Serene > wrote:

>With nutmeg, there's no comparison.

Agree. I use a microplane, it works wonderfully.

> I don't usually home-grind cinnamon.

Nor do I, but I will buy whole cinnamon sticks (these are
actually cassia), and place them in a sauce, curry, etc.
to steep, much as one would throw in a bay leaf, and remove
it later.

>> I know that the preground stuff can last for years. Does anyone know
>> the shelf life of whole nutmegs and cinnamon sticks?

I would say several months. I've used nutmegs older than that
and they are still better than pre-ground nutmeg.

Steve