It's not unusual to buy a spice you use only occasionally and then keep it stored in the cabinet for years -- or decades. However, spices or seasonings lose their flavor if you don't use them within a certain amount of time. While some commercially sold jarred or canned spices and seasonings have expiration dates, others don't. Your senses of smell, sight and taste can help determine whether a spice without an expiration date is still good to use.
