You might wonder whether it is better to purchase spices online or at your local grocery store. In order to decide this you need to know some aspects like ground spice has a shelf life of six months. Would you like to purchase spices from your local grocery store where it has been on the shelf for more than a year or buy it online where you can get it fresh. Whole spices have a longer shelf life when compared to its ground variation, as they can last for almost two years. The spices which generally have a high demand cannot be stocked and thus, shopping online for spices can get you fresh spices. Listed below are some tips you should keep in mind while purchasing spices and herbs online.
Small quantities
Each delicacy that you cook at home does not require spices as part of the recipe, which means that you do not need bulks of every spice available in your home. If you are buying any spice online to use it in your personal kitchen then it is advised that you should only purchase less quantity since, you would not use it once it exceeds its shelf life. You might get discounts when purchasing spices in large quantities however, refrain from doing so if you will not be able to use the quantity before it loses its fragrance and flavour.
Buy whole spices
While buying spice online you should always opt for purchasing whole spices rather than its ground variant. The shelf life for the whole spices is more and they are also purer than ground spices. Ground spices might be mixed with elements like rice, salt or flour and in some cases they might also contain contaminants. You can grind whole spices at home before using it to ensure purity.
Avoid cheap rates
If a certain spice online store is offering to sell spices at rates which are comparatively very less than other online stores, then avoid purchasing from this store. Very low rates might mean that the spices can be stale or there might be some other reason for these unusually low rates.
Purchase from standard stores
It is a very simple process if you want to purchase spices or herbs online as there are numerous stores selling both herbs and spices. However, the first thing you need to do is to find a reliable store selling superior quality spices and herbs. Search all the stores available and then rate them according to quality and availability of the herb or spice you want to purchase. Check out the website and read if any reviews are available on the internet.
Also read any testimonials available on the website you are purchasing from. Compare at least more than three stores before you choose one amongst these stores. By comparing the stores you will be able to compare aspects like product inventory and price range along with mode of payment, shipping facilities and the process of delivery while choosing from among these stores.
To preserve the flavour of spices after purchase, keep them away from sunlight and in cool places.
