How To Tell If Herbs Are Still Good

Drying herbs is the most common way to store them long-term. And while dried herbs don’t “go bad”, their potency fades over time. Whether you’ve purchased them from the store or preserved them from your own garden, you may be wondering if the dried herbs in your pantry are still strong enough for medicinal or even culinary use. Here’s how to tell if your herbs are still good and what you can do with them if they’re past their prime. 

How To Tell If Herbs Are Still Good

There isn’t a clear-cut rule or specific timeline as to when or whether herbs are still potent enough for use in preparations. While old herbs don’t go “bad” in the traditional sense, they may not have the strength you want for medicinal preparations or the flavor you want for culinary recipes. But by trusting your senses, you can get a pretty good idea as to whether the herbs in your pantry are still potent. 

Check The Color

The first thing to look at is the coloring. Once dried, herbs will begin to lose their vibrancy over time. When fresh, dried herbs are vibrant and still carry much of the same color they did in their original state. Think vibrant greens, brightly colored flowers, and rich brown roots. Herbs that have started to lose their potency will begin to dull in color, taking on a faded gray tone. They may still have some potency left in them, but they won’t likely be as strong as they once were. 

Give It A Sniff

Your sense of smell is a great way to check if dried herbs still carry some of their magic. Most herbs have a strong, distinct aroma. Generally speaking, the stronger the aroma, the fresher and more potent they are. As dried herbs age, their volatile oils will dissipate, resulting in a weaker scent. This is where it’s particularly helpful to know what your herbs smell like in their prime. But if you give your dried herbs a whiff and there’s little smell or the scent is a bit musty, chances are the herbs are past their prime and not best for medicinal use. 

Do A Taste Test (If Safe)

Taste is another great way to tell if herbs are still potent. Of course, you only want to do a taste test with herbs that are safe for you to ingest. But if you want to check to see if an herb you’ve been using for infusion is still potent, try brewing up a small cup and giving it a taste. It should still taste strongly, whether bitter, pungent, grassy, sour, minty, etc. If the herb tastes bland or stale, it’s likely lost much of its medicinal strength. 

Check for Mold or Contaminants

This should be obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Always check for any signs of mold, moisture, or insects. Storing dried herbs properly goes a long way to keeping them as fresh as possible for as long as possible. 

How To Store Herbs To Keep Them Fresh

Just like prevention is the best medicine, storing your dried herbs and spices properly is the best way to keep them fresh as long as possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when storing dried herbs. 

First, herbs are best stored in airtight containers. This will help keep moisture out and the volatile oils of the herbs in. 

Second, be sure to store the herbs away from heat. Heat will cause the herbs to lose their potency much faster. So, if you’re used to storing herbs and spices above your stove (like I did for years), it’s time to reconsider. 

Finally, you want to store your dried herbs away from direct sunlight. Much like heat, direct sunlight will diminish the strength of the herbs much faster. If you don’t have a spot to put the herbs away from the sun, you can store them in amber glass jars to reduce the impact of sunlight. Or place the herbs in their airtight container in a paper bag for a similar effect. But a cabinet or shelves away from a heat source and sunlight are your best bet. 

How Long Do Dried Herbs Last?

As mentioned above, there isn’t a hard and fast rule or timeline to go by. But there are some general guidelines to keep in mind. 

• Herbal powders are best used within a year. 
• Cut or whole leaves and flowers last 1-2 years.
• Roots, barks, and seeds stay potent for 2-3 years. 

Older herbs lose their strength, but don’t toss them just yet—there are still creative ways to put them to use!

How To Use Old Herbs And Spices?

Simmer Pots: Simmer herbs and spices in a pot of water to fill your space with their aroma and essence.

Homemade Soap with Herbs: Infuse cut herbs, whole herbs, or herbal powders into homemade soap for added botanical benefits.

Body Scrub: Blend herbs with oil to create a nourishing body scrub, adjusting texture with salt or sugar for exfoliation.

Herbal Carpet Freshener: Sprinkle non-staining herbal powders like lavender, rosemary, or peppermint onto carpets before vacuuming.

Scented Candles: Add powdered herbs to candle wax for a natural fragrance, avoiding whole herbs to prevent fire hazards.

Homemade Incense: Mix powdered herbs with a natural binder like honey to create DIY incense cones or loose incense for burning.

DIY Fire Starters with Herbs: Use old herbs and spices in homemade fire starters for fragrant and gift-worthy kindling.

Cleaning Vinegar: Infuse herbs in vinegar to enhance your DIY cleaning solutions with natural fragrance and benefits.

Compost: Return spent herbs to the earth by composting them to nourish your garden for the next season.

Using the freshest herbs available is the best way to ensure your herbal preparations are potent and full of all the generous health benefits these herbs have to offer. And while herbs that are past their prime may not be ideal for medicinal purposes, they can be useful for adding to baths, burning as incense, creating sachets, or creating offerings. 

If all else fails, return these spent herbs back to the earth whenever possible. You can compost them, mix them into your garden soil, or even sprinkle them on your houseplants. Whatever you do, be sure to do it with gratitude. And when you replace those herbs, be sure to only purchase or harvest what you think you can truly use. This is a trial and error process that I’m still learning, too. But it’s a lesson I try to remember every time I bring new herbs into my home.