Tips for getting the longest shelf life

1. Store your spices in a cool, dark, dry place--not by the stove, on top of the refrigerator, or inside the refrigerator where humidity will destroy their potency. The same goes for wall-mounted spice racks near sunlight and windows; they're pretty and convenient, but not practical. The freezer is a good place to store a large amount of spices.

2. Screw-top jars work better than flip top jars in preventing humidity.

3. When possible, grind whole spices down instead of buying ground spices. Whole spices also have a longer shelf life.