Dried herbs and spices are an important tool in any pantry that transform simple dishes into something special, flavorful and different each day. Here are 10 tips and helpful information about using dried herbs and spices.
10 Tips for Using Dried Herbs and Spices
- Date the bottles. When you open new bottle, be sure to write the date on the container. Dried herbs and spices last from 6 months to 1 year. They don’t spoil, but they do lose their potency and flavor.
- Freshness. How to tell if your herbs and spices are old? The smell test. If they don’t have a strong fragrance, the flavor is likely gone. Toss them and buy a new bottle.
- Buy new-to-you herbs and spices in small quantities to experiment, then in larger quantities to save money when you find the ones you use most frequently.
- Storage. Store herbs and spices in a cool dark place, away from sunlight and heat in an airtight container. Sun and heat accelerate their expiration. Some people store them in the freezer for longer staying power.
- Dried herbs and spices need time and moisture to re-hydrate during cooking to release their flavor. Add them at the start of cooking. With spices it will depend on the recipe. I add mine to sautéing onions and oil to release their scent and flavor when making a chili, stew or sauce.
- The rule for substituting dried herbs for fresh is 1:3. Example, use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs versus 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) of a fresh herb. Dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor, so you use less. Their taste can also be a bit different than the fresh version. As always, taste and adjust for your personal preference.
- Rub dried herbs between your hands to release the natural oils before putting into the pot. A trick my mom taught me years ago.
- Herb or spice? Dried herbs are the leaves of the plants. Spices are from the stems, bark (like cinnamon) and seeds of plants. Some plants produce both. Cilantro is the leaf form of the plant and coriander is the seed which is ground into a spice.
- Spices are most often used in dried form. Some come in whole and ground forms, such as nutmeg, mace and cinnamon. Whole spices stay aromatic for longer periods but you have to grind them yourself. Ground is usually more convenient to use.
- To reduce sodium in your diet, ramp up the flavors with herbs, spices and salt-free blends to make up for less salt that you won’t miss because of the great flavors.
I am one of your email subscribers. What a wonderful giveaway! I’d love to update my spice collection.
I’m one of your facebook followers and cumin is one of my favorite spices (there are so many!)
I am one of your email subscribers. This is a fantastic giveaway, I cook all the time and love to have a large collection of herbs and spices on hand to punch up the flavor of everything that I make!
I also follow on FB
I subscribed. 🙂
(Thanks Angela, I removed your email)
I like you on FB. Angela M
One of my favorite spices to use is garlic powder. I love garlic on/in anything.
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/thisisme79/status/315843326442106881
Angela! You won! Number 7 by the random number generator! Congratulations! Please email me your address so we can ship your herb and spice collection!
Favorite spice? That is like asking my favorite outfit… Depends, lol. I guess of the list above the one i use the most is garlic powder, but I lately I have been loving cumin and cinnamon.
I am also a Facebook fan of your blog already. Thanks! 🙂
I get your wonderful weekly Food Centric email too, and it’s great. Lots of wonderful recipes with beautiful photos and great tips.
I subscribe to your blog. (thanks Susan, removed your email)
I follow you on FB (thanks Susan, removed your email)
I tweeted a message about giveaway. Here is the link: https://twitter.com/SusanBroughton5/status/315847692699987969
I liked you on Facebook, and I am already a follower. Thanks for the tip about dating the spice container. Time gets away and I end up keeping my spices way too long.
I subscribe to A Food Centric Life to this box:
I “Like” A Food Centric Life on Facebook.
This week Cumin seems to be my favorite spice; it really changes a dish a lot!
(I’m with you Margot, LOVE cumin!…Sally)
I posted a tweet too: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/315869458742800387.
[…] Link to enter giveaway: https://afoodcentriclife.com/tips-for-using-dried-herbs-spices-and-a-giveaway-from-cooking-planit/ […]
I subscribe!
i liked A Food Centric Life on Facebook and my favorite spice is curry powder!
I liked you on FB. I really like celery salt, which wakes up most flavors. From the list above, I use smoked paprika a lot. And thyme. It’s too hard to pick only one!
(agreed Carol! And I too LOVE smoked paprika!)
I subscribe to A Food Centric Life
ronaleeduncan{at}aol{dot}com
thank you
I like you on facebook (Ronalee Duncan)
garlic powder is my favorite spice
ronaleeduncan{at}aol{dot}com
https://twitter.com/RonaleeAKArose/status/315916260326129664
tweeted @RonaleeAKArose
ronaleeduncan{at}aol{dot}com
Liked on fb. My favorite spice is garlic.
tweeted https://twitter.com/KristinePhot0_j/status/315920825616314368
I just became an email subscriber and I’d like to enter the contest. Thanks!
I like you on Facebook and one of my favorite spices is smoked paprika. It gives many dishes and great zing. Thanks for the oppoturnity to win.
(me to Joan! LOVE smoked paprika!)
I’m a new subscriber
(thanks Mary Beth!)
I liked you on FB as Mary Beth Elderton. I don’t know that I have a *favorite* spice, but I do like hot ‘n spicy–cayenne and red pepper flakes 🙂
BTW–thanks for the tip about rubbing the herbs between the fingers to help release the flavor. I remember seeing my grandmother do this but had completely forgotten!
I subscribed by email.
I’m an email subscriber!
I am a regular subscriber and would be absolutely delighted to win the spice collection. Thank you very much! C.
I subscribe to your emails and have “Liked” your page on FaceBook (as Leslie Anne). 🙂
I’m not sure I have ONE favorite spice. I LOVE fresh basil and I do use cinnamon and chipotle chili powder quite a bit, but it depends on what I’m making. The Chipotle powder, with it’s nice smokey flavor is amazing on popcorn and in vegan chili. Yummy!
I am FB follower – I love paprika!
I love many herbs & spices, but two of my favorite are cinnamon and ginger. I especially like the health benefits of each.
https://twitter.com/ashe_phoenix/status/316629138553319425 – my tweet about the giveaway.
I am a fan on Facebook, and my favorite spice is rosemary.
Just subscribed to your blog. Thank you for this giveaway, and I look forward to receiving your recipes!
I love cooking with Rosemary right now!
Subscribed to A Food Centric Life.
Liked A Food Centric Life on Facebook as Austin Baroudi and my favorite spice is cinnamon!
Tweeted @Austieb7
https://twitter.com/Austieb7/status/316962524077625344
subscriber
I subscribed
I follow on FaceBook
https://twitter.com/mrsshukra/status/317482071683645442
Subscriber!
I am a Facebook fan, and my favorite spice is probably cinnamon or basil!
I like you on facebook!
I love working with Red Pepper Flakes! They add so much flavor! So fun! I do have to admit…I am not good with spices! I just have always been afraid to use them….so I really need to start learning more how to cook with spices!
Im an email subscriber
I subscribe
JenniferAnne74 @ aol.com
I follow you on Facebook as JenniferAnne Keefer
JenniferAnne74 @ aol.com
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/Jennai/status/317566453752688640
I Subscribe to A Food Centric Life
I follow A Food Centric Life on Facebook.
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/CindyBrickley/status/317705110841085952
subscribe email: slehan at myway dot com
Thanks for the contest.
FB like you: Slehan
Love garlic in most things.
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/317794940627329024
I am an e-mail subscriber.
I posted about the giveaway on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/livelovelynn/status/317816126132334594
Following Food Centric! My favorite spice is cumin, especially on soups!! Thank you for this contest!!!
Subscribe to A Food Centric Life
Like” A Food Centric Life on Facebook
tweet https://twitter.com/cjsorel/status/317834491475406848
I “subscribed” but my confirmation email didn’t go through
My Tweet: https://twitter.com/jjjaWise/status/703577263246176256 Started @TheDanielPlan and @FoodCentricLife is helping me stick with it – I’m a dips/sauce girl!
Jenny, unfortunately this giveaway was awhile ago! Sorry!
I didn’t realize that my spices only lasted 6-12 months!!! Hoping to win a new set. Thanks for all of the useful information.