Never buy old herbs and spices

Never buy old herbs and spices because fresh herbs taste better. Drying herbs for later use is easy. And there are lots of other ways to store fresh herbs like freezing them.

When I needed an herb I didn’t have growing I ran to the market to get some from the large selection in the baking isle. I was shocked at the price and wondered what am I buying?

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Never buy old herbs and spices

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The FDA has rules for selling herbs and spices just like they have for most foods.

The guidelines where surprising. The guidelines for supermarket herbs and spices are:

Spices

4 years old is acceptable for whole spices

2 years old for ground spices

Herbs

Dried herbs can be up to 3 years old

Herbs and spices loss there flavor in time. Using old herbs and spices will not make you sick, why bother if they don’t have any flavor!

The cost.

I looked at rosemary. A jar of organic rosemary typically come with 1 ounce and is about $7! The jar on the self had an expiration date about 16 months away. Does that mean it has been in a warehouse for a year and a half!

Never buy old herbs and spices

My rosemary plant cost me $3. The plant is super easy to care for and produces more fresh rosemary than I use.

Two bonuses of growing your own are; it is super easy to grow more plants from cuttings so free gifts for all your foodie friends, and the extra has inspired me to try new and tasty recipes.

Here is a list of 12 common herbs and the basics of grow them

Easy herbs to grow indoors

Rosemary

Start: easy from cuttings, difficult from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: sandy and dry

Sun: full

For more details about growing rosemary click here

Basil

Start: easy from cuttings, easy from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: rich organic, moist

Sun: full

Thyme

Start: easy from cuttings, moderate from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: sandy and dry

Sun: full

Parsley

Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: moderate

Sun: shade

Sage

Start: easy from cuttings, moderate from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: sandy and dry

Sun: full

Dill

Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: sandy and dry

Sun: shade/some sun

Easy to grow indoor herbs

Tarragon

Start: moderate from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: moderate

Sun: full

Marjoram

Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: moderate

Sun: full

Lemon Balm

Start: easy from seeds, easy from cutting, easy to find full plants

Best soil: sandy

Sun: full or shade

Chives

Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants

Best soil: rich well drained

Sun: full or shade

Mint

Start: easy from seeds, easy from cutting, easy to find full plants

Best soil: any

Sun: full or shade

Oregano

Start: easy from seeds, easy from cutting, easy to find full plants

Best soil: any

Sun: full

Try these to help you get started

Easy to grow container herbs

Growing herbs is easy and rewarding. Try it you will be hooked then you will never buy old herbs and spices again

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