Even people who don't cook very often have spices laying around - who can get through life without some black pepper? However, if you move through your seasoning too slowly, it winds up sitting on your shelf for years, and it turns out that happens to a lot of people. So many in fact that McCormick, the largest spice manufacturer in the world, has issued a warning to its customers.
In a pair of Facebook posts, the company explained how to tell if your spices are too old, like way too old. Thankfully, it's not too hard to figure it out.
If your spices are in a rectangular tin or if they were packaged in Baltimore, congratulations, your seasoning has been around for a quarter of a century.
If you've got old spices, the good news is you don't have to worry about them making you sick, but it might be in your best interest if you don't use them. When spices age, they lose their flavor so adding old spices to your dishes is pretty pointless.
McCormick recommends making sure your spices have a strong aroma and taste, and a vibrant color. You should also replace them every three years.
Photo Credit: Dave Basner