Unpopular opinion: I love moving. I always have. Sure, it’s time-consuming and disruptive. But it’s also a blank slate. A new beginning. I love the opportunity to go through my belongings—especially my kitchen pantry.
I always try to cook or bake through what I can to lighten the load before I move. It’s a fun challenge, but I’ve never been able to get through all my spices, oils, and pantry staples before moving day. So it’s good to know how long these items last. I don’t want to schlep a bunch of expired spices with me to my next home.
If you’re packing for a move, here are some tips on which pantry ingredients to keep and which to toss based on past experiments we’ve conducted in the test kitchen. (Depending on how far away you’re moving, you might want to leave some of these things behind. If you choose to do that, you’ll know what’s worth giving away and what’s worth pitching.)