The Secrets of How To Store Spices Long Term & Keep Them Fresh

Tips How To Store Spices Long Term – Spices are essential ingredients for adding flavor, aroma, and color to your dishes. They can also provide health benefits such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. However, spices can lose their potency and freshness over time if not stored properly.

In this article, you will learn how to store spices long term and keep them as fresh as possible.

There are still many people who store spices carelessly.. In fact, less precise storage will make the seasoning quality damaged, even quick rot.

But, no need to worry anymore, with the right tricks of the kitchen spice in the house will remain fresh and maintained quality despite been stored for a long time. Here are the  summarize Tips How To Store Spices Long Term:

Why Do Spices Go Bad?

Spices go bad mainly because of exposure to oxygen, heat, light, and moisture. These factors can cause the spices to oxidize, degrade, or mold, resulting in loss of flavor, aroma, and color. Some spices may also attract pests such as weevils, moths, or beetles, which can contaminate your spice collection.

How Long Do Spices Last?

The spices shelf life depends on several factors, such as the spice type, the form of spice, the quality of spice, and the condition of storage. Generally, whole spices last longer than ground spices, because they have less surface area exposed to the elements. Here are some approximate shelf lives of common spices:

• Whole spices: 2 to 4 years
• Ground spices: 1 to 3 years
• Dried herbs: 1 to 2 years
• Spice blends: 1 to 2 years
• Fresh herbs: 1 to 2 weeks

However, these are only guidelines and not exact expiration dates. The best way to tell if your spices are still good is to use your senses. Smell, taste, and look at your spices. If they have lost their aroma, flavor, or color, or if they have developed mold, clumps, or insects, it’s time to discard them.

Tips How To Store Spices Long Term

Buy herbs and spices in the whole state

To make the seasoning last longer despite being stored for days, buy the seasoning in a whole state and have not been ground. Although the refined seasoning or powder looks practical, but this type of seasoning is very susceptible to damage, agglomerate, and moldy if not stored in the right way.

In fact, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom can last for more than two years. Not only longer shelf life, seasonings or whole herbs have a more fragrant aroma.

Not exposed to direct sun.

Like other food types, the seasoning of the kitchen should not be exposed to direct sunlight, because it can make seasonings change color, smell bad, and dry out. Examples of quick rot seasoning are tomatoes and chili peppers

Keep somewhere cool and dark.

Heat and light can accelerate the degradation of your spices, so keep them away from sources of heat and light, such as stoves, ovens, microwaves, windows, or lamps.

The ideal temperature for storing spices is between 50°F and 70°F, and the ideal humidity is between 30% and 60%. You can store your spices in a cupboard, pantry, drawer, or closet, as long as they are cool and dark.

Keep away from the stove.

Storing the seasoning of the kitchen near the stove also has an effect similar to exposed to direct sunlight, especially when the heat of fire from the stove radiates to the seasoning. This can cause the kitchen spice to rapidly dry out and change color.

Keep the seasoning in a sealed container.

For small-sized seasonings or powders such as pepper, coriander and salt, store separately in a sealed container. Be sure to close tightly and no gaps in the insects and pests.

Choose the right storage container.

The best containers for storing spices are airtight, opaque, and made of glass, metal, or plastic. Avoid containers that are transparent, porous, or reactive, such as paper, cardboard, or wood. Also, avoid containers that are too large or too small for the amount of spice you have. Too much air or too little space can affect the quality of your spices.

Storing grain seasoning.

One of the types of kitchen cooking spices are often used is seasoning in the form of grains. Some of the spices are often used include coriander, pepper grain and much more. Almost in the type of cuisine from fish and meat raw materials often provide various spices to give a more delicious and steady flavor.

Well, this kind of spice cooking is basically a material that is relatively durable when stored. It’s just that it’s easy to get infected with the fungus and insect attack if you do not carefully pay attention to the way the storage of grain as well.

For that, you need to keep this kind of seasoning in a closed and spared place of liquid. Insert in jars and make sure it’s closed tightly. Every time after use make sure the seasoning container is closed tightly and stored in a safe place and exposed to sunlight to avoid humid temperatures.

Store the onions and spices.

Spice such as turmeric, galangal, and nutmeg.

Various types of onions and spices should be stored in a place that is not exposed to the heat of the sun and in a humid place.

Preferably if you buy it, remove it from the crackle and place it in the container or similar without needing to be washed.

You can wash it every time it will use because this way of storage is even more durable.

Storing seasoning kitchen leaves

The kitchen seasoning in the form of leaves namely citrus leaves, bay leaves, lemongrass, green onions, and many more.

Special seasoning of this type of leaves should not be exposed to the hot sun or stove because it is easy to wither, change shape and color.

Therefore, you can store them in the refrigerator and wash them first so that the bacteria do not spread.

Read also: Foods that should not be stored in the refrigerator

Cook until cooked

After smoothing all the basic spices, stir fry until cooked. This will kill bacteria that exist in raw spices. Cooking seasoning must be done long enough, not just until cooked, but really cooked. This will extend the spice storage period.

Use oxygen absorbers.

Oxygen absorbers are small packets that contain iron powder, which reacts with oxygen and removes it from the container. This can help prevent oxidation and extend the shelf life of your spices. You can find oxygen absorbers online or in some grocery stores. Make sure to use the appropriate size and number of oxygen absorbers for your container and spice quantity.

Label and date your spices.

To keep track of your spice inventory and freshness, it’s a good idea to label and date your spices when you buy or store them. You can use a permanent marker, a sticker, or a tape to write the name and date of the spice on the container. This way, you can easily identify your spices and know when to use or replace them.

Rotate and replenish your spices.

To ensure that you always have fresh and flavorful spices, you should rotate and replenish your spices regularly. Use the oldest spices first, and buy new spices as needed. Don’t buy or store more spices than you can use within a reasonable time frame. A good rule of thumb is to buy spices in small quantities and use them within 6 to 12 months.

FAQs About How To Store Spices Long Term

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to store spices long term:

Thank you very much for reading Tips How To Store Spices Long Term, hopefully useful.