When was the last time you overhauled your spice rack? Chances are, most of what’s

languishing in your cabinet is old enough to have a driver’s license. If this sounds familiar, do

yourself and your cooking a “flavor favor” by beginning anew.

Here are some tips for a spice and dried-herb clean sweep from chef Mary Donovan,

editorial project manager at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Essential spices. Donovan recommends purchasing whole spices that can

be toasted to release their essences and then ground in a dedicated spice mill just before use.

“Figure out what kind of cooking you’re doing and pick your top spices. If you can find a whole

version, that’s the way to go.” Her go-tos, viable across a number of cuisines, include whole

peppercorns, cumin seed, fennel seed, cardamom pods, mustard seed, allspice berries, nutmeg,

caraway and dill seed. For powdered spices, she names good-quality cinnamon, clove, allspice,

cardamom, ginger, curry powder, paprika (Hungarian, mild and smoked) and various other chili

powders.

Essential dried herbs. Rosemary, tarragon, bay leaves, thyme, oregano,

basil, marjoram and sage.

Storage. Herbs and spices lose pungency and flavor over time, especially

if left near the stove, in sunlight or where they can get wet, says Donovan. Best to store them in a

dark, cool, dry place.

When to rotate? Spices should be good for a year, possibly longer,

Donovan says. Whole spices tend to last better—another reason to invest in them instead

of preground varieties. “If you have a whole spice and aren’t sure of how viable it is, crack or

pound it and see how much aroma you get, suggests Donovan.

Test the potency of dried herbs by taking a pinch and rubbing it between your fingers. “If

there’s not much aroma, or if your herbs smell weak or dusty, it’s time to replace them,” she

says.

Quantity and quality. Buy in small quantities. You really don’t need the

Costco® size of chili powder—even if it is cheaper. Also, pay attention to how well

the stock is rotating in the store in which you’re buying it.

Chef’s tips: cooking with herbs and spices.

  • Think about when you’re adding herbs and spices to a recipe, says

    Donovan. “Recipes will tell you when, but know that you can create a deeper layer of flavor

    experience by adding some in the beginning, some in the middle and some at the end of cooking.

    This also gives you the ability to control the amount you’re putting in.”

  • Some spices don’t dissolve well in water or other liquids. “This is why it’s good to add

    spices when sautéing. Fat spreads them around a bit rather than causing them to clump.”

  • If you’re measuring spices or herbs, measure them over the counter or over a separate bowl

    before adding them to the recipe, so you don’t add too much. Also, note that “pinches and dashes

    differ depending on who is doing it,” says Donovan.

  • On some dishes you can carry flavor layering all the way to the end by finishing the dish

    with a fresh chopped version of the dried herb you used in the recipe. “This will add a new flavor

    profile of the same herb,” Donovan shares.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Brianna Lehman