I finally stopped buying those bulk spice packs after a chef friend told me theyre usually stale already

She said the pre-ground cumin I was using had probably been sitting on a shelf for 8 months before it even reached my kitchen, which explained why my chili always tasted flat compared to hers, so now I just buy whole seeds and toast them myself.

2 comments

2 Comments

perry.evan26d ago

That thing about cumin specifically really stuck with me too. I read somewhere that most pre-ground cumin loses its punch within a few months, but the whole seeds can last a couple years if stored right. It makes sense when you think about it, since grinding exposes all the oils to air and they just evaporate away. I started toasting my own cumin seeds in a dry pan until they get fragrant and it's a night and day difference in curries and soups. The aroma alone tells you it's fresh compared to that dusty smell from the jar.

jamie_white26d ago

Is it really that big of a difference though? I've been using pre-ground cumin from the same big plastic container I bought at Costco over a year ago, and my chili still tastes fine to everyone I serve it to. @perry.evan, I think the dusty smell thing is overblown because once you mix it into a pot of something with tomatoes, broth, and other spices, I seriously doubt anyone can pick out whether the cumin was ground yesterday or last year. Plus, toasting whole seeds is just an extra step and a dirty pan I don't want to deal with on a weeknight.