How to store spices

How to store and keep fresh spices:-

Spices come from the seeds, bark, roots, fruit, or stems of a variety of plants and trees. They are used to enhance both sweet and savory dishes. Some people prefer their spices whole rather than crushed or ground for a more intense flavor. Stock some of the most popular, such as chilli powder, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, cumin, garlic powder, ground and fresh ginger, dry mustard, nutmeg, onion powder, paprika, black and salt. When fresh, most spices have a bright, rich color and a strong aroma. The main benefit of storing your spices properly is coming back to a spice after taking some time away from it and finding it just as fragrant and flavorful as you remember it being. Take care of your spices and they will take care of your food, ensuring the best flavor each time you sit down to eat. So here is the best way to keep your spices fresh.

• Always purchase in small quantities to ensure that you are using fresh spices. Replace old spices once a year.
• Always use dry spoon to take out spices from jar.
• Keep your spices tightly covered and store them in a cool, dry place.
• Store red spices, such as paprika and red chilli, in the refrigerator. They will hold their color and keep their flavor longer.
• Don't keep them near gas stove. Keeping them near the stove, especially above it where the heat will rise, is bad for spices because moisture will damage them.
• Don't store spices in plastic bags for more than a few weeks, because the oils in the spices break down the plastic.
• Storing spices in metal tins works fine for some spices, but salt or blends that contain salt can corrode these containers.
• Shaking spices over a pot of soup or boiling liquid will force unwanted moisture into a spice container. So use dry spoon to take them out.

How to stop spices to clump-

There’s nothing worse than opening a jar of spices, wanting only a dash of something, and pulling out a clump of dried spices. To avoid this issue place a few dried beans in the container. This will help absorb some of the moisture that may get into your container. A lot of people will go for the rice first but the rice is so small that it can come out with the other spices. The beans are a lot larger and easier to deal with.