Pepper or black pepper is a flowering vine. People cultivate them for their fruit, known as a peppercorn.
Millions of people use pepper as a seasoning and spice all around the world.
You may know peppercorns and ground pepper extracted from the plants as black pepper.
Black pepper originated from the Southern region of India.
According to Wikipedia, Vietnam is the largest producer and exporter of pepper.
Pepper is a really popular spice, right behind salt. A majority of the world’s population uses pepper daily, and is an integral part of their cuisine.
Economic Times states that pepper flourishes well in hot and humid climates along with sufficient rain.
Production of pepper flourishes in South India and Vietnam. That is the reason that 95% of the world’s pepper grows in these two countries.
People often consider pepper as the king of spices. Pepper is also regarded as a natural form of medicine since it is credited for relieving nausea, fever, digestion, migraine, and arthritis, to name a few.
Read further below to know how long pepper lasts.
How Long Does Pepper Last? Does Pepper Go Bad?
No peppercorns or ground pepper lasts for long periods of time. If we are talking about packaged pepper, they come with an expiry date on the containers.
So the date will indicate how long it will maintain its freshness. The manner in which you store it after using the pepper makes a difference too. But the taste and sharpness of pepper will not last forever.
Most of us do not usually discard spices even past their best-by date. It’s safe to assume that we can use it safely for quite some time. You can utilize the peppers as long as it retains its flavor and taste.
If there is no date in the packaging, you should know that peppercorns maintain their quality for a good three to four years. For ground peppers, they’ll last for about two years.
So, we can safely assume that pepper, whether it’s grounded, dried, or commercially bottled, lasts for about three to four years.
Can peppers go bad? Technically speaking, no. The storage time is shown for the best quality only. Commercially dried spices do not spoil, but the potency will gradually decrease over time.
Just like any other herbs and spices, pepper will lose its potency in about eight years.
Ground spices, which include ground pepper, goes bad quicker than any other form of spices.
You just need to follow protocol and store it in a place where it is safe from any external contaminants.
The most significant factors responsible for damaging peppers are air, heat, humidity, and light. The heat and hungry from any source will make the pepper lose its flavor much faster.
Some good places to store pepper is the freezer or a pantry shelf.
How To Tell If Pepper is Bad?
Even commercially processed pepper can lose its flavor over time and can get spoiled.
The quickest and most straightforward way to tell if your pepper has gone bad is to grind the pepper on the palm of your hand and taste it.
If it does not give you a burning sensation on your tongue, the pepper has most definitely lost its potency.
You can also smell the pepper for freshness. Grind it on the palm of your hand and sniff it gently. If the scent you’re getting is weak or off, then the batch of pepper you have had passed its peak.
There are also a couple of steps you can follow to see if your pepper is spoiled:
- Check if the pepper is moldy. If your batch of pepper seems to show traces of mold on the surface, it’s time to discard it.
- Look for signs of moisture. Grab some pepper on your hand and feel any signs of wetness and humidity. If you feel any moisture then the quality of the pepper is going down.
- Taste the level of heat. If your pepper does not pack a punch and give you that sting while you taste it, then it’s time to let it go.
- Smell it. If your pepper batch does not smell like it usually used to, then it is most definitely unfit for consumption.
Conclusion
Pepper is a really important spice for many citizens of the world. Many people use pepper as a source for seasoning and spice in many different dishes and in many kitchens.
Pepper has lots of beneficial values.
It is high in antioxidants, which will help prevent radical damage to your cells.
Black pepper is rich in vitamin B and also helps in producing red blood cells.
While buying peppers, be sure to check if the deal is still good on the bottles. Proper storage also matters in stretching the longevity of pepper. Most spices last longer in dark and compact cabinets.
How Long Does Pepper Last? Does Pepper Go Bad?
Ingredients
- Pepper
- Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
- Labels and markers
Instructions
- Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
- Check the u0022Best-by-dateu0022 to know when it expires.
- Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
- Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
About The Author
