How do I use real cinnamon sticks to flavor my food?

I recently purchased a couple of real cinnamon sticks and I intend to use them little by little as I would the powdered stuff from the bottle. However, I am unsure of the shelf life and also if there is anything that I will need to do ahead of time to ensure not only the safety of my cinnamon but also the desired results from my cinnamon sticks. Does anyone know where I might find this information?

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