[SendShaqtoIraq]

spices don’t retain their quality for that period of time

[Question Liberal Authority]

Some do, some don't. There is food in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs which is perfectly edible today. It's not unusual to find rock salt which is several million years old.

I have plenty of spices in my cupboard which are more than 10 years old, and they're perfectly fine. The spice manufacturers will tell you to toss everything out in six months and start over. But they have an interest in doing so.

Anyway, the point is you can get a jar of McCormick spice the size of your head for less than $5 at Costco. If you use it up before it loses flavor, you can buy more. If it loses flavor before you use it up, you can buy a new jar.

[meyer]

spices don’t retain their quality for that period of time

Sure they do - they just make after-shave out of it. It's called "Old Spice".

sorry...