The choice between ground nutmeg and whole nutmeg is an easy one: always go with the whole nut and freshly grate it as needed.

Ground nutmeg may smell and taste great the first time, but once the container is opened, the quality will start to deteriorate as the spice's volatile oils are exposed to oxygen. Whole nutmeg won't last forever, but properly stored you can squeeze a good year out of it with no noticeable loss of flavor.