Herbs and spices are essential because they add flavor to your recipes. However, if you don't store them properly, the flavor may change drastically, resulting in an undesirable taste for your food. With proper storage and handling of herbs and spices, you can ensure that your recipes will always taste fresh and delicious.
Storing herbs and spices properly is absolutely necessary to ensure freshness. Here are a few tips to ensure the same:
1. Store in a cool place.
Keep the herbs and spices away from heat and direct sunlight. Because even a commonly used spice/herb may go stale if kept under intense temperature.
2. Don’t hoard!
Though some spices and herbs keep for a long time, avoid buying giant quantities of spices because often they'll probably go stale before you can use them. While a few spices and herbs may last 4-5 years, they lose their strength over time. In addition, old and weak seasonings will not deliver the taste they should. So, if you don't want to end up with flavorless meals, give them the sniff test before you use them.
3. Test for strength.
Now, herbs & spices don't ever expire completely, but they lose their aroma and taste over time. Generally, spices stay fresh for up to 4 years. You don't need any unique instrument to test the strength of spices/herbs, just your senses! If the color & flavor has faded, it probably means it's time to replace them.
4. Store in a dry place.
Moisture makes the spices and herbs hard & clumpy, sapping their power. We recommend not sprinkling the spices and seasonings directly over steaming utensils. Instead, use a measuring spoon to scoop out the desired spice/herb and mix them into your dish.
5. Lock ‘em down tightly!
When your spices & herbs come in contact with the air, they lose their aroma and flavor. Therefore, keeping them in air-tight containers is essential to ensure prolonged freshness. The best way to store spices and herbs is in glass bamboo jars with air-tight lids to prevent moisture and lock in purity and freshness.
Seasonings are a delicious way to add flavor to your meals. Therefore, it's always nice to stock up on the spices & herbs you love. However, storing them can be a bit tricky. There are certain things that you should do and not do to keep them fresh for as long as possible. We hope this blog helped you learn how to store your herbs and spaces to have your favorite flavorings on hand whenever you need them!