Spice Organization 101

Are you tired of having a messy spice rack? Maybe you’re tired of your organization, or lack thereof. A lot of people follow the “common spices in the front and the long-forgotten spices in the back” method, but that method is far from foolproof. You may remember that your cinnamon is almost always placed to the left beside your basil and your paprika but there are MUCH better ways to keep track of your spices while even maximizing their flavour in the long run.

There is a difference between dried spices, dried herbs, and the fresher version of both. You can usually keep dried herbs and spices in the same place. Find an empty drawer or cabinet away from heat, moisture and sunlight. Ensure the containers the products are in are kept closed when they aren’t in use.

Fresh herbs are much different as you need to keep them fresh which is a bigger hassle than the dried version. Put fresh herbs in a jar with an inch or so of water and keep it in the refrigerator. This should help keep your herbs fresher longer.

When it comes to organizing your spice area, make sure you have a rack large enough to see all your spices at once, not just the spices you regularly use. The last thing you want is a spice to get lost in the back where you can’t see it when you need it, leading you to buy more when you really don’t need to. Consider organizing them by alphabetical order, by order of most commonly used, by colour, or whatever order makes the most sense for you and your cooking style. This will make all your spices easy to find at all times.

Did you know that spices can go bad? Some people don’t know that, and that's okay! They don’t typically spoil or anything like that, but they become less potent over time. The longer you have a spice the less flavour and scent they provide. If you have an old spice but still want to use it, there are ways that you can revive old spices. Heat up a skillet and throw your spices in for a few minutes or until they start giving off their signature aroma. Cinnamon, cumin, and cloves are some of the easiest spices to use this trick on, but make sure not to burn them. That’ll leave an undesirable bitter taste behind.