Almost no food is complete without seasonings. A variety of spices can be found in any home. Even if there are only a few types available, knowing how to store spices in the kitchen will be very useful.
In order for the product to be fresh, aromatic and rich for a long time, it is necessary to maintain its quality.
What you need to know about the expiration dates of seasonings?
Any spice has a long shelf life, but it is slightly different for each type. Sealed in original packaging, the seasoning can be stored for two or three years. In factory conditions, herbs and grains, after they are collected and dried, are packaged in the shortest possible time, so all volatile substances do not evaporate. Safety spicy properties is also possible thanks to new developments and manufacturing technologies for packaging bags that protect products from air, moisture and sunlight that can spoil spices. Plain paper packaging is less effective.
Cinnamon, pepper and cloves have the longest shelf life. The shelf life of herbs is lower.
Features of storing different spices
Ground products will retain their properties less long term than whole. For nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, grinding is rarely used; it is better to grind the desired product using a coffee grinder immediately before use.
Ideas for storing spices are varied. Paprika, red capsicum and chili can be removed in refrigerator. The shelf life will be longer for seasonings kept in airtight packaging, glass jars and moisture-proof containers. Oil spices: poppy and sesame seeds have the advantage of being frozen, which will help prevent the spices from going rancid.
This is interesting: one teaspoon of dried herb is equivalent to 3 spoons of fresh herb.
Storing Spices and Dried Herbs
To ensure that your seasonings are as healthy as possible, it is best to follow the recommendations on how to properly store spices. Heat sources should be kept away from the area where seasonings are stored. The battery and other heaters, like the rays of the sun, will contribute to the destruction of the beneficial substances of the product. It is better to store all the spices on shelves or kitchen table in jars and other containers that do not allow light to pass through. Or put the spices in closed cabinets.
Packages must be kept closed. For jars, tight-fitting lids are sufficient; for paper bags, the use of paper clips and paper clips is necessary. When using bulk spices, it is important to use dry measuring spoons. It is wrong to pour spices into foods from bags or jars; the fumes from hot food will reduce their shelf life.
Advice: At least once a year you should take apart jars and bags of spices, check the products to see if they are fresh, pay attention to the color of the seasoning, whether the aroma is rich, and whether the expiration date has expired.
How to organize the safety of seasonings?
For order and convenience when preparing food, you need to organize the space by arranging and arranging everything, including spices, in certain places. This will reduce time consumption and simplify the process of creating dishes.
There are many ideas on where to store the seasoning and in what. You can use special systems that are creative and claim to be modeling kitchen design. The spices will not only remain intact, but will also create a certain cozy atmosphere and will set a modern tone for the space.
High-quality organizer materials, glass containers in the form of small jars, they can be built-in structures suitable for kitchen units or independent modules. Such kitchen amenities are not cheap.
Spices also have a place on the shelves. Sets and individual shelves are available for sale. Usage plastic materials undesirable. Wooden and metal structures more durable and effective.
Railing systems are represented by removable shelves or in separate parts, they are supported by a holder in the form of a crossbar. A simple and cheap method of storing spices in baskets and boxes. They are compact and easy to take out. You can store spices in bags and soft packaging in the basket. Open bags made of polyethylene and paper are unacceptable; moisture can easily enter.
In airtight containers in a drawer, spices will last a long time.
You can take ideas for storage from your head and build it yourself. With a little imagination, you can get original solution. For example, you can use test tubes.
Spices will be well preserved in containers that were previously used for other needs. Most people always have plenty left at home tin cans, which contained tea or coffee, pill packaging, etc. If you use jars where cream or watercolor was stored, they must be washed with special care.
Tip: Fabric, paper or wallpaper as upholstery for dishes, painting with acrylic paints, ribbons and beads will be an excellent decoration for packaging containers for spices.
You can use a store-bought set of jars. There could be a couple or a dozen of them. Such things are made from wood, glass, tin, plastic and ceramics. There's something for every taste different materials and sizes. It is convenient to use transparent bottles, cones or jars. You can attach a tag you made yourself to each container, on which the name of the seasoning will be written.
Spices stored in test tubes will not last long. But you can put a bulk product with a short shelf life there, quickly use it and fill it again, or with the grass or grains that you will rarely use. In any case, decorating the kitchen with test tubes or cones with seasoning looks unusual and beautiful.
Some housewives like to use canvas bags with ties. Before use, they must be boiled and disinfected with saline solution.
The best places to store seasonings
To store a variety of herbs and spices, you will need to consider creating a separate kitchen cabinet. Even small in size, it can be used as functionally as possible. It is possible to expand the number of shelves. Standard cabinets are designed for the height of objects, and jars less than 1 liter are low.
Using the drawers is convenient and practical. It is enough to decorate the lids of the jars with labels to avoid chaos during storage and find the desired spice in a matter of seconds.
Modern kitchen sets boast narrow, vertically positioned and pull-out drawers with metal dividers inside, where a collection of seasonings has a place of honor.
IN kitchen news there are wooden or metal systems, you can use hanging storage. In special door pockets you can store both jars and containers of spices.
“There’s a place for everything and everything in its place” - this is the main rule of ideal kitchen organization. Contrary to popular belief, it is not at all necessary to have a lot of cabinets and drawers to accommodate all the things and products needed in the household.
It is important to correctly designate areas for storing anything and adhere to the chosen order. The popular resource Kitchen Interior suggests starting with spices.
Niches
The section of the wall near the stove is ideal for creating a niche in which you can store spices most often used in cooking. Install an additional shelf from stainless steel at a height convenient for you, so that the necessary items are always at hand.
Pay attention to the jars themselves. It is believed that spices should be stored in opaque containers so that they do not lose their properties when exposed to light. But some seasonings are used so often that the likelihood of them spoiling is quite low.
In this kitchen, the hood hood sits inside a single unit, the sides of which offer ample space to store spices away from the heat of the stove.
The easiest way is to equip a niche for spices in a plasterboard wall, regardless of whether it is tiled or not.
This is something new and very interesting! The rail on which the stepladder moves defines a compact space between the upper and lower cabinets, which serves as a compartment for storing jars of spices.
Wall mount
Modern industry offers many options for storing spices on the wall. Unless you intend to redo the entire kitchen interior, a magnetic strip will help implement this principle at no additional cost. And the problem of storing knives will be solved by itself.
Wall-mounted modules can accommodate dozens of jars of spices, and they themselves occupy such a modest area that they can be installed in any pantries, closets, and even reverse side doors.
Rail systems can perform two or even three functions at once. In our example, one fairly long rod on the wall provides storage for spices, bowls and kitchen accessories, thereby freeing up the work surface.
Wall systems look very elegant and fit easily into small spaces which usually remain unoccupied.
Just one simple shelf under kitchen cabinets will allow you to place required quantity containers with seasonings.
Drawers
It is more convenient to store medium and small jars of spices in specially equipped drawers.
Today, many kitchen manufacturers equip drawers with dividers, but stores have ready-made solutions for improvement old furniture. Wooden inserts can be easily cut to the right size, A plastic models and are completely transformed according to the principle of the designer.
The smallest containers can be stored in drawers, and tall bottles can be stored on open shelves.
These plastic drawer inserts have convenient handles that allow you to move an entire group of spices closer to the stove.
Vertical compartments
If you have a small free area between the cabinets, do not rush to cover it with a false panel, but order a narrow vertical compartment on rollers from a carpenter’s shop in order to wisely use every centimeter in the kitchen.
Before us is a kitchen set in traditional style, behind one of the decorative columns of which the same vertical compartment for spices is hidden.
And this kitchen looks very modern, but here we can see all the advantages of using vertical compartments installed on either side of the stove.
It turns out that wall cabinets can be equipped with narrow pull-out compartments in which spices will always be at eye level of the person who is busy preparing food.
In the compartment larger size will fit not only spices, but also oils, sauces and vinegars.
Compartment inside the kitchen island
End part kitchen island most often it is a blank wooden wall. You can correct this omission by increasing the depth a little and hanging the doors on hinges. Compact spice compartment at your service!
Cabinet doors
This piece of kitchen furniture is often equipped hanging system storage already at the production stage. However, even old cabinets may turn out to be more spacious than their manufacturer intended. Storing spices in the back of the shelves is not very convenient, because small jars always fall and get lost, and small compartments on the door solve this problem.
Measure the depth of the clearance from the beginning of the shelves to the cabinet door to make sure you can hang a mini spice rack on it.
Storerooms
Before us is, of course, the best of all possible storage rooms. Shallow shelves on the doors hold an impressive number of jars of spices, and owners do not have to rummage through the depths of cabinets for a long time in search of the right seasoning.
Here we see a combined type pantry with compartments for storing food of various depths. Spices occupy a hanging rack on the door and several drawers.
This shallow pantry is built into a compact space behind the kitchen island. Sliding doors allow you to keep it open during the entire cooking process.
The secret to perfect storage organization in this pantry is that each compartment is filled with containers and containers of the appropriate height. Many people don't realize how much space is wasted due to unused vertical space. Organization can and should be economical!
Places: . . . .
Everyone knows that without seasoning, food tastes poor and unappetizing. It’s not just about salt and pepper, of course: in the “arsenal” modern housewives there are up to 50 (or even higher) types of a wide variety of seasonings and spices, from mustard and turmeric to marjoram and basil. And they all need special place in the kitchen - and, naturally, special conditions storage
Where and how?
Instructions and most popular ideas storage - in our article.
Rules and terms for storing spices in the kitchen
First of all, it is worth noting that spices cannot become stale, rot or deteriorate so much that they become unsuitable for food.
The only thing that can happen to them is loss of taste and aroma. And this is much more offensive than mold on the seasoning.
Therefore, when replenishing your set of spices, be sure to look at the date of manufacture and promptly update the contents of the “jars,” bags or bags.
Remember that the shelf life of spices in powdered (ground) form is several times lower than that of whole spices.
- For whole spices: 1-2 years for flowers and leaves, 2-3 years for seeds, and 3 years for roots.
- For ground ones: 1 year - for leaves and seeds, no more than 2 years - for root vegetables.
- The leaders in terms of shelf life are pepper, cloves and the beloved cinnamon.
As for storage rules, they were invented back in the days when every spice was worth its weight in gold.
They haven't changed since then:
- Spices should be stored in containers with tight-fitting lids. For example, in ceramic, glass or tin containers. It is not recommended to leave this “kitchen gold” in bags due to their absolute leakage after the first opening of the package.
- If you buy whole spices and then grind them, you should not grind the whole volume at once- store them in their natural form and grind exactly as much as you need to prepare the dish. This way your spices will “live” much longer (especially nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, cloves). To compare the aroma, you can conduct an experiment on storing ground black pepper and peppercorns: the latter, even after six months, will remain fragrant after grinding, while the ground one will lose its “freshness” and pungency.
- Hide spices from the light! Don't place your precious clear jars under straight sun rays. It is better to choose opaque containers and put them in a dry and dark cabinet.
- Do not dip a wet spoon into the spice jar. And don’t climb there with wet fingers (and you shouldn’t use dry ones either). The seasoning loses its properties after getting wet, in addition, the formation of mold is quite possible. This advice also applies to those housewives who pour seasonings into a saucepan, holding the jars over steam - this should not be done for the same reasons. Use a knife or spoon.
- Individual spices/condiments are stored exclusively in the refrigerator. For example, seasonings based on paprika or chili. It is in the cold that their wonderful taste and aroma are preserved. You can also put sauces and vinegars, herbs, aromatic herbs, celery and ginger. Other spices, on the contrary, do not like cold.
- To prevent your spices from becoming infested with various insects., you can place a bay leaf on top of the seasoning in each container.
- Keep spices as far away from the stove as possible. Many people like to beautifully arrange jars over the stove so as not to waste time searching, but this storage method significantly worsens the properties of spices.
- Once every few months, do a complete audit of the spices in your kitchen. Check their freshness, aroma and shelf life.
- Place spices that contain oil in the freezer.(note - sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc.). This way you will avoid them going rancid.
By the way, many of the spices and seasonings are natural natural antibiotics .
16 best ideas from housewives - what is the most convenient way to store spices in the kitchen?
It is much more pleasant to cook when your kitchen is clean and tidy. And it’s even more joyful when each product has its own rightful place and a convenient storage container.
As for spices, each housewife stores them in her own way, based on her capabilities and creative wishes.
For example…
- Budget option: cheap and cheerful. All spices remain in their “original” factory bags, but are closed with special “clothespins” and beautifully placed in an organizer, basket or box.
- Drawer. The box can be dedicated specifically to spices and equipped in such a way that the jars can be removed conveniently (in a semi-horizontal position). If this is not possible, we pour the spices into small jars, label the lids nicely and simply put the containers in the box.
- Do you have any Tic-Tac candy boxes left? Great option for storing seasonings. We scatter our spices into boxes and place them in a transparent organizer. Compact, economical and convenient to use (no need to reach into the jar with a spoon every time).
- If you are a healthcare worker, or you just happen to have test tubes lying around at home, you can also use them for spices. Lids can be made from bottle caps, and use the “original test tube” stand or build it from scrap materials (use your imagination and see what you have in your house).
- Railings. Also very convenient device. We select appropriate containers for spices and hang them on them! Who said that you can only hang ladles with oven mitts? Organizing a kitchen space is an “unplowed field” for creativity.
- No deep cabinets? And in general kitchen furniture haven't got one yet? We hang narrow and beautiful shelves, and arrange an “exposition” of beautiful containers with seasonings. Glass jars are the most popular, but given that they will be exposed to light, we recommend using opaque jars with beautiful inscriptions. Decoration/signature options - wagon and trolley.
- Saving space in the kitchen? There is an option for you too! The lids are screwed (glued) to the bottom (bottom) of the bedside table, and the jars are simply screwed into them. Convenient and everything is in sight.
- Magnetic board or... side wall refrigerator. Yes, yes, you can do that! By the way, many people successfully use this method. At the same time, space is saved (useful vertical planes will be used). The scheme is simple - small containers are attached to the surface using magnetic caps (magnets can simply be glued to inside covers). It is worth noting that our spices can also be magnetized to horizontal planes (under the same cabinet), after first attaching a magnetic board to the bottom.
- The space behind the refrigerator. As a rule, it is not used, and in vain! Behind the refrigerator there is usually (unless the kitchen is built-in, ordered according to the size) 20-40 cm usable space. This is where we make a pull-out vertical cabinet with shelves for spices.
- Nightstand door. You can organize a place on it for spices in different ways: install a special structure under the jars, hang a magnetic board or ( budget option) hang a fabric organizer with pockets.
- Beautiful wicker basket. Better square or rectangular. We pack jars in it and hide it in a nightstand or on a shelf.
- If you are a categorical opponent of jars, you are simply too lazy to do this, you don’t have money for containers, or the seasonings go away so quickly that they don’t have time to dry out in the bags, there is another one for you creative option: we place the bags on strings with beautiful mini-clothespins (today there are very original designer clothespins on sale that skilled housewives They are even used for hanging family photos).
- Own design project. Why not? If your imagination goes overboard, then you can build your own “storage” for spices to the envy of everyone. For example, in the form cozy house, in whose balconies there are packets of seasonings.
- Niche in the wall. If space allows, you can make a niche in advance - even before organizing the kitchen (after renovation it will not be very convenient to hammer into the wall). You can immediately make a niche with lighting and shelves.
- Transparent hanging organizer. It can be placed on the wall in a convenient place. Transparent pockets can accommodate both bags with clothespins and mini-containers. And attach labels with the names of seasonings directly to the pockets.
And... right on the table. If the table surface is not only enough to put cutting board, then you can buy in the store one of the designs offered today for jars of spices. They can be pyramidal, round, rotating, etc.
True, this option is only suitable if the sun does not fall on the kitchen table during the day.
Olga Nikitina is a housewife with 25 years of experience, loves to cook and make the house cozy. Hobby-authorship in COLADY magazine
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Everyone knows that without seasoning, food tastes poor and unappetizing. We are, of course, not just talking about salt and pepper: in the “arsenal” of modern housewives there are up to 50 (or even more) types of a wide variety of seasonings and spices, from mustard and turmeric to marjoram and basil. And they all require a special place in the kitchen - and, naturally, special storage conditions.
Where and how?
Instructions and the most popular storage ideas are in our article.
Rules and terms for storing spices in the kitchen
First of all, it is worth noting that spices cannot become stale, rot or deteriorate so much that they become unsuitable for food.
The only thing that can happen to them is loss of taste and aroma. And this is much more offensive than mold on the seasoning.
Therefore, when replenishing your set of spices, be sure to look at the date of manufacture and promptly update the contents of the “jars,” bags or bags.
Remember that the shelf life of spices in powdered (ground) form is several times lower than that of whole spices.
- Whole spices : 1-2 years for flowers and leaves, 2-3 years for seeds, and 3 years for roots.
- For ground ones: 1 year - for leaves and seeds, no more than 2 years - for root vegetables.
- Leaders in shelf life - this is pepper, cloves and many people’s favorite cinnamon.
As for storage rules, they were invented back in the days when every spice was worth its weight in gold.
They haven't changed since then:
- Spices should be stored in containers with tight-fitting lids. For example, in ceramic, glass or tin containers. It is not recommended to leave this “kitchen gold” in bags due to their absolute leakage after the first opening of the package.
- If you buy whole spices and then grind them, you should not grind the whole volume at once - store them in their natural form and grind exactly as much as needed for preparing the dish. This way your spices will “live” much longer (especially nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, cloves). To compare the aroma, you can conduct an experiment on storing ground black pepper and peppercorns: the latter, even after six months, will remain fragrant after grinding, while the ground one will lose its “freshness” and pungency.
- Hide spices from the light! Do not place your precious clear jars in direct sunlight. It is better to choose opaque containers and put them in a dry and dark cabinet.
- Do not dip a wet spoon into the spice jar. And don’t climb there with wet fingers (and you shouldn’t use dry ones either). The seasoning loses its properties after getting wet, in addition, the formation of mold is quite possible. This advice also applies to those housewives who pour seasonings into a saucepan, holding the jars over steam - this should not be done for the same reasons. Use a knife or spoon.
- Individual spices/condiments are stored exclusively in the refrigerator. For example, seasonings based on paprika or chili. It is in the cold that their wonderful taste and aroma are preserved. You can also put sauces and vinegars, herbs, aromatic herbs, celery, etc. in the refrigerator. Other spices, on the contrary, do not like cold.
- To prevent your spices from becoming infested with various insects. , you can place a bay leaf on top of the seasoning in each container.
- Keep spices as far away from the stove as possible. Many people like to beautifully arrange jars over the stove so as not to waste time searching, but this storage method significantly worsens the properties of spices.
- Once every few months, do a complete audit of the spices in your kitchen. Check their freshness, aroma and shelf life.
- Place spices that contain oil in the freezer. (note: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc.). This way you will avoid them going rancid.
By the way, many of the spices and seasonings are...
16 best ideas from housewives - what is the most convenient way to store spices in the kitchen?
It is much more pleasant to cook when your kitchen is clean and tidy. And it’s even more joyful when each product has its rightful place and convenient storage container.
As for spices, each housewife stores them in her own way, based on her capabilities and creative wishes.
For example…
- Budget option: cheap and cheerful. All spices remain in their “original” factory bags, but are closed with special “clothespins” and beautifully placed in an organizer, basket or box.
- Drawer. The box can be dedicated specifically to spices and equipped in such a way that the jars can be removed conveniently (in a semi-horizontal position). If this is not possible, we pour the spices into small jars, label the lids nicely and simply put the containers in the box.
- Do you have any Tic-Tac candy boxes left? An excellent option for storing seasonings. We scatter our spices into boxes and place them in a transparent organizer. Compact, economical and convenient to use (no need to reach into the jar with a spoon every time).
- If you are a healthcare worker, or you just happen to have test tubes lying around at home , you can also use them for spices. The caps can be made from bottle caps, and the stand can be used from a “native test tube” or built from scrap materials (use your imagination and see what you have in your house).
- Railings. Also a very convenient device. We select appropriate containers for spices and hang them on them! Who said that you can only hang ladles with oven mitts? Organizing the kitchen space is an “untilled field” for creativity.
- No deep cabinets? And in general, you haven’t acquired any kitchen furniture yet? We hang narrow and beautiful shelves, and arrange an “exposition” of beautiful containers with seasonings. Glass jars are the most popular, but given that they will be exposed to light, we recommend using opaque jars with beautiful inscriptions. Decoration/signature options - wagon and trolley.
- Saving space in the kitchen? There is an option for you too! The lids are screwed (glued) to the bottom (bottom) of the bedside table, and the jars are simply screwed into them. Convenient and everything is in sight.
- Magnetic board or... side wall of the refrigerator. Yes, yes, you can do that! By the way, many people successfully use this method. At the same time, space is saved (useful vertical planes will be used). The scheme is simple - small containers are attached to the surface using magnetized lids (magnets can simply be glued to the inside of the lids). It is worth noting that our spices can also be magnetized to horizontal planes (under the same cabinet), after first attaching a magnetic board to the bottom.
- The space behind the refrigerator. As a rule, it is not used, and in vain! Behind the refrigerator there is usually (unless the kitchen is built-in and ordered to fit) 20-40 cm of usable space. This is where we make a pull-out vertical cabinet with shelves for spices.
- Nightstand door. You can organize a place for spices on it in different ways: install a special structure under the jars, hang a magnetic board, or (a budget option) hang a fabric organizer with pockets.
- Beautiful wicker basket. Better square or rectangular. We pack jars in it and hide it in a nightstand or on a shelf.
- If you are a categorical opponent of jars, you are simply too lazy to do this, you don’t have money for containers, or the seasonings go away so quickly that they don’t have time to dry out in the bags, there is another creative option for you: We place the bags on strings with beautiful mini clothespins (today there are very original designer clothespins on sale, which skillful housewives even use for hanging family photos).
- Own design project. Why not? If your imagination goes overboard, then you can build your own “storage” for spices to the envy of everyone. For example, in the form of a cozy house with packets of seasonings on the balconies.
- Niche in the wall. If space allows, you can make a niche in advance - even before organizing the kitchen (after renovation it will not be very convenient to hammer into the wall). You can immediately make a niche with lighting and shelves.
- Transparent hanging organizer. It can be placed on the wall in a convenient place. Transparent pockets can accommodate both bags with clothespins and mini-containers. And attach labels with the names of seasonings directly to the pockets.
And... right on the table. If the table surface is enough not only to put a cutting board, then you can buy in the store one of the designs offered today for jars of spices. They can be pyramidal, round, rotating, etc.
True, this option is only suitable if the sun does not fall on the kitchen table during the day.
Therefore, they are simply necessary in every kitchen.
Photos of the best options for storing spices and seasonings in the kitchen:
Organizing the storage of spices in the kitchen is not as simple as it seems. You can use purchased containers or create a storage system with your own hands.
In this case, it will be possible to take into account all the features and frequency of use.
Options for ensuring convenient and proper storage, depend only on the size of the kitchen and the amount of spices used.
A similar option for storing spices in the kitchen is also original decor modern interior
Spices can be stored in tin cans where they will be hidden from the light
Storage rules
The spices are different pleasant aroma, but in order to preserve it, you need to endure certain rules, which include several key points:
- Place and storage conditions.
- Duration of storage.
Place and conditions
Since food preparation takes place in the kitchen, it must also be stored in the kitchen. This way the seasonings will be at hand, and where exactly to place them depends largely on convenience. You can pour aromatic mixtures and herbs into different containers:
- packages;
- jars;
- plastic containers.
Small glass jars with a lid on a clip are a convenient and popular option.
Plastic spice jars don't last long
But at the same time, it is worth considering how “convenient” the spice is in the allotted place and whether it will lose its taste and aroma properties. Here are some aspects:
- Most spices do not tolerate ultraviolet radiation, that is, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Optimal place– in a kitchen cabinet in which the door closes.
- Heat and temperature changes cause spices to lose their flavor and beneficial properties, so the option near the stove or radiator is also not the best.
- Humidity is also destructive. The spices will become damp, clump, and the only thing you can do is throw them away. Put spices on long-term storage cannot be placed in perforated containers that are used for convenience.
Advice! You should put no more than a couple of teaspoons of spices into the pepper shaker; the rest should be stored in an airtight container. This way you can prevent an increase in humidity during use.
- The storage option in the refrigerator is not the best, of course: the aroma will be preserved, but there is moisture, and the cold, in addition, weakens the taste.
Advice! Only the red pepper family, including paprika and chili, keep well in the refrigerator. Fresh herbs You can freeze them instead of drying them; such storage will be optimal for them.
Little ones glass jars with cork lid
Large convenient jars for spices and bulk products in drawer
Large cabinet with lighting and many shelves for storing spices, bulk products and various kitchen utensils
Storage duration
Whole spices (not ground) can be stored for years if the conditions are met. Ground and crushed quickly lose their properties, so it is better to grind them immediately before use.
In addition to the fact that when ground they quickly become exhausted, they also become a “delicacy” for insects.
Regarding fresh herbs, then they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Dried leaves and stems – about 2 years, provided normal humidity. The roots and seeds will delight you with freshness and aroma for 4 years. And nut fruits, such as nutmeg, last up to 3 years.
Pay attention! If spices are scooped up with a spoon, it should be clean and dry. But you cannot pour the seasoning directly from the jar where it is stored into a boiling dish. Firstly, you can overdo it, and secondly, the spice will absorb moisture and spoil.
This storage option is convenient for deep cabinets
Small pantry in the kitchen with spices mounted on the door
Solid storage options
To say that there are many ideas for storing spices in the kitchen is an understatement. It all depends on the volume of spices, the space available in the kitchen and the frequency of their use. If they are used very often, and there are always a lot of spices in stock, it is worth taking care of a thorough, spacious storage. You will have to spend time and not a lot of money to create it, but you will be able to create a system for storing spices in the kitchen with your own hands.
Niche in the wall
To create it, you can use a wall near the stove, but not too close, so that the spices do not overheat. The depth of the niche corresponds to the size of the jars used for storage. The height is a multiple of the height of the cans plus 4-5 cm on each shelf to make it easy to reach.
Jars for storing spices in the kitchen using this method should be chosen from tinted glass or plastic, since there will be no doors in the niche. Those spices that are used most often can be stored in any jars, since they simply will not have time to spoil.
Arranging storage if you already have a niche is not difficult. To do this, you need to install the shelves at the correct height. If the depth of the niche is slightly less than the diameter of the jar, then you can stretch a rope, an elastic band, or nail thin strips of wood with a small indentation (up to 2 cm). If this option does not fit into the style of the kitchen, then metal strips will do. You can buy them in the store.
If the depth matches the size of the cans, then no limiters need to be installed.
A niche in the wall with shelves for storage is an option - for those who do not use spices so often
Boxes
Equip convenient place Storage can be done using drawers and baskets. Moreover, both horizontal and vertical ones are suitable.
The first option is horizontal, that is, ordinary boxes kitchen set. In order for spices to be conveniently placed in them, the drawers must be deep enough. Storage options:
- In order for the jars to be placed comfortably “lying down”, you need to make steps for them, but not at a right angle, but at a sharp angle. This way the contents of the jars will be easy to see.
- Use special plastic boxes with handles that fit into the kitchen drawer.
- If the jars are small, then they can be placed in a box. And for easy identification of the seasoning, stick a sticker with a signature on the lid.
Vertical drawers often come included modern kitchens, it is convenient to store spices in them. Such a box looks like a long, deep storage without side walls. Sides or metal strips prevent cans from falling. This box moves along guides located at the bottom, so there is no need to overload it.
One drawer can store spices in jars and open ones.
The same type of box, although it will most likely be a retractable wall, can be made behind the refrigerator, if between the wall and household appliance there is a distance of 15-20 cm. It will have certain modifications:
- One wall is covered with fiberboard and plywood.
- It is necessary to have low sides, approximately 1/3 of the height of the shelf.
- Pulls out on wheels.
Advice! In this spacious storage you can store not only spices, but also canned goods, sauces, and useful kitchen utensils.
Wall storage
You can buy special shelves - storage systems for the kitchen that hang on the wall. Most often they are made of stainless steel. Such shelves consist of several tiers of rods with sides that are connected to each other.
Advice! The same shelves can be mounted on the inside of the kitchen cabinet door, but first you need to cut off an area inside corresponding to the size of the spice rack.
On such open shelves, spices should be stored either in dark jars or only those that are used very often to prevent spoilage.
Convenient small spice jars mounted on the wall