Faded Colours: Spices like cayenne, turmeric, and paprika typically has vibrant colours (making your meals look as delicious as they taste) and if they are looking a little dull, chances are the spices are out to date. Indistinct Aroma: The second you open the bottle, you'll notice that there is a significant aromatic smell. If you have to get closer to the bottle to smell the seasoning inside, it's probably time to replace the spice bottle. Taste is less than fresh: Flavours that are the most pungent are the freshest. Meanwhile, spices that are rancid, won't give a kick to your cooking. So if you're pouring additional spices hoping to make your meals tastier, then it's high time you replace your spices.Whole spices should last three to four years, while ground spices, on the other hand, lasts two to three years before you actually need to replace them. Seasoning blends can be tricky and at times is a delicate task. It's also ready to be refreshed in one to two years. Similarly, herbs can last approximately one to three years. So while you're at your spring-cleaning duties, check in on your spices so you can remember to refresh annually. As with dry goods such as tea, oats, cereal and pasta, if not properly stored can also go stale or risk allowing unwanted bugs to enter.
Now that you have your seasoning, spices, herbs and dry goods all sorted, it's time to try these 5 tips to keep your spices fresh and tasty.
|1. Use the drawer to organise your spices
While that rack beside your stove or the windowsill is a convenient way for an on-the-fly seasoning, it's not the only way to keep your spices toothsome. Humidity, heat and light can break your spices and kill the flavours in the process. Alternatively, store your spices in a cool and dry cupboard, cabinet or even drawers! A spice drawer organiser that we feel is a convenient invention is the MadeSmart spice drawer organiser. It's also a great alternative if you are not big on storing your spices in the cabinet, cupboard and racks. Even if you feel like you want to use cabinet space for other items, consider the drawers. Madesmart allows you to arrange your spice bottles neatly. So as you open your drawer, your neatly displayed spices are ready for you to use. In addition, it's rubber-linen base helps prevent the spice bottles from moving or rolling around in the drawer.
|2. Maximise wall space to store your spices
Identify empty wall space around your pantry or kitchen. An empty wall space under your cabinet or an empty wall space in the pantry is an extra space to consider mounting containers on a backboard to maximise space. The Mobin Series containers are excellent for that. It is designed with a backboard so you can mount your Mobin containers on the wall. Plus, it fits 6 containers in a row. You can also use a 3 Tier Spice Rack. D Line has a fantastic chrome spice rack that fits up to 18 bottles and they have a 4 tier Spice Rack that fits 16 bottles. Alternatively, if you happen to have a big cupboard or cabinet, you can mount this rack behind the cabinet doors.Alternative Spice Racks: White Magic I-Hook Kitchen Spice Rack Joseph Joseph CupboardStore Under-Shelf Spice Rack D.Line 4 Tier Chrome Spice Rack
|3. Ensure Containers are Sealed Tight
Exposure to fresh air will degrade the quality of the seasoning's essential oils. Ensuring that the spice bottles or containers are sealed shut tight after every use, can prolong the spices. While it's always recommended to maintain spices in its original bottle, alternatively there are other third-party containers that can help keep your spices, herbs and condiments fresh. One of our all-star containers are the Oxo Pop containers that have a neat push-button lid which seals air-tight with just one touch. The push-button lid was incorporated into the design to cater to people who suffer from arthritis or anyone who has trouble holding things.|4. Sort and Wipe Clean the Pantry
The first step is to remove everything away from your pantry so you can wipe clean the racks, cabinets, and drawers. The easiest way is to use water with a squeeze of lemon citrus and vinegar to rid of the dirt, dust and bacteria buildup on the shelves. The White Magic microfibre eco-cloths will also help pick up residue easily. To make your spice cabinet extra shiny, don't forget to wipe clean the exteriors of your containers and their lids too. If you find it hard to find yourself scrummaging through your cabinet, labelling your containers will go a long way especially when you need to use your spices on the go.
|5. Consider Refreshing your Supplies
Sometimes getting new containers and organisational supplies may add up to your clutter instead of reducing the mess you already have. However, in some instances, finding a half-empty sugar bag shoved together along with other items like flour or cereal boxes can be an eyesore and it can take up a lot of space. So purchasing new containers could be a good help. This way everything will have its own place and will transform your messy cabinet into a neat one and perhaps even create more space for storing other items. A few small purchases like Progressive Brown Sugar ProKeeper has a terra cotta disk feature on the lid to help keep your brown sugar fresh and moist longer. You can also use this container to store your icing and in regards to space, you can even stack the containers on top of each other. Another good option is the Lock & Lock Bisfree Modular containers. One of their best features is their low permeability factor which allows your food to stay fresh longer. It has an air-tight lid that closes and open easily and it can last over 3 million uses before it fails. Lock & Lock containers are especially inexpensive and are effective solutions for storing grains and dried pasta.Pantry Canister: Davis & Waddell Greenhouse Bamboo Canister, Glass Jar: Kilner Genuine Preserve Jar 500mlHow do you keep your cabinet and spice storage organised? Share with us in the comment box below.
Next Read: A Guide to Non-Toxic Cleaning at Home
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