How To Keep Your Spices Fresh & When To Toss Them, From An Expert

No good dish is complete without the right spices. And from turmeric to cayenne, we love them for their added flavor and for their positive health effects. But just as important as the kinds of spices stocked up in your kitchen is how you store them. After all, proper storage can ensure a longer "shelf life," with spices retaining their bright flavors for longer.

As you can imagine, it's always best to go for airtight containers. This ensures all that flavorful goodness from the spice stays in, while undesirable stuff like bacteria and bugs stay out. Consider swapping containers if you buy a new spice and the container doesn't seem too sturdy.

It's also important to keep the containers out of direct heat and light, as some spices contain volatile compounds, which will help "protect those volatile compounds from interacting with environmental elements," thus preserving the potency of your spice.

Which brings us to our next point: how long spices last.

Koya says whole spices stay fresh for longer—even up to two years! To really get the most out of them, she recommends grinding your whole spices into small batches and using them for up to six months. She finds this makes them super vibrant and flavorful.

As far as ground spice goes, six months is a good rule of thumb when coupled with the aforementioned storage tips.