"Despite this range of culinary pursuits, his plea to home cooks is quite simple: Clean out your pantry, and keep an eye on your spices. On an episode of the podcast " All on the Table with Katy Lee Biegel," Flay discussed what a skill it can be to make meals from key pantry staples. The caveat of course is that the ingredients must still be worth using."
"Videos of the celebrity chef's pantry have gone viral, with viewers perhaps hoping to glimpse some secret to amazing meals. But Bobby Flay's pantry essentials are all simple ones, and he explains that he often turns to rice or pasta dishes for easy pantry meals. Spaghetti with a jar of pasta sauce (Flay prefers the Mutti brand) can be ready in minutes, which he enhances with herbs and spices such as basil, oregano, and Calabrian chilies or crushed red peppers."
"Some people might be surprised to learn that you can't keep your spices indefinitely. It's true that in most cases they're not going to spoil, but spices past their "use by" date won't add the desired effect to your dish. In fact, they might even give your food a musty taste. The shelf life of your spices will vary depending on the spice itself, and how long it was sitting in the supermarket before you purchased it."
Clean the pantry regularly and monitor spice freshness to preserve flavor. Pantry staples like rice and pasta enable quick meals and can be enhanced with herbs and chilies. A jarred pasta sauce can be elevated with basil, oregano, and Calabrian chilies or crushed red pepper. Spices generally do not spoil quickly but lose potency and can develop a musty taste past their prime. Ground spices are typically discarded after 1–2 years and whole spices after 2–4 years. For maximum flavor, expect shorter windows: about 3–6 months for ground and 8–10 months for whole spices.
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