They say variety is the spice of life, but where would we be without spices? Even a little table salt and pepper makes our food more palatable and tasty. Garlic is another common seasoning that adds a lot of oomph to our dishes. Without spices, food tastes bland and uninteresting. Add a little spice, and it becomes delectable.

With more opportunities to try the foods of other cultures, we are getting more familiar with new spices or spice combinations. Today, it is almost common to eat Chinese on one night and Italian the next. You may try Indian food for lunch and then have Japanese for dinner. Regional spices can be found on the supermarket shelves more than they were ten years ago. As we become more familiar with them, we begin to use them in our own cooking.

Keeping Spices

When was the last time you bought spices? That bottle of cayenne from 1998 is not good anymore, no matter how full the bottle is. Spices fade over time, in both color and flavor. To preserve your spices as long as possible, keep them in a place away from moisture, bright light, heat, and oxygen. While it is convenient to reach into the cupboard and sprinkle some on your food while cooking, try to store them away from your kitchen appliances. Steam can cause dampness and deterioration. Airtight containers such as glass or tin work best to keep moisture at bay and preserve the flavorful oils in the spices.

Each spice can have a different shelf life. Check the ones in your cupboard periodically to check for freshness. Look at the color… is it faded? Is the scent still strong? Remember that whole spices will keep for a longer time span than those that are ground. It also depends on what part of the plant your spice is from.

For whole spices like nutmegs or peppercorns, remember the following life spans: Leaves and flowers last about a year. Seeds and barks can last for longer than two years. Roots can last for over two years. For ground spices, leaves are good for about six months. Seeds and barks are also good for about six months. Roots will last about one year.

Ethnic Cooking

Special spices give ethnic recipes their unique flavors, and you may end up buying some you are not familiar with. For example, if you want to make a chicken spaghetti recipe. You may need some cayenne or seasoned salt to give it a flavorful boost.

If you wanted to make something from Morocco, you may need allspice, cumin, coriander, or cinnamon. If you want to try Cajun, you would need both hot and sweet paprika, and both white and black pepper. If you want to try your hand at something Japanese, you may need chili flakes, mustard seeds, or furikake.

Have fun exploring the vast world of spices. You are sure to find something new that you really like. Keep an open mind when trying spices. For example, you may find that Afghani food is really good, while maybe; Thai food is not your favorite. Unless you give them a try, you will never know.