Does the paprika go bad? - How to know?

Paprika, being one of the usual members of every spice drawer, often makes us think about the shelf life of spices.

Does the paprika go bad?

Paprika can last almost indefinitely if you store it properly. However, ground paprika will keep its best flavor and taste qualities for up to 3 years. Afterwards, it will start to lose its potency. In rare cases, paprika “spoils” as a result of insect contamination or mold caused by moisture. 

Read on to find out all about the shelf life and storage conditions of ground paprika.

Can paprika go bad?

If you are someone who gravitates towards milder spices, paprika may be your favorite. As a versatile spice that you can use in a number of dishes, including soups, stews, sausages, and rice dishes, you probably don’t need to worry about it going bad.

But people who have bought paprika and keep it in their spice drawer in case a recipe calls for it, might want to know how long paprika lasts.

Does paprika usually go bad?

Spices don’t spoil like most foods. What happens is that they lose their flavor and potency. Especially in the case of ground spices, such as paprika, gradual flavor deterioration is a common problem.

In specific cases, when you have exposed the paprika powder to factors such as humidity, you can see how it molds.

The shelf life and exactly what will happen to your paprika depends on the storage conditions.

Does smoked paprika go bad?

There are several types of paprika, and smoked paprika is one of them. It is the preferred paprika for those who like to give their food a smoky aroma.

Smoked paprika, like any other type of ground paprika, will keep well for a few years if stored properly.

As with other types of paprika, smoked paprika will not necessarily “go bad.” But it will lose the intensity of its flavor over time.

Does paprika have bugs?

When we say that paprika doesn’t “go bad,” we don’t mean at all that it’s guaranteed against things like insect contamination.

In fact, paprika is one of the favorite spices of tobacco and drugstore beetles. What attracts critters to paprika and other spices made from peppers is that they have so much to eat.

In case you didn’t know, paprika is one of the spices with the most nutrients. This is enough for the bugs to stay in a paprika jar for years.

You may wonder how they get there. You may keep your kitchen clean and paprika stored in a tightly closed jar. But the thing is, in most cases, these bugs find their way into the paprika during the production process.

If you want to make sure there are no bugs in your jar of paprika powder, put it in the freezer when you bring it home. A few days in the freezer will kill all the bugs and eggs on your spices.

We recommend inspecting the paprika well before using it, especially if it is not a spice that you use very often.

Paprika bugs are about the size of a sesame seed. If you look closely, you will notice them.

If you’ve never known that there are bugs in paprika and have always used it carelessly, don’t worry. Although it is certainly not recommended to use bug-contaminated spices, you should know that it is harmless if you have used it unknowingly.

How do you store paprika?

There are a few things you should keep your paprika away from.

• Humidity
• The air
• heat sources
• The sunlight 

Although the aroma and flavor of paprika will gradually deteriorate no matter how you store it, exposing it to the above factors will only speed up the process.

You should always store paprika in a cool, dry place .

Dryness is the key, as if even a drop gets into your paprika jar, it will clump together. Also, if you store paprika in a humid place, there’s a good chance it will get moldy, since ground spices are good at attracting moisture from the environment.

You may think that if the paprika is affected by humidity, keeping it in the sunlight will solve the problem. Although sunlight will do a great job of keeping the paprika dry, it will also cause the spice to quickly lose its flavor and aroma.

Also, it will cause the color of the paprika to fade. And you already know that paprika is so popular because of the intense red color it gives to dishes, right?

Light affects paprika . That is why most manufacturers do not package it in translucent glass or plastic jars, but in dark-colored containers or tin boxes.

Regardless of the type of container you choose to store your paprika in, be sure to keep it tightly closed at all times. This will not only prevent bugs from getting into the spice, but it will also prevent oxidation.

Contact with air will cause the paprika to lose its best qualities. Although it is recommended to store all spices in airtight containers, with ground ones it is especially important. Its particles have a greater surface area to interact with oxygen, which causes them to break down more quickly.

Lastly, keep the paprika away from heat sources, including the oven and stove.

How long does paprika last?

Paprika usually comes with an expiration date printed on the jar. You should definitely look at this date before purchasing the spice.

However, you should always keep in mind that the expiration date is simply the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the paprika will maintain its best qualities.

Paprika, and spices in general, are usually considered non-perishable foods. Paprika is not eternal, but it has a fairly long shelf life.

If you provide all the necessary storage conditions for ground paprika, it will keep well for 2-3 years.

Although after this period of time it may still be safe, the taste and aroma may not be there. If you want your paprika to be really potent, you’ll need to buy a new jar every 6 months.

You can store the paprika in the fridge in a tightly closed container. Some people claim that refrigeration helps keep paprika fresh longer.

You can also freeze the paprika. Doing this has multiple benefits. First of all, you keep your spices away from insects. Also, you don’t have to worry about things like humidity, light, oxidation, etc.

The only thing is that you have to properly wrap the container with paprika with food paper and transfer it to a heavy-duty freezer bag.

You can transfer a small amount of paprika to a smaller spice jar and store it in the kitchen cabinet for easy access.

Freezing and refrigerating will not extend the shelf life of paprika, as it simply does not extend. In any case, ground paprika can last almost as long.

No matter where you store them, spices lose their potency over time.

How long does paprika last after expiration date?

Expiration and best before dates are something you should always check. However, you should know that paprika can be used long after the dates indicated on the label.

There is no specific estimate for how long ground paprika will last past its expiration date, as it all depends on how and where you have stored it.

As long as it’s not moldy and free of bugs, you can continue to use it.

Signs that paprika has gone bad

If you want to know if your paprika powder is okay or not, this is what you can do.

Pour some of the powder into a light-colored plate to check for bugs. If so, discard the powder.

If there are no bugs in the paprika, inspect the texture. Are there too many lumps in the powder? You may need to buy a new jar, as the one you have has probably been exposed to moisture.

Smell the paprika and taste it. If the flavor and aroma are there, use it. If they are very soft, it is up to you to decide whether to continue using the paprika or not.

Related questions

What happens if you use “expired” paprika?

Some foods, such as meats and dairy products, should be avoided when they go bad. Spices, however, are not as dangerous when they have passed the expiration date printed on the jar.

If you’ve accidentally used expired paprika, don’t worry. There is very little or no chance that it will make you sick. What can worry you is that your dish does not have the same flavor as with fresh paprika.

Paprika that has been stored in a dry spice drawer and in a tightly closed container does not carry any health risk, even if it is already expired.