A few old spice jars and then two dozen packets that are half-full - that's what spice cupboards look like for most of us! Apart from looking a mess, a system like this can also be a waste of money - you might find things go off quickly, or you accidentally buy duplicates of things tucked away at the back. So, time to get organised! Trust us, it’s worth it.
Some basic rules of thumb to remember:
- Always choose air-tight containers - whether glass jars or plastic boxes.
- Store spices ideally in dark containers and away from sunlight and heat sources in the kitchen. They will stay fresh longer.
- Plan ahead and don't stock up unnecessarily.
- Choose whole rather than ground spices. Whilst whole spices should last up to two years, ground spices lose their aroma and flavour after only six months.
- Only use a clean, dry spoon to get the spices out of their containers. Any moisture or hidden bacteria can shorten the life of the contents.
Inspiration for storing spices
There are lots of ways to organize your spices - even solutions for small spaces. And there's no need to buy spice jars right away. Often you just need to get your imagination involved.
Glass jars
Bottles with cork lids or glass jars with metal lids are such classics. They're cheap, they look good and you can easily distinguish the different spices through the glass. They can either stand on a shelf or you can stack them flat in a drawer. There are also great special stands you can get to display your beautiful spices - standing, corner or hanging. Pushed for space? Look to your cooker hood for an option - you can install a small shelf there, or stack them on top of the flat surface. Just beware of high temperatures - as we mentioned, heat reduces the shelf life of spices.
Plastic boxes
While some people would swear that glass is always better than plastic, in professional kitchens plastic leads the way. If you cook a lot, a set of larger, stackable and of course airtight plastic containers could be a smart choice! You can label them nicely, and of course there’s no risk of them breaking. If you’re thinking of the environment - there are plenty of non-packaging shops you can use to refill your containers. They generally have a good range of spices to choose from.
Magnetic containers
As a rule, you can stick metal containers with magnets on the fridge and save space as much as possible. If you are handy, you can also make them yourself. Just stick a strong enough magnet on any sealable container - either on the lid or on the container itself.
Spices you shouldn't miss
In magazines and on the internet you can find huge lists of spices that are supposedly a must-have for every household. But don't let anything be forced on you - for one, it’s wasteful if you never use them, and for the other - we all cook differently, have different tastes. The basics for everyone are good quality sea salt and black pepper (ideally whole and ground). If you like Mediterranean cuisine, dried herbs such as thyme, rosemary or oregano will come in handy - as well as a good quality smoked paprika. Asian dishes tend to be more varied and plentiful - from turmeric, coriander, cumin, ginger, and cardamom, to hot dried chilli. After all, curry powder is a mixture of those, and is always good in a pinch!
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