Is it time to Organize Your Spices?
There is a lot to be said for an organized array of spices
and seasonings. When you're cooking, it
saves time and trouble to be able to reach in and grab what you
need. And, it really helps eliminate those 'spice
disasters,' such as putting paprika instead of cinnamon in your oatmeal.
Begin by doing
some research on how you want to go about
designing your spice area. You may choose to keep them stowed in a
cabinet, on
the counter in a neat display, on a magnetic strip, or in a creation
all your
own. However you choose to arrange them,
you will want to have your plan and any equipment you need before you
start.
Designate
Area and Choose Equipment
The first step
is deciding where and how you want to store
your spices. If you have ample counter space you might decide to keep
them out
in the open. But, if you are short on
space, using a small cabinet or a section of a larger cabinet might
work well.
A great way to
store your spices is inside the door of your
pantry or cabinet with a narrow spice rack.
You can find spice racks that install in your cupboard and slide out or
down for easy access. Although that
space above your stove looks convenient, it may not be the best storage
spot. The heat that rises in that area
is not good for the spices, and reaching over hot pots and burners is
not good
for you. Pick a space that is convenient
for you but also safe.
Gather Your
Spices
Right now, your
spices may be scattered to the four
winds. You'll need to begin by gathering
all your spices so you can inventory them.
First, check for any out of date spices and throw them out. Next,
check each spice to see if it still has
vibrant color and smell. If a spice looks dull and faded, throw it
out. If a spice has lost its aroma, it's time to
pitch it. If a spice seems to be clumpy,
hard-packed, or smells musty, time for the trash.
Finally, combine
duplicate spices. If you're like me, you've bought spices when
you're not sure if you have the one you need for a recipe. Once
you have your spices combined, you'll
know what you have and you'll be ready to organize them.
Get Organized
Depending on
your space, your cooking style, and even your
personality, you'll find several ways to organize your spices to suit
your
needs. Here are a couple suggestions:
Alphabetical -
This is pretty self-explanatory. If straight lines and
color-coded clothes
closets appeal to you, this may be your style.
No matter what storage arrangement you choose, you can easily start
from
left to right and stick the spices in alphabetical order. Even a
round turntable works for this. Just
pick a starting point and spin around, alphabetizing as you go. Some of
the
larger items may not fit on the rack within your alphabetized spaces,
but
thatÃs okay. You can keep those items organized separately or by using
one of
the other tips below.
Type of Use
- This method works well especially if you think
about doing different types of cooking, such as barbecuing,
baking, and all the
indoor cooking, separately. Keep spices
used in specific areas in separate storage units close to the barbeque,
or
baking, or next to the stove. This type
of organization can save time if you set up your kitchen in specific
cooking
workstations.
Categories
- This style of organizing spices may only make
sense to one person when they see it - you.
But that's okay. You may want to
separate your spices by savory and sweet, or by spicy or mild, or even
by the
type of food they go in. You may even
want to separate your spices in categories as simple as “I use these
all the
time” to “I rarely use these.” Whatever makes sense to you are your
spice
categories.
Organizing your spice
cabinet can be done in so many
different ways. The main thing to think about when designing your spice
center
is to create a plan that works best with your particular cooking style
and
needs.
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