U.S. Janet B. wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> On Sat, 07 Jan 2017 12:39:00 -0500, Brooklyn1
> > wrote:
>
> > On Fri, 06 Jan 2017 23:47:27 -0700, U.S. Janet B. >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > On Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:43:52 -0500, Brooklyn1
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Fri, 06 Jan 2017 10:39:27 -0700, U.S. Janet B.
> > > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > On Fri, 06 Jan 2017 12:09:11 -0500, Brooklyn1
> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Alan Holbrook wrote:
> >>>>>>
> > > > > > > What's the shelf life of the various herbs and spices?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Depends on several factors; which ones, whether whole or
> > > > > > ground, and where/how stored. The most important
> > > > > > longiviety feature is from where purchased. Many
> > > > > > merchants, especially those selling bulk, take no
> > > > > > precautions for maintaining freshness, their products are
> > > > > > stored in large open cannisters and are handled by the
> > > > > > public with unwashed hands... like feeding from a gross
> > > > > > salad bar.. those products are already damaged when
> > > > > > purchased. The reliable merchants store their products in
> > > > > > controlled humidors and are handled/processed/packaged by
> > > > > > trained employees.
> > > > > >
> > > > > Again, I have to ask. Where the heck do you shop that you
> > > > > are exposed to such awful conditions for food? Apparently
> > > > > the hinterland of New York is uncivilized.
> > > >
> > > > Anywhere selling bulk where customers help themselves is highly
> > > > unsanitary. I'll buy produce where folks help themselves
> > > > because produce is easy to wash, but herbs and spices can't be
> > > > washed.
> > > >
> > > > > > > Having to discard a good portion of stuff because its
> > > > > > > lost its potency over time would have some effect on the
> > > > > > > actual price.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > And negatively affect the dish in which they're used,
> > > > > > therefore wasting all other ingredients in the dish. I've
> > > > > > found that with purchasing herbs and spices "You get what
> > > > > > you pay for" is a maxim to believe. The few pennies more
> > > > > > for quality product is well worth the expense, store in
> > > > > > tight lidded glass jars away from heat and light, and
> > > > > > freeze excess.
> > > > >
> > > > > Herbs? I've only heard you say which herbs taste like the
> > > > > underside of your lawnmower.
> > > >
> > > > That would be mint, I have patches of peppermint and spearmint
> > > > in my lawn, I despise mint... I won't use mint toothpaste, my
> > > > favorite is Tom's of Maine fennel flavored.
> > > >
> > > > > I don't believe you use herbs . . . spices yes,
> > > > > but no herbs.
> > > > > Janet US
> > > >
> > > > I use lots of herbs but I won't buy them from a public bulk bin
> > > > where the entire world dips in with their scuzzy paws... I
> > > > don't want those even for free. I buy institutional sizes from
> > > > BJs and some blends from Penzys that I can't buy anywhere else.
> > > > I don't comprehend the logic of buying a $20 roast and
> > > > sprinkling it with four cents worth of stale scuzzy bulk spices.
> > >
> > > None of my shops have bulk that allows dipping. It's all drop
> > > down from a release door into a bag you hold beneath the door.
> > > You live around some pretty old fashioned stuff. I usually have
> > > to wait behind the employee that is refilling the bulk bins.
> > > Sometimes they are filled twice daily. My shops know their
> > > customers well and don't stock stuff that doesn't move.
> > > Janet US
> >
> > I've never seen such a contraption, all I've seen anywhere are like
> > 1 gallon slant top cannisters with a small scoop. The BJs I shop
> > has a large section that contains institutional sized containers of
> > spices and herbs, all sealed with tamper proof lids, those are what
> > I buy and keep in my freezer for refilling my small jars. Buying
> > these costs about half Penzey's prices and they have a large turn
> > over as many restaurants buy the
> > http://i65.tinypic.com/2qvdx84.jpg
> > The tall rectangular containers don't waste storage space.
>
> However, one great big caveat . . . you can't beat Penzey's for the
> tastiest, largest, freshest smelling bay leaves.
> Janet US

Maybe, but I no longer shop there after their highly unprofessional use
of customer emails accounts (there to track shippage) to call 50% of
the USA 'racists' if they voted a particular way in the presidential
election. They didnt do that once, they did it 3 times before I cut
all services.

I am happy with Savory Spices now.

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