Making the Most of your Spice Rack

We’ve all heard we should replace herbs and spices yearly for the best flavor and aroma, but that can get expensive—and wasteful. Try this:

Buy in small quantities

Know you only use nutmeg once a year for pumpkin pie? Buy it from the bulk bin and measure out only what the recipe calls for.

Spices last longer than herbs.

Buy dried herbs more often and in smaller quantities, or grow your own in a window box and have fresh herbs year-round.

Try them whole.

Whole spices keep their aroma and flavor much longer than pre-ground. You can often get whole spices at stores with good bulk sections for about the same price as pre-ground. Use a hand grater or a coffee mill to grind them just before using (keep a separate mill for coffee!).