Most of the time, how you store and organize your spice cabins has a great impact on your cooking experience. In order to get the best out of your spices, you need to be tidy and keep track of everything.
In this article, we share tips for proper spice storage, how to organize spices in your kitchen, and how best we can maximize the freshness of our herbs and spices.
A few factors to consider when thinking of spice storage ideas.
Before you think of any ways to store your spices, the following aspects are very important.
- Type of spices
- Storage space available
- How often you are to use that spice: spices that are used daily should be kept close and the ones less often used should be kept further.
- Art, creativity, and display
- Cooking station: Spices should be near and quickly accessible by the cook to save time but considerably far from the heat if you want them to last longer.
- Type of spices
- Different types and forms of spices call for unique storages. Ground forms of spices need a dry environment while leafy spices need that extra cold storing.
- Storage space available
Whether you are using racks, a cabinet, Kitchen table, whatever it is, your storage space should be nice and tidy so that you don’t have spices everywhere in your kitchen.
Related article: Turmeric uses, dosage and side effects
How to store spices
Since spices are got from fruits, stems, seeds, tree barks, or roots of various plants or trees, there’s no general storage method or special storage hack. This is because they are all different and come from different parts of the plants. Let’s try to break them down
Fresh spices
With the great risk of wilting and drying, fresh or leafy spices should be kept in a cool place preferably a fridge. Spices like coriander, fresh mint, fresh thyme all are best stored in the refrigerator.
We can use the wet jar method. Gather your herbs in a bunch and trim the ends. Then, fit the greens in a jar with a small amount of cool water, good enough to cover the ends, but not touching the leaves.
Seal the jar with a lid or a polythene bag and store it in the fridge. Replace the water every after two days and discarding the wilted or discolored leaves. Don’t refrigerate basil it will blacken.
Ground/powdered spice
The best storage method for ground spices is containers or jars with lids. Labeling the containers or jars with either a mark on the lid or with a piece of paper stuck to the side would be rather helpful. Spices like ground ginger, black pepper, turmeric can all be stored in such containers and placed either in a cabinet, rank, cupboard, kitchen table.
Metalic spice jars are super practical with magnets attached to them.
These store spices, save space and create a novel, attractive display in your kitchen
Each jar includes an ultra-strong neodymium magnet securely enclosed under each lid to ensure a strong stick to any metal surface.
All the jars are airtight with a unique design to make a beautiful look in your kitchen
The jars are of high-quality glass to ensure your items arrive in perfect condition
Each pack comes with easy-to-read spice labels so you can quickly identify what spice is inside.
You can choose to place a magnetic strip under the cabinet and attach the metallic jars. It won’t only save valuable space in the kitchen but it is good looking too.
You may choose to use different shapes and colors so that you can always tell their differences.
Spices bought from supermarkets have already got labels and in jars. Use this to your advantage and just arrange them in a cabinet with labels facing you. Believe me, you will not spend precious time looking for them.
Make use of empty wine bottles; they are good spice storage too
Case of 12 – Glass Bordeaux Shaped Rounded Top Wine Bottles with Screw-tops & Lids- 750 ml
The beautiful color shows through the flint glass and allows easy identification of the spices.
Made in the USA! From North Mountain Supply!
Includes 12 28mm Black Plastic Lids
The bottles arrive undamaged and free of defects – Covered under our 30-day hassle-free replacement!
Reclosable Zip Poly Bags
Our resealable poly bags are 100% airtight and protect your merchandise from moisture.
Instantly and securely self-seal.
Our reclosable zip bags are also great for travel usage.
100% Food Grade Safe, Durable, Odourless, Non-Toxic, and therefore ideal for storing and packing food.
What you should have in mind while storing spices.
Some people always consider refrigerators as the best alternative since it’s dark and cold. Regrettably, humidity can cause the flavor of various spices to alter or for the spices to even grow mold or bacteria. And so it’s of wisdom storing spices in a cool dry place except when the container is vacuum-sealed
Avoid heat and direct sunlight.
Never store your spices in a cabinet that is above your cooking place or fireplace. This always looks like the best place to store your spices, however, the heat will alter the taste of the spices and degrade them.
If you are the type that buys spices in bulk, then you might find that the last spices in the tins will not taste as great as they were when you first bought them. The other places you should avoid are places next to appliances that give off heat, for example, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and any other of such appliances.
Use a dry measuring spoon.
Always take caution when measuring spices, use a clean dry spoon because a moist spoon with either food or water will make the remaining spices in the container moldy and cakey.
Fsdifly-Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons is our choice of measuring spoons.
The US and metric measurement is engraved on the handle of each spoon so no guesswork when adding spices to your dish.
Our food-grade measuring cups are rust-resistant, heat, and dishwasher safe.
These measuring spoons are perfect for housewives, bakers, and chefs to measure spicery, salt, sugar, and other ingredients.
The measuring spoons are built with quality stainless steel and the measurement marks were engraved on the handle. So there are no rust or unclear measurement cases.
Keep the whole spices.
It may be of advantage to use powdered spices since time to grind them is saved, however, you should always consider the fact that whole spices last longer. In addition to lasting longer, they have more flavor strength and aroma. Its better you buy them whole and grind them yourself using a mortar.
Never sprinkle spices from its jar
I know its always tempting to just shake spices into the boiling pot. We all do it at some point. But it’s very important to note that steam from the food will give off moisture which will be trapped in the container causing mold. Still, you may put in too much and make food taste quite bad.
Holding them over the stove could mean they are in the face of heat and will surely degrade with time as mentioned earlier. Shake spices into your palm(if you don’t have a dry spoon) or just use a measuring spoon then drop into your cooking pot.
Don’t buy large quantities of spices
Don’t buy a lot of spices you won’t be able to use in a year. Spices get old, lose their strength and aroma and thus cant serve their purpose which then becomes a waste of money.
An Extra Tip
Always prepare all spices you are to use before cooking. With this, you will always remember all the spices you are going to use which will save you time and create less mess while cooking.
Know when to throw those spices.
If you are wondering why your spices don’t taste as you first used them, then it’s probably time to get rid of them. You may not have realized this, but spices lose their strength and aroma with the time that’s why a periodic check is essential. Discard spoilt spices and remember to buy an amount you will consume within 6 months.
There is no special equipment to test spice strength. Just use your senses; if the smell isn’t stronger like before or the color is changing, then consider discarding those spices.
And for obvious reasons when the spices turn cakey, get moldy, or even get a bad smell, then consider getting rid of them.
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