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.