Proper storage of spices in the kitchen

Spices add a special taste and aroma to almost any dish. Every kitchen has at least a minimum set of seasonings that are especially loved by family members. But even in this case, it would be useful to know that how to properly store spices in the kitchen and what is their shelf life.

Where to store spices?

Proper storage of spices can significantly increase their shelf life. First of all, lighting affects the quality of the product. Ultraviolet rays and lamp light negatively affect the condition of seasonings. In addition, humidity and heat have a negative impact. That is why there are certain rules about where in the kitchen you can store dishes with spices:

• a closed pull-out cabinet located far from the sink and stove;
• an opening wall cabinet, preferably with solid doors;
• a special shelf or rack for storing spices (this is for those who like to have everything at hand, in this case the rack should be located away from the window, stove and sink).

Important! When spices are constantly exposed to heat and moisture, they dramatically lose their properties. A healthy product becomes much less saturated with components that benefit the body and the taste of food.

In recent years, kitchen designers have been offering customers the option of a pull-out shelf on wheels that is built into the kitchen. This is an excellent option for storing seasonings if the shelf is located far from the sink and stove.The spices will not be exposed to light, artificial or natural.

Where to store seasonings?

As a rule, zealous housewives try to give their kitchen an attractive look even in the smallest details. This is also reflected in the dishes used to preserve seasonings. Various options are used, it is even possible to make containers for spices yourself.

For proper storage, you can use various containers:

• glass jars;
• tin bags;
• plastic containers;
• paper bags.

Important! You should not store spices in plastic bags, as this can significantly shorten their shelf life and worsen their taste.

The refrigerator is also not the best place to store spices. Cold and humidity reduce the beneficial properties of the product and reduce the shelf life of seasonings. Only the red pepper family feels good in such conditions. They continue to give original aroma and taste to dishes even when kept in a refrigerator.

In some cases, original dishes for containing seasonings can become decor when decorating a kitchen and work area. Stylish glass or plastic containers with writing or stickers will look great. And tin boxes with spices can be placed on a magnetic board mounted above the work area.

It should also be remembered that the use of jars with spices as decoration dictates its own rules. So the jars must always be clean and filled, otherwise all the beauty will be gone forever.

Shelf life of spices

When sealed in factory packaging, seasonings have a long shelf life of up to 3 years. Ground cloves, pepper and cinnamon are stored for a similar period. Ground spices and whole stems and leaves of plants retain their properties for up to 2 years.Dried roots and seeds can be kept in your kitchen for up to 4 years, but dried vegetables and fruits will not last more than six months.

It is important to understand that opened packaging can no longer provide high-quality storage. That is why opened bags are not stored for more than 10 months. In addition, it is useful to know that dried nuts can lie on a shelf in a kitchen cabinet for no more than 3 years, and fresh herbs in the refrigerator will have to be thrown out after 5 days.

Spices and various additives can significantly improve the taste of a dish, but at the same time they can completely ruin it. Therefore, seasonings must be stored correctly and this cannot be neglected, especially if there are a large number of containers with various spices in the kitchen.