Is it really expired?
The good news is that spices don’t spoil in such a way that will make you sick, but they can lose their flavor. Different spice sellers offer different timelines for shelf life. Spice Island gives ground spices 2 to 3 years and whole spices 3 to 4 years. However, the best way to know if the spices on your shelf are still good is by color and smell. If either has faded, it may not be worth cooking.
1. Brewed potpourri
Even if a spice doesn’t smell as strong as it once did, heat can release the last of its volatile oils, giving off a lovely aroma. Boil a pot of water on your stove and add whichever spices you want your house to smell like—cardamom, cinnamon, cloves or ginger. You can also throw in some citrus peels.
2. Spicy soap
The granular texture of ground cloves and pepper can add act as a gentle exfoliator in your next batch of homemade soap.
Read more: http://www.treehugger.com/green-home/7-ways-use-expired-spices.html
