# Do dried spices/herbs lose potency over time? How much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069 "2014-08-31T19:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/1 "2014-08-31T19:31:43Z")
Title says it all. I have some that I bought 10 years ago and can’t tell the difference. Is my palate just screwed up? Any on-line cites for scientific studies that test this? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/2 "2014-08-31T20:11:48Z")
Supposedly yes. But I, like you, have a few dried herbs & spices that don’t appear to have aged at all though I’ve had them for many years. I say if it still smells/tastes good, go for it. ---
**Author:** ![henker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/46a35a/32.png) [@henker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/henker)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/3 "2014-08-31T20:15:01Z")
It may seem like nothing has changed, but when you buy a refill you will immediately notice the difference and wish you had bought a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/4 "2014-08-31T20:18:49Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Supposedly yes. But I, like you, have a few dried herbs & spices that don’t appear to have aged at all though I’ve had them for many years. I say if it still smells/tastes good, go for it. Really? Could you specify which herbs? I find dried basil is particularly quick to lose its taste, while dried rosemary keeps better IME. It seems to me to differ quite a bit per herb or spice, with some not keeping all that long. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/5 "2014-08-31T20:31:14Z")
When I use spices more than a year old, I re-grind them to increase their flavor. A mortar works well for this, as long as you have a way to clean it between uses. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/6 "2014-08-31T20:54:29Z")
Rule of thumb is one year, but some dried herbs hold up better than others. Dried thyme is one, so is dill weed. I still have some high quality Spanish saffron left from an ounce that I bought probably ten years ago. It’s still very potent, but I’ve always kept it tightly wrapped. I hate dried basil, so can’t speak to that. Ten years? I’d throw it out. I’d also check to see if there is a Savory Spice shop in your area. They will sell in very small quantities, so you’re not stuck with a jar of the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/7 "2014-08-31T21:40:55Z")
Dried basil doesn’t deteriorate much because it’s so awful to begin with. What you’re losing is essential oils - the things that make one plant taste different than another plant. Keeping them tightly covered and out of the sun (which can break chemical bonds and change the composition of essential oils) will help to slow down the process. Things that are hard or woody (cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, seeds like celery or dill or dried fruits like anise and fennel) lose their essential oils more slowly, because they evaporate from the outside exposed layer, but are still inside - basically the plant part becomes its own airtight wrapper. Crushing or grating these can bring back the flavor to nearly new. Really strongly aromatic herbs like thyme, oregano and sage have a whole lot of essential oils in them, so they can afford to lose quite a bit before you notice. A year in good (airtight, dark) storage is not unreasonable for these. The softer thinner stuff with fewer essential oils to begin with don’t fare so well in long term storage. Dillweed, tarragon and parsley I wouldn’t even give a full year lifespan. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/8 "2014-09-01T02:05:24Z")
If you have a nicer market with good turnover that sells bulk spices near you it’s the way to go for stuff you don’t use often - instead of spending $5-$10 on a jar that will sit in your cupboard for 10 years, you can spend $0.20 for a couple of teaspoons when you need it for a recipe. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/9 "2014-09-01T02:21:17Z")
Or look in the grocery store in the “International” aisle. My store has a huge rack of Mexican herbs and spices packaged in cellophane envelopes that are uber-cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/10 "2014-09-01T14:02:30Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Really? Could you specify which herbs? > > I find dried basil is particularly quick to lose its taste, while dried rosemary keeps better IME. It seems to me to differ quite a bit per herb or spice, with some not keeping all that long. Like others, I think dried basil is tasteless to begin with. Rosemary keeps, as does thyme. I have some bay leaves that are many years old, and they seem to be the same as the new ones. Spices keep even longer. I don’t think cayenne EVER goes bad. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/11 "2014-09-01T14:07:14Z")
There is one Wegmans grocery store in my area that actually does stock herbs and spices in jars that you can measure out by the teaspoon into little baggies. They have a huge selection, and also pink peppercorns, different kinds of sea salt, and curry powders. Ideal for re-filling little spice jars at home. I’ve never seen bulk spices in any other store, just this one particular Wegmans. A big health food store had spices, too, but they moved miles away. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/12 "2014-09-01T15:30:13Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Like others, I think dried basil is tasteless to begin with. Rosemary keeps, as does thyme. I have some bay leaves that are many years old, and they seem to be the same as the new ones. > > Spices keep even longer. I don’t think cayenne EVER goes bad. Maybe not cayenne, but paprika turns to tasteless dust pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dried-spices-herbs-lose-potency-over-time-how-much/697069/13 "2014-09-01T16:39:51Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > Maybe not cayenne, but paprika turns to tasteless dust pretty fast. Agreed. I keep my paprika in the freezer, because it deteriorates fast. I actually find most ground hot peppers also lose their fruitiness within about six months, and all that is left is the spice.