaporated they taste like sawdust. I've got a fairly old but very small pot of saffron threads however, and that's still going strong despite being a few years old. World record belongs to my mum. The box of Whitworths Dessicated Coconut she kept on the top shelf of her cupboard (until I finally cracked and chucked it in the bin a couple of years ago) was priced '4d'. And for anyone under 45, that means it was bought pre-1971 :) Whatever was inside that box, it certainly wasn't coconut any more.

Hmm I have wondered why my chilis and stirfries sort of tasted a bit.....

Right I reckon the only stuff 2010 is 'erbs but I use garden ones and so it can join the rest..... sayonara!

whitworths dessicated coconut 4d? Fabulous! prob tastes about the same as my chili powder!