16 ideas for storing spices in the kitchen – how do good housewives store spices?

Everyone knows that without seasoning food tastes poor and unappetizing. This, of course, is not only 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 need a special place in the kitchen – and, of course, special storage conditions.

Where and how?

Instructions and the most popular storage ideas are in our article.

The content of the article:

Rules and shelf life of spices in the kitchen

First of all, it is worth noting that spices cannot dry out, rot or deteriorate so much that they become unsuitable for food.

The only thing that can happen to them is the 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 production date and update the contents of the “jars”, bags or sachets in a timely manner.

Remember that the shelf life of spices in powder (ground) form is several times lower than that of whole spices.

• Have whole spices: 1-2 years for flowers and leaves, 2-3 years for seeds, and 3 years for root crops.
• Ground: 1 year – for leaves and seeds, no more than 2 years – for root crops.
• Leaders in shelf life – this is pepper, cloves and cinnamon, beloved by many.

As for the storage rules, they were invented back in the days when every spice was worth its weight in gold.

They have not changed since then:

• Spices should be stored in containers with tightly screwed 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 spices whole and grind afterwards, do not grind the whole volume at once. – keep them in their natural form and grind them exactly as much as needed to prepare the dish. So your spices will “live” much longer (especially for nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, cloves). To compare the aroma, you can conduct an experiment on the storage of ground black pepper and peppercorns: the latter will remain fragrant even six months later after grinding, while the ground will lose its “freshness” and sharpness.
• Hide spices from the light! Avoid placing your precious clear jars in direct sunlight. It is better to choose opaque containers and put them in a dry and dark nightstand.
• Do not dip a wet spoon into the spice jar. And do not climb there with wet fingers (and dry ones, too). The seasoning loses its properties after getting wet, in addition, mold formation is quite possible. This advice also applies to those housewives who pour seasonings into a saucepan, holding the jars over the steam – this should not be done for the same reasons. Use a knife or spoon.
• Individual spices / seasonings 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 send sauces and vinegars, herbs, aromatic herbs, celery and ginger to the refrigerator. The rest of the spices, on the contrary, do not like cold.
• To avoid infestation of your spices by various insects, you can put a bay leaf in each container on top of the seasoning.
• Keep spices as far away from the stove as possible. Many people like to beautifully lay out the jars over the stove so as not to waste time searching, but this storage method significantly impairs the properties of spices.
• Have a full spice revision in your kitchen every few months. Check freshness, aroma and shelf life.
• Those spices, which contain oil, send to the freezer (approx. – sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc.). This will prevent them from becoming rancid.

By the way, many of the spices and seasonings are natural antibiotics.

16 best ideas from housewives – how and in what it is more convenient 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 instance…

• Budget option: cheap and cheerful. All spices remain in their “native” factory bags, but they are closed with special “clothespins” and fit nicely into an organizer, basket or box.
• Drawer. The box can be selected specifically for spices and equipped in such a way that the jars can be removed conveniently (in a semi-horizontal position). In the absence of such an opportunity, we pour spices into small jars, beautifully sign the lids and just put the containers in the box.
• Are there any tick-tock boxes left? A great option for storing condiments. We sprinkle our spices in boxes and put them in a transparent organizer. Compact, economical and convenient to use (no need to climb into the jar with a spoon every time).
• If you are a healthcare professional, or you just accidentally have test tubes lying around at home, you can also use them for spices. Caps can be made from bottle caps, and the stand can be used “native-test-tube” or build it from scrap materials (turn on your imagination and see what you have in your house).
• Roof rails. It is also an extremely convenient fixture. We select the appropriate containers for spices and hang them on! And who said that you can only hang scoops with pot holders? The organization of the kitchen space is an “unplowed field” for creativity.
• No deep lockers? Have you got any kitchen furniture yet? We hang narrow and beautiful shelves, and arrange an “exposition” of beautiful containers with spices. Glass jars are the most popular, but considering that they will stand in the light, we recommend using opaque jars with beautiful inscriptions. Decoration / signature options – wagon and cart.
• Save space in your 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 in plain sight.
• Magnetic board or … the side wall of the refrigerator. Yes, yes, you can! By the way, many people successfully use this method. At the same time, space is saved (useful vertical planes will be involved). The scheme is simple – small containers are attached to the surface by means of magnetisable lids (magnets can be simply 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), having previously attached a magnetic board to the bottom.
• Space behind the refrigerator. It is usually not used, and in vain! There is usually 20-40 cm of usable space behind the refrigerator (unless the kitchen is built-in, ordered to fit). It is there that 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 design for jars, hang a magnetic board, or (budget option) hang a fabric organizer with pockets.
• Beautiful wicker basket. Better square or rectangular. We pack jars into it and hide them in a nightstand or on a shelf.
• If you are a categorical opponent of jars, you are simply too lazy to do this, you do not have money for containers, or the seasonings go away so quickly that they do not have time to fizzle out in 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 use even for hanging family photos).
• Own design project. Why not? If your imagination is overflowing, then you can build your own “storage” for spices to the envy of everyone. For example, in the form of a cozy house, in the balconies of which are bags with spices.
• Niche in the wall. If space permits, you can make a niche in advance – even before organizing the kitchen (after the repair it will not be very convenient to hammer the wall). A niche can be made with lighting and shelves right away.
• Transparent hanging organizer. It can be placed on the wall in a convenient place. The transparent pockets can accommodate both sachets with clothespins and mini-containers. And fix the labels with the names of the seasonings directly on the pockets.

And … right on the table. If the surface of the table 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 are pyramidal, round, rotating, etc.

True, this option is only suitable if the sun does not fall on the kitchen table during the day.

Spices multiply increase metabolism and help to lose weight, so they are simply essential in every kitchen.

Photos of the best options for storing spices and seasonings in the kitchen:

We will be very pleased if you share your secret of keeping spices in the kitchen!