6 Pantry Items You Should Check on Today

#3 Graham crackers

Not everyone likes to eat Graham crackers. However, they come in handy when you want to throw together a quick cheesecake or take them with you for some S’mores action. This is exactly why most Americans have a pack or two in their pantry, ready to go at any time. However, if the pack has been opened for a while, it’s high time you check on them.

Not only will opened crackers that aren’t stored in an airtight container end up stale after a few days, but if you bought them in bulk one time, they can end up going stale in the bag! Just because you find them in your pantry doesn’t mean they will be fresh and not stale, especially if you cannot remember when you bought them. Generally, if it’s been more than nine months, they won’t be safe to consume.

#4 Pantry spices: turmeric, paprika, etc.

If you’ve thought about buying your favorite spices in bulk and then having them in your pantry for a long time, you may want to reconsider that thought. Not only do these ground spices lose their aroma and potency after two to three years of sitting on a shelf, but the conditions in which you keep them can also affect them (not to mention if someone adds moisture to them).

If you’ve already bought a huge pack of ground spices and you’re using them religiously, you should still go and give them a sniff and a taste to make sure they’re still just as good and haven’t gone past their prime. You won’t end up being sick or anything of the sort by eating old spices, but they will not add anything special to your dishes. So if you find yourself adding more and more of the same spice to a dish you know like the back of your hand, this may be the reason.