Spices add a great deal of flavour to our cooking, and one of the most popular spices throughout the year is cinnamon. This warming spice can either come in a ground, powdered form or you can buy cinnamon sticks. But what’s the best way to keep them from going off?
Can You Freeze Cinnamon Sticks?
No, you should not freeze cinnamon sticks. Cinnamon sticks will last for between 2-4 years depending on if they are opened or not, as long as they are stored correctly. Freezing is not recommended as cinnamon in particular is very sensitive to cold temperatures.
Do Do Cinnamon Sticks freeze well? No
Can you refreeze Cinnamon Sticks? No
Why You Shouldn’t Freeze Cinnamon Sticks
Freezing cinnamon sticks, whilst it prevents bacterial or mould growth, will have an impact on how your cinnamon tastes.
If frozen, the cinnamon sticks will most likely lose their potency and flavour, meaning that you essentially end up with frozen pieces of flavourless and useless bark.
Moisture is also a killer for cinnamon sticks, and indeed most spices. If you do buy a lot of cinnamon sticks, be sure you know how to store them correctly so that they maintain their delicious flavour for as long as possible.
How to Store Cinnamon Sticks
Unopened cinnamon sticks can last up to four years, providing that they are kept in a dry, dark place such as in kitchen cupboards or in the pantry. Similarly to ground cinnamon, keeping cinnamon sticks in the fridge or the freezer isnāt recommended.
Once you have opened your cinnamon sticks, you need to take great care of how you store them to ensure they last as long as possible.
As soon as they are opened, the shelf life is reduced from 4 years to approximately 2 years. In order to ensure they stay flavourful, place your cinnamon sticks in an airtight container, and be sure to close the container properly after every use.
If you are unsure whether your cinnamon sticks are still fresh, rub a small part of a cinnamon stick on your hand and smell it. It should still have a robust cinnamony smell, and therefore still be good to use.
If your cinnamon has lost its aroma or it smells unusual and unpleasant, then it has most likely gone bad and should be thrown out. Be on the lookout for wet or slimy cinnamon sticks, as this is also an indication that the sticks have gone rancid and should not be used again.
To ensure a long shelf life of your cinnamon sticks, keep your airtight container in a dry place that doesnāt receive too much light. Make sure that the container you use is completely dry before being used and that the lid fits tightly to ensure the inside is airtight.
Do Cinnamon Sticks Freeze Well?
Freezing cinnamon sticks is not recommended and nor does it have any benefit when it comes to increasing the shelf life.
Cinnamon sticks already have a very long shelf life if kept correctly.
Most spices need to be kept in a dry, dark and cool place, so kitchen cupboards and pantries are ideal. Any contact with cold temperatures or moisture could cause cinnamon sticks to lose their flavour, rendering them useless in any cooking or baking they were destined for.
