Posted by Ryne Hildreth | Posted in BBQ Sale Blog | Posted on 14-04-2011
Tags: cabinets, collectible cabinets, custom cabinets, Home, Home & Garden, home accessories, shelves, spice cabinet, spice rack, spice shelves, wooden cabinet, wooden shelves, wooden spice cabinet, wooden spice rack
Spices add so much to recipes, from baked goods to savory entrees, but they can be pricey. So it is important to make sure your spices are stored in the best possible way.
Use containers with a screw-top lid. Flip top lids often get caked with spice and do not close properly, thus letting in extra air. The air affects the flavor and shelf life of your spices, so make sure the jar seals tightly. Be sure to store your spices away from any source of heat, such as the oven, or a source of moisture, such as the dishwasher.
The pantry is an excellent storage spot, as it is both cool and dry. Purchasing a wooden spice rack that can be mounted on your pantry door is a great idea. You can keep spices easily organized and preserve their freshness.
Be sure your wooden spice rack has adjustable shelves. Because spices so often come in many different sized containers, adjustable shelves are a must. Some wooden spice racks even come with special shelf clips that can be raised and lowered to adjust shelf size easily.
If you don’t have a pantry and are short of cabinet space, consider purchasing a wooden spice rack with a door. It can be mounted on the wall and easily accessible, and the door will protect your spices from light, which can cause those oils to dry up.
Spices and herbs, as previously stated, can be quite expensive and it might be tempting to buy huge plastic jars of spices from local warehouse stores. Unless you can use up these spices relatively quickly, this is not a good option. Also, spices and herbs do lose their flavor, so if you still have a jar of curry powder from 1989, it is probably time to toss it. However, the majority of herbs and spices are still good for up to two years, depending on how well they are stored.
Whole spices, such coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks or whole cloves can keep for up to five years if stored, in a dark and cool place. Ground spices tend to begin losing flavor and color after about six months, but can be used for about two years. Leafy herbs are best used within a year, but can be kept for up to two years. Dehydrated vegetables, such as onion flakes, only last about six months, so they are probably the wrong items to buy in bulk unless you go through a ton of them.
Ryne Hildreth loves blogging, cooking and woodworking. To get further information about buying a door mounted spice rack or to discover other collection cabinets, please visit the ZipCabs site now.
