With so many incredible recipes to try, chances are you have collected an amazing array of spices. How can you keep them fresh and easy to find when you need them? We found some great ways to store and organize your spices, before they take over your pantry.
Whether you love the spicy kick of cayenne pepper in stir-fry or the hint of basil in your homemade pasta sauce, one thing is certain — you have more spices in your pantry than your grandmother could ever have imagined. Even if you don’t cook as often as you’d like to, having spices handy helps you kick up the flavor in any dish you create. So what do you need to know about storing spices?
Spices 101
Proper storage of your spices will help them retain flavor and color longer. Oxygen, heat and light are three things to protect your spices from. Here are a few tips on storing your spices to get the most life out of them.
- Buy smaller quantities of spices rather than an economy-sized container at the discount store. Many specialty markets (like Whole Foods) sell herbs and spices in bulk, so you can buy only the quantity you’ll need.
- Consider buying whole spices and grinding your own, since flavor begins to deteriorate once they are ground.
- When storing spices on the countertop or in a wall-mounted spice rack, make sure spices are not in clear containers, which let in too much light. If you like to be able to see your spices, consider tins with clear lids only.
- If possible, store your spices away from heat, which can cause the flavor to deteriorate faster.
- Some spices last longer than others. If you aren’t sure whether a spice is still good to use, check the color and fragrance. Spices won’t really go “bad,” but your recipe won’t taste as amazing when you use out-of-date spices.
Organization
How you choose to organize your spices is up to you. Some prefer to stash them alphabetically while others like organizing them by type — think herbs, ethnic spices, salts or peppers. We found some great spice storage options no matter how you choose to organize them.
With a little bit of help, you can tame those spices in your pantry and put them to work.
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