For thousands of years, black peppers have been a vital ingredient for dishes all over the world.
Apart from food, people also use it for many other purposes like hair, skin, weight loss, etc.
Black pepper is regarded as the ‘King of Spices’ and is made from unripe, dried Piper Nigrum.
These peppers are also the earliest known spice, which people used as medicines. The black pepper is a climbing plant and has shiny green leaves with dense, slender flowers.
Its fruits are called peppercorns.So how long does black pepper last?
These peppers last for around three to four years, but if there’s a label or so in the packaging, it will depend on those dates.
Why should you be concerned about bad black pepper?
Despite seeming harmless, spoiled black pepper can cause kidney stones, blood glucose and delayed glucose absorptions, epigastric pain, and dyspepsia and cause acidity and gas.
How Long Does Black Pepper Last? Does Black Pepper Go Bad?
Black pepper mostly lasts for a minimum of three years, although to keep the taste in good quality, the maximum time would be five years.
But it also depends on packaging as there may be other preserving chemicals in the peppers.
You should not keep the black pepper directly under the sunlight or in places where there is excess moisture.
Such conditions reduce its lasting power by days.
This is because it spoils the peppers; instead, you should keep them in the dark or cold places to preserve them longer.
Black pepper also lasts depending on how you store them.
Tightly capped jars are recommended, or else if you keep it loosely, then the peppers are likely to be ruined quickly.
Black peppers will also eventually get spoiled, but it generally has a long shelf-life.
Packaged black pepper will have a ‘best by’ date, which can help you estimate how long the pepper will last.
Black pepper turns bad if moisture or water gets inside it. The pepper becomes moldy due to wetness, and if kept unused for too long, it loses its taste and overall quality.
Grounded black pepper has a slightly shorter shelf-life and it is best for usage around one to two years.
Beyond these dates, the pepper may be usable, but it will not be of decent quality.
How to Tell if Black Pepper is Bad?
Peppers also turn bad like any other edibles, but there are some ways to determine if they are spoiled.
You can identify by checking if the black peppers have turned moldy or wet as though water got inside them. This shows that the peppers have gone through a spoiling process.
It will also have a foul smell and will not look fresh.
This shows that although black pepper has a stable shelf-life, it gradually loses its quality.
Thus, if you compare fresh peppercorns with ones that are around a year old, there will be striking differences in their taste, aroma, and texture.
Also, the black pepper will lose its flavor like any other spice as time passes.
To test its quality, you can crush some peppercorns on your hand and take a whiff or taste of it. If it does not have a strong aroma or taste, it’s best to throw it away.
Even if it doesn’t smell rotten or spoiled, its taste will be odd because of the lost nutrients.
If you buy packaged black pepper and it is puffed or damaged, consider opting for a different one as it is probably spoiled or too old.
You should avoid eating spoiled black pepper as it can cause food-borne problems.
Practicing the right storage conditions and maintaining a diet with fresh food is necessary to avoid such problems.
Conclusion
Black pepper is a prevalent culinary spice that people use in almost every dish.
It makes food taste better, although too much of it can also lead to health problems.
But black pepper is also good for health because it aids the body in many ways, such as helping in blood circulation, better digestion, and also prevents diarrhea.
It also enhances nutrient absorption in the body. Black pepper is in many ways useful for eating, improving health, etc.
Despite its immense usefulness, black pepper also has a definite shelf-life. Whole peppercorns can even last up to five years (basing on their edible stage), but its best quality is always within a year or two.
Grounded black pepper may last a little shorter than whole peppercorns.
The most noticeable signs of bad black pepper are molds, foul smells, loss of texture, and sometimes infestation.
When noticing such signs, never hesitate to discard it because the black pepper (whether whole or grounded) is not only spoiled but is not safe to consume.
How Long Does Black Pepper Last? Does Black Pepper Go Bad?
Ingredients
- Black pepper
- Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
- Labels and markers
Instructions
- Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
- Label your container with the content and date and keep track of how much you’re using!
- Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
- If frozen, thaw in the fridge before use. Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
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