merryb wrote on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:04:50 -0700 (PDT):

m> On Apr 16, 4:30 pm, wrote:
??>> Can anyone attest to whether freshly ground whole nutmeg
??>> and cinnamon have better flavor in recipes vs. the
??>> pre-ground spice jar type? I know that the preground stuff
??>> can last for years. Does anyone know the shelf life of
??>> whole nutmegs and cinnamon sticks? Thanks

m> Once at a place I was working, we were out of cinnamon, but
m> we had plenty of sticks. I decided to put them in the
m> Robocoup and grind them up- bad idea. They started smoking
m> and started to melt the inside of the bowl!

There has been a nutmeg grater available for a long time (a
nutmeg or two is kept in it) and it is not a problem to grate
enough in a few seconds. A spice (coffee) grinder will powder
pieces of cinnamon stick.


James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not