Storing your spices properly will help them last longer. If you love your spices and you want them to last, you want those flavors to stay fresh for as long as possible, here’s what you need to do. Follow these tips so you can get the most out of those bottles of oregano, rosemary, nutmeg, thyme, and more.
Choose the Right Containers
It’s easy to just put all your spices into a container or bottle. But there are plenty of containers that aren’t airtight. Sure, they come with lids. But the lids don’t have seals, so air still seeps into the spices inside. If that’s the case, the next time you use those spices, you’ll end up with less to no flavor. What you need to do to retain the flavor is to pick spice bottles that are airtight. Check the seals.
Pick the Perfect Spot
Some pick the windowsill. Others display those spices in a rack near the window. But exposure to sunlight means that your spices will get stale so much quicker. You want to pick a dark cupboard instead. You can always put a label on the cabinet for spices. That way, if other people come into your kitchen, they’ll know where to look.
Consider the Conditions
Aside from the darkness, the spot should also be dry and cool. If it’s too hot, that degrades the taste or flavor of the spices. By the time you use the oregano, for instance, they’ll taste like desiccated oregano, far from the real thing. You’ll want to check the conditions of the inside of the cupboard before you put anything in there.
Label Them Properly
If you’re storing your spices in bottles and containers, it would help to label them properly. You might know the difference but not everybody does. If someone else will use your kitchen, those labels will be a tremendous help to them. Also, labels keep everything organized. If you happen to have spices that look similar or you want to differentiate between the new and old stock of the same spice, then labels will help.
Monitor Your Spices
Do you know what spices you have in your kitchen? You might find spices online or during your runs to the grocery, thinking you don’t have that bottle or kind yet. But then you get home, check your spice cupboard and there it is. You just forgot about it. You’ll want to ditch that habit. Keep a list of all the spices you have. Tack it onto the cupboard or door of your fridge. That way, you can check what you already have, if you’re running low on something, and if one of those spices is already bound to expire in the new few weeks or so.
Protect Against Moisture
You already know air and heat aren’t good for your spices. But so is moisture. That’s why it’s best to keep them in a dry spot. Keep them away from humid places. That’s also why it’s not a good idea to keep your spices in the freeze or near the stove.