How do you store herbs, spices etc?

MissShoes

Hi all,

just done a big clear out of my herb/spice cupboard and it's all clean and sparkly. Lots of waste with very old products that were dying at the back of the cupboard.

It's so difficult to see what I've got. How do you all store your herbs/spices/stock/gravy?

Is it worth investing in a spice rack? Loath to clutter my limited worktop space but I can't see everything I've got.

Help- all suggestions and ideas welcome!

Shoes

117pauline

Hi there

I know how annoying it is to find old and useless herbs and spices at the back of the cupboard and they are so expensive now, aren't they?

So to avoid wastage and duplication (yep, I kept buying the same thing over and over again!):

Put all spices and herbs together, such as those used for indian, italian recipes etc - helps to focus the mind when you are in a hurry

Keep them all in the dark - reduces wastage because they don't lose flavour so fast.

Use small klip lock containers - I bought some recently from Mr Ts at less than 50p each - make sure the containers are small and air proof. I've separated some spices into two or three containers so there is less air contact. Label them and put on the date you bought them so you can rotate them properly (I use bodge tape)

Have a list inside your cupboard so you know what you have

Use the MSE forums, bbc food or other food websites to give you inspiration to try new recipes so you use them up quite quickly

I know I have gone a bit off your question but hope it helps
Pauline

rachbc

I use glass jars (being a skint flint I bought 10 jars of cheap oregan and used the jars to decant bags of spcies from the asian shop). These are the arranged in a slightly OCD manner in the special cupboard hubby made me - it look like the rest of the kitchen cupboards but is across were the chiment breast sticks out and is only 2 inches deep so ideal for a single row of spice jars on small shelves. I never found a satisfactory method before this so no other helpful suggestions I'm afraid.

daisiegg

Ah, the eternal problem!

My method is by no means perfect but it's the best I've managed so far.

In my old house I used to have low cupboards, either side of the cooker, and they were good for keeping herbs and spices in because I could see what was in them better.

Now in my new house...I have a spice rack, but it only holds about 10 little jars. So my most often used herbs and spices stay in there. Then in the cupboard above it, I have a very large, shallow plastic tub (without the lid) where all the rest get kept. That way I can really easily lift the tub out and see the whole lot at once, so it's much easier to see what I've got. Actually, that was an accident - they were packed in the tub for the house move and when unpacking, OH said "why don't you just put them in the cupboard in the tub?" and it actually turned out to be really good!

Swan_2

I wouldn't recommend a spice rack, they're one of the worst environments for your herbs & spices

like Pauline I keep mine in 'dated' Klip Lock containers, labelled on the container & on the lid to avoid confusion they all go in 2 layers into 2 drawers, so that keeps them in the dark


I like the sound of rachb's shallow cupboard, every kitchen should have one of those failing that, a mini version of those pull-out larders would be ideal, I wonder if such a thing exists? :think:

valk_scot

I keep mine in one of these wee wooden Ikea chest of drawers. Just in the jars they come in, but lying flat so I can see what's what easily. Useful if you've got (like me) a bit of a mishmash of jars, packets and tin containers. And they're in the dark which is important.

I've got a second set of drawers for things like stock cubes, peppercorns and small packets of flavourings like saffron.

PipneyJane

I buy my spices by the pound (weight) and decant them into labelled Douwe Egbert jars, which I store in a cupboard by the stove. As the spices age, I just add a little extra to whatever I'm making to compensate for any potential loss of potency. Since they're stored in the dark, they don't degrade that fast and never fade. One 500g bag of, say, chilli costs about the same as one of those little jars and will last me a year. I buy mine at Wing-Yip (https://www.wingtip.com).

Fresh herbs get washed, chopped and frozen in ziplock bags. Dried herbs are currently stored in a box. Fresh ginger gets peeled, grated and frozen in ice-cube trays. Once frozen, I turn them out into a reused soup container which fits in my freezer's door.

- Pam (cooks a lot of Asian food)

MissShoes

Thanks all for your replies.

I love the buying in bulk idea and will definitely do that once in a bigger place.

I think I'll trial daisiegg's idea of using an open tupperware so it's easy to access.

When I move house (years in the future) I will make sure I've got one of those pull out larders or built in rack above chimney breast.

Shoes xx

ragz_2

daisiegg wrote: »

Ah, the eternal problem!

My method is by no means perfect but it's the best I've managed so far.

In my old house I used to have low cupboards, either side of the cooker, and they were good for keeping herbs and spices in because I could see what was in them better.

Now in my new house...I have a spice rack, but it only holds about 10 little jars. So my most often used herbs and spices stay in there. Then in the cupboard above it, I have a very large, shallow plastic tub (without the lid) where all the rest get kept. That way I can really easily lift the tub out and see the whole lot at once, so it's much easier to see what I've got. Actually, that was an accident - they were packed in the tub for the house move and when unpacking, OH said "why don't you just put them in the cupboard in the tub?" and it actually turned out to be really good!

I used to do that, worked really well but now I have so many spices they don't fit. Maybe I could fit 2 or 3 little baskets/boxes in my cupboard and have one each for spices, herbs and others...hmmm

Lizbetty

I have three tupperware boxes - one is for herbs, one for spices, one is overflow! All of my bottles and things are different sizes and so this works well for us. Dh wants a spice rack but I know it will end up tears!

Luce x

Lizbetty

Oooh! VHF!