# Would you use 15-year-old cloves? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079 "2009-01-06T13:43:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 7, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/21 "2009-01-07T02:00:38Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > As for those that discard of spices after a few months, more power to you but\*\* I don’t like shopping in specialty shops for uber fresh spices that often\*\*. The giant containers at Sam’s Club still work fine for my taste buds. If I was preparing something really special, maybe, otherwise a generous shake of this and a generous shake of that. [Pendery’s](http://www.penderys.com/) mail-order. Or [Penzey’s](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/22 "2009-01-07T02:52:16Z")
Why not make Homer Simpson’s recipe? [Cloves, Tom Collins mix, frozen pie crust!](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sTGIC-qIMmU/SInrGINb8UI/AAAAAAAAAt8/n09OzeWvxK4/s1600-h/simps_cloves.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/23 "2009-01-07T03:21:26Z")
When I was younger, my aunts would stick cloves in an orange and put them on the radiator. I guess it was an air-freshener sort of deal. That or they got bored with the crocheting. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/24 "2009-01-07T03:52:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s a matter of principle with me. I toss any spice that’s been around more than 8 months or so, with limited exceptions. The difference using fresh spices is so noticable that old stock just doesn’t cut it anymore. > > The OP doesn’t say whether they were sealed the whole 15 years, or not. I’d still toss them. Life is too short to use less-than-fresh ingredients. Same here. One of the few exceptions is whole nutmeg. I bought a good-sized handful years ago and have kept them tightly sealed in a glass jar. Every time I grate some of it, it’s like it just came off the tree. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/25 "2009-01-07T14:12:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s a matter of principle with me. I toss any spice that’s been around more than 8 months or so, with limited exceptions. The difference using fresh spices is so noticable that old stock just doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s going a bit overboard as most spices are harvested only once a year. > [@](#): > > The OP doesn’t say whether they were sealed the whole 15 years, or not. I’d still toss them. Life is too short to use less-than-fresh ingredients. On _that_ I concur. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/26 "2009-01-07T16:37:13Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > When I was younger, my aunts would stick cloves in an orange and put them on the radiator. I guess it was an air-freshener sort of deal. That or they got bored with the crocheting. We’d always have one or two of those around the house at Christmas time. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079/27 "2009-01-07T16:41:25Z")
For a [clove apple](http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-a-clove-apple/) or orange, sure. In something to eat? No way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-15-year-old-cloves/480079.md?page=1)