Shelf-Life Guidelines for Spices

Here are some general shelf-life guidelines for spices:

• whole spices 3-4 years
• ground spices 2-3 years
• herbs 1-3 years
• seasoning blends 1-2 years
• extracts 4 years, except pure vanilla, which lasts indefinitely

Leaving your spices in their original containers will help, because you will have their expiration dates. If you prefer to transfer them to different containers, try putting the expiration date onto a small sticker that you can put on the new bottle. If there isn't an expiration date for some reason, make note of when you purchased the spice.