Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?

The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was different
than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or something.

I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.

And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it is a
different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and compare
them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an off flavor.
I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So I used less of
it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy
another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.

Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And I
used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal either.
If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get whatever the
cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the drugstore, but
usually it's McCormick or Schilling.

Julie Bove wrote:
> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>
> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it
> was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
> Italian" or something.
> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>
> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of
> it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell
> if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another
> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help.
> Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
> and see if that is better.
> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years.
> And I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand
> loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will
> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.

Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important
ingredient and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a
brand you like will solve that problem for you. Even if you find
several high quality sources, their differing tastes could result in
dishes you don't like - it's easy to consistently source this so why not
do just that? Oregano that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger flavor -
could ruin a dish, too.

We like Trader Joe's for powdered herbs/spices. They don't have a big
selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have oregano.
We now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder), garlic powder, and
a few others there.

-S-

"Steve Freides" > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove wrote:
>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>
>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
>> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
>> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it
>> was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
>> Italian" or something.
>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>
>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of
>> it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell
>> if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another
>> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
>> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
>> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives
>> an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
>> and see if that is better.
>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
>> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand
>> loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will
>> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
>> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>
> Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important ingredient
> and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a brand you like
> will solve that problem for you. Even if you find several high quality
> sources, their differing tastes could result in dishes you don't like -
> it's easy to consistently source this so why not do just that? Oregano
> that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger flavor - could ruin a dish, too.
>
> We like Trader Joe's for powdered herbs/spices. They don't have a big
> selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have oregano. We
> now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder), garlic powder, and a
> few others there.
>
> -S-

That could be. Thing is, I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it
externally. I don't know if dried oregano would have the same scent but
this certainly does not. Maybe I should always buy the same one. I don't
get to TJ's too often. It's not close to where I live and I hate waiting in
the long lines there.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it externally.

Now you're just getting kinky, Julie.

G.

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it externally.
>
> Now you're just getting kinky, Julie.

Actually, I once had a Dr. smell my foot. I told him not to be alarmed at
the color of my toenail because I had put the oil of oregano there, thinking
that I had a toenail fungus. After the fact I believe that wasn't what it
was at all but psoriasis of the nail. The two can look very similar. At
least that's all gone now! The Dr. said it did smell good. Ha! That was
probably the freakiest thing that happened at the Dr.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> "Gary" > wrote in message ...
> > Julie Bove wrote:
> >>
> >> I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it externally.
> >
> > Now you're just getting kinky, Julie.
>
> Actually, I once had a Dr. smell my foot. I told him not to be alarmed at
> the color of my toenail because I had put the oil of oregano there, thinking
> that I had a toenail fungus. After the fact I believe that wasn't what it
> was at all but psoriasis of the nail. The two can look very similar. At
> least that's all gone now! The Dr. said it did smell good. Ha! That was
> probably the freakiest thing that happened at the Dr.

UNSUBSCRIBE!

Julie Bove wrote:
> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>>
>>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
>>> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
>>> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but
>>> it was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
>>> Italian" or something.
>>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>>
>>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma
>>> of it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really
>>> tell if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy
>>> another
>>> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
>>> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
>>> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help.
>>> Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
>>> and see if that is better.
>>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for
>>> years. And I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am
>>> not brand loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am
>>> and will
>>> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
>>> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or
>>> Schilling.
>>
>> Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important
>> ingredient and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a
>> brand you like will solve that problem for you. Even if you find
>> several high quality sources, their differing tastes could result in
>> dishes you don't like - it's easy to consistently source this so why
>> not do just that? Oregano that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger
>> flavor - could ruin a dish, too. We like Trader Joe's for powdered
>> herbs/spices. They don't have a
>> big selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have
>> oregano. We now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder),
>> garlic powder, and a few others there.
>>
>> -S-
>
> That could be. Thing is, I take oil of oregano daily and have
> applied it externally. I don't know if dried oregano would have the
> same scent but this certainly does not. Maybe I should always buy
> the same one. I don't get to TJ's too often. It's not close to
> where I live and I hate waiting in the long lines there.

No disrespect intended but you've changed the subject - buy dried
oregano from the same, good source and not from anywhere else and your
original problem should be solved. Oil of oregano is a different thing
entirely.

-S-

"Steve Freides" > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove wrote:
>> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>>>
>>>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
>>>> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
>>>> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but
>>>> it was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
>>>> Italian" or something.
>>>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>>>
>>>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma
>>>> of it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really
>>>> tell if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another
>>>> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
>>>> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
>>>> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help.
>>>> Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
>>>> and see if that is better.
>>>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for
>>>> years. And I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am
>>>> not brand loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and
>>>> will
>>>> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
>>>> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or
>>>> Schilling.
>>>
>>> Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important
>>> ingredient and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a
>>> brand you like will solve that problem for you. Even if you find
>>> several high quality sources, their differing tastes could result in
>>> dishes you don't like - it's easy to consistently source this so why
>>> not do just that? Oregano that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger
>>> flavor - could ruin a dish, too. We like Trader Joe's for powdered
>>> herbs/spices. They don't have a
>>> big selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have
>>> oregano. We now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder),
>>> garlic powder, and a few others there.
>>>
>>> -S-
>>
>> That could be. Thing is, I take oil of oregano daily and have
>> applied it externally. I don't know if dried oregano would have the
>> same scent but this certainly does not. Maybe I should always buy
>> the same one. I don't get to TJ's too often. It's not close to
>> where I live and I hate waiting in the long lines there.
>
> No disrespect intended but you've changed the subject - buy dried oregano
> from the same, good source and not from anywhere else and your original
> problem should be solved. Oil of oregano is a different thing entirely.
>
> -S-

Yes, it is different. But now that I have bought new dried stuff, I really
think there was some sort of problem with the old stuff. They looked pretty
much the same but the aroma was much different. The old stuff had almost a
minty aroma. Daughter said she didn't like the flavor either.

I tasted some of the new stuff (yes in the dried form) and it did taste as I
know oregano to taste. I added some of that along with more parsley, some
rosemary, onion powder, a bit of garlic and some red pepper flakes to the
unstuffed peppers. The taste is as it should be.

So either I got a different variety of oregano or they put the wrong stuff
in my bottle. The new stuff is cheap. The Rite Aid brand. They had their
seasonings on sale for $1 each plus you save another $1 if you buy 3 and you
get some sort of points which probably doesn't apply to me. I don't buy
enough from them currently to benefit from the points.

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>>
>>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
>>> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
>>> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it
>>> was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
>>> Italian" or something.
>>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>>
>>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of
>>> it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell
>>> if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another
>>> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
>>> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
>>> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives
>>> an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
>>> and see if that is better.
>>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
>>> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand
>>> loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will
>>> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
>>> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>>
>> Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important ingredient
>> and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a brand you like
>> will solve that problem for you. Even if you find several high quality
>> sources, their differing tastes could result in dishes you don't like -
>> it's easy to consistently source this so why not do just that? Oregano
>> that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger flavor - could ruin a dish, too.
>>
>> We like Trader Joe's for powdered herbs/spices. They don't have a big
>> selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have oregano.
>> We now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder), garlic powder, and
>> a few others there.
>>
>> -S-
>
> That could be. Thing is, I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it
> externally.

Another quack nostrum!

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>
> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
> Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
> taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was
> different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or
> something.
>
> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>
> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
> when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it is
> a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and
> compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an
> off flavor. I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So I
> used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my dish.
> I will buy another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.
>
> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal
> either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get
> whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the
> drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.

There are two types of oregano, Mexican and Mediterrranean. Here
is a link to Penzey's explanation of the differences, which are large:
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...ysoregano.html
Sounds as if you are accustomed to Mediterranean and just got
a couple of batches of Mexican.

pavane

"pavane" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>
>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
>> Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
>> taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was
>> different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or
>> something.
>>
>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>
>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
>> when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it
>> is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and
>> compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an
>> off flavor. I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So
>> I used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my
>> dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.
>>
>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
>> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal
>> either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get
>> whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the
>> drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>
> There are two types of oregano, Mexican and Mediterrranean. Here
> is a link to Penzey's explanation of the differences, which are large:
> http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...ysoregano.html
> Sounds as if you are accustomed to Mediterranean and just got
> a couple of batches of Mexican.
>
> pavane

Thanks! After reading more about it last night, I was thinking that may be
what I got. The bottle just says that it was grown in Turkey.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> "pavane" > wrote:
> > There are two types of oregano, Mexican and Mediterrranean. Here
> > is a link to Penzey's explanation of the differences, which are large:
> > http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...ysoregano.html
> > Sounds as if you are accustomed to Mediterranean and just got
> > a couple of batches of Mexican.
> >
> > pavane
>
> Thanks! After reading more about it last night, I was thinking that may be
> what I got. The bottle just says that it was grown in Turkey.

So.....Ham, this Thanksgiving?

G.

On Sun, 7 Oct 2012 21:24:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>
>The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
>Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
>taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was different
>than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or something.
>
>I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>
>And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
>when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it is a
>different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and compare
>them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an off flavor.
>I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So I used less of
>it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy
>another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.
>
>Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And I
>used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal either.
>If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get whatever the
>cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the drugstore, but
>usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>

This company sells 13 different kinds of oregano, all somewhat
different. I am growing 3 right now.

http://pantrygardenherbs.com/?page_id=1012
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

Sqwertz wrote:
>
> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
> thread when it's all said and done?
>
> -sw

You forgot to add a youtube link to your post, Steve.

G.

On 10/8/12 3:19 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
> thread when it's all said and done?
>
> -sw
>

With the consensus that Julie Bove is a whack job with too much time on
her hands and too few brain cells?

On 08/10/2012 9:54 AM, Goomba wrote:
> On 10/8/12 3:19 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
>> thread when it's all said and done?
>>
>> -sw
>>
>
> With the consensus that Julie Bove is a whack job with too much time on
> her hands and too few brain cells?


True.


FWIW.... I buy my herbs in the Bulk Barn. I pay only a fraction the
price that I would if I bought it by the bottle in the grocery store.
For instance, a few years ago when I needed ground ginger, it was $3.99
fr a bottle in the grocery store. I kept my old bottle and filled it
with the stuff I got in bulk for less than 20 cents. One gorcery store
sells herbs in bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was
so light it did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't
charge me for it.

If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw them out
and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the bottle.

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
news
> On 08/10/2012 9:54 AM, Goomba wrote:
>> On 10/8/12 3:19 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
>>> thread when it's all said and done?
>>>
>>> -sw
>>>
>>
>> With the consensus that Julie Bove is a whack job with too much time on
>> her hands and too few brain cells?
>
>
> True.
>
>
> FWIW.... I buy my herbs in the Bulk Barn. I pay only a fraction the price
> that I would if I bought it by the bottle in the grocery store. For
> instance, a few years ago when I needed ground ginger, it was $3.99 fr a
> bottle in the grocery store. I kept my old bottle and filled it with the
> stuff I got in bulk for less than 20 cents. One gorcery store sells herbs
> in bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was so light it
> did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't charge me for it.
>
> If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw them out
> and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the bottle.

There are places here that sell bulk but I am always leery to buy. I would
have no qualms currently with buying from Whole Foods although I am not sure
if they have bulk spices. But they are a new store so chances are that
their product would be fresh. But at the other stores I have tried buying
nuts, seeds, beans and popcorn and they weren't always fresh. So I would be
afraid that the spices wouldn't be fresh either.

On 08/10/2012 10:12 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was so light it
>> did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't charge me for it.
>>
>> If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw them out
>> and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the bottle.
>
> There are places here that sell bulk but I am always leery to buy. I would
> have no qualms currently with buying from Whole Foods although I am not sure
> if they have bulk spices. But they are a new store so chances are that
> their product would be fresh. But at the other stores I have tried buying
> nuts, seeds, beans and popcorn and they weren't always fresh. So I would be
> afraid that the spices wouldn't be fresh either.
>
>
\



I would bet that in most kitchens there are herbs and spices that have
been there for years. I know that there are in mine. There are some
things that I use frequently, like oregano, black pepper, marjoram,
curry powder. Then there is stuff like allspice and cloves that have
been in there for decades. For most people the freshness in pretty
much a non issue. You will have a hard time convincing me that a less
than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse for wear when
you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano is usually used
dried, rarely fresh.

On Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:41:54 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:
snip
>I would bet that in most kitchens there are herbs and spices that have
>been there for years.
Nope. Everything is dated. One-year turn around for most, 2 year
maximum. Exceptions are whole cloves, whole cinnamon and whole nutmeg
-- those I will keep longer.

snip
You will have a hard time convincing me that a less
>than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse for wear when
>you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano is usually used
>dried, rarely fresh.
>
>
Have you ever watched the turnover in the bulk section? In my Winco,
there are 2 times of the day that you will darn near be run over by
staff refilling all the bulk stuff -- including herbs and spices. At
other times it is difficult to elbow space enough at the bins to get
what you want. Maybe in your stores, but not in mine.
Janet US

Dave Smith wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> On 08/10/2012 10:12 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
> bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was so light it
> > > did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't charge
> > > me for it.
> > >
> > > If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw
> > > them out and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the
> > > bottle.
> >
> > There are places here that sell bulk but I am always leery to buy.
> > I would have no qualms currently with buying from Whole Foods
> > although I am not sure if they have bulk spices. But they are a
> > new store so chances are that their product would be fresh. But at
> > the other stores I have tried buying nuts, seeds, beans and popcorn
> > and they weren't always fresh. So I would be afraid that the
> > spices wouldn't be fresh either.
> >
> >
> \
>
>
>
> I would bet that in most kitchens there are herbs and spices that
> have been there for years. I know that there are in mine. There are
> some things that I use frequently, like oregano, black pepper,
> marjoram, curry powder. Then there is stuff like allspice and cloves
> that have been in there for decades. For most people the freshness
> in pretty much a non issue. You will have a hard time convincing me
> that a less than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse
> for wear when you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano
> is usually used dried, rarely fresh.

Grin, I know I have some aged spices in my kitchen and it doesnt bother
me any. Sure some go to flavorless dust but most do not if kept in a
dark dry spot.



--

On Monday, October 8, 2012 3:19:19 AM UTC-4, Sqwertz wrote:
> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
>
> thread when it's all said and done?
>
>
>
> -sw

Yeah - here we go again. She stays up nights dreaming these up. Very enlightening stuff.