How to store flavored or herb mixes
Best place: the pantry. Flavored or herb mixes are shelf stable and keep for 6 months in a cool, dry cupboard.
6 months
from the package date
No guideline
No guideline
How flavored or herb mixes compare with other baked goods: baking and cooking
USDA FoodKeeper gives flavored or herb mixes one time: 6 months in the pantry from the package date, and no figure for the other places. A blank usually means the food is not stored that way, not that the data is missing. The foods USDA lists next to flavored or herb mixes in baked goods: baking and cooking show the range for the group:
| Food | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut flavor | 2 years | no guideline | no guideline |
| Coconut flour | no guideline | 9 to 12 months | 9 to 12 months |
| Cornmeal(first of 2 kinds) | 6 to 12 months | no guideline | no guideline |
| Cornstarch | 18 to 24 months | no guideline | no guideline |
| Farro(first of 2 kinds) | 6 months | no guideline | 12 months |
| Flour(first of 2 kinds) | 6 to 12 months | no guideline | no guideline |
| Frosting or icing | 10 to 12 months | no guideline | no guideline |
| Garam masala | 1 year | no guideline | no guideline |
| Garlic(first of 2 kinds) | 8 to 12 months | no guideline | no guideline |
| Gelatin(first of 2 kinds) | 10 to 12 months | no guideline | no guideline |
About baked goods: baking and cooking. Dry baking staples like flour and sugar last a long time if kept dry and sealed, but they can pick up pantry pests or absorb moisture and odours from nearby food. Oils slowly turn rancid over time, even unopened, especially once exposed to heat or light. All baked goods: baking and cooking.
How to tell flavored or herb mixes have gone bad
General signs for baked goods: baking and cooking, the group USDA lists flavored or herb mixes under.
- Small moths, beetles or larvae in the flour or grains
- Clumping or hardening from moisture getting into the bag
- Sharp, crayon-like or paint-like smell from oil
- Baking powder that no longer fizzes when mixed with water
- Chocolate chips with a dull grey bloom or waxy smell
More on baked goods: baking and cooking. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Store flour, sugar and baking powder in airtight containers in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove. Keep oils away from direct sunlight and heat, and refrigerate nut oils and opened specialty oils to slow rancidity. Label containers with the purchase date so older stock gets used first.
How to store other baked goods: baking and cooking
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.