Spice Storage help
carsonheim
10 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (28)
Peke
10 years agoPeke
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Question for spice storage gurus
Comments (15)Hi, I was searching for info on Blum spice drawer insert, though this is not what I was looking for, we're both in this Michigan deepfreeze so I thought I'd help out... I looked up the website and the tins look like a cool design, but ask the company what they are made of. Traditional Indian Masala Dabba, or spice box, is made of stainless steel and has tins with snug lids that are all nested in a larger tin with a snug lid. These protect the spices from humidity. One of my collegues brought her spice box from India when she came to the US. She taught me how to make curry, so I learned about this. If the tins you are looking at are aluminum, they may be reactive with the oils in the spices, the spices may change the color of the aluminum, or worse, the aluminum may leach into the spices. In general, you should avoid aluminum for food prep because of this. So, have you finished your kitchen yet? The prelim pics looked fab and I'd love to see it....See MoreShow me your spice storage!
Comments (59)Lascatx's recommendation to grow bay laurel is an excellent tip for cooks living in climates where the shrub can overwinter in the ground. It's even worthwhile for cooks in zone 7-and-colder who use bay leaves often enough to make it worth being vigilant against scale for the half of the year that the potted plant is indoors. Nothing beats fresh or freshly dried herbs. As long as they're the real thing; that's another important advantage of growing your own that I just recently learned about. It seems that a lot of what is sold in markets as fresh bay leaves are from a different plant -- similar in looks, but with a much, much stronger and less pleasing taste. Seattle chef Jerry Traunfeld (of Herbfarm) spells it out: :: Bay laurel leaves come from the tree Laurus nobilis, known as Turkish bay or sweet bay. California bay leaves also come from a large tree, the totally unrelated Umbellularia californica. There is some similarity in the scent but California bay is ten times stronger than bay laurel, and if you substitute it in a recipe calling for bay laurel you will ruin the dish with its overpowering flavor. The shocking thing is that when you buy fresh bay leaves in the supermarket, nine times out of ten they are California bay, even though they don't say that on the label. ... When you tear or crush a bay laurel leaf you will smell a mild, sweet, nutmeglike scent, whereas a California bay leaf will smell powerfully of menthol and petroleum overtones :: p.79, The Herbal Kitchen (Wm. Morrow, 2005) The page includes a helpful photo of the leaves of the true bay and the imposter side by side. The bay laurel leaf edge curls a bit; while the California bay's edge is completely smooth; it's also just a bit narrower overall than a typical bay laurel leaf, and darker green. Now I realize why I've been so unhappy with the results of cooking with "fresh bay leaves" from a local greenhouse grower unless I use only a quarter leaf....See Morespice storage
Comments (24)Fori, why, thank you. Karena, anytime. :) Pllog, thanks so much for that link! You are right, Iranian saffron IS the best and I had never seen a US source for it (friends bring some back for us occasionally). overly, those are beautiful! (I like to keep mine dark on the shelf or I would be on to those in a minute). judydel, thanks. Can't wait to see yours. southernsticher, it isn't that Indian spices in general are difficult to find, but the intensity and subtleties of the very best are sometimes not easy to locate. Wynad pepper, for example, is one of the very best peppers you can buy (arguably the finest pepper in the world). It certainly is one of my favorites. This grows on the Wynad Plateau in Kerala. Only natural manure and compost is used on the soil. The pepper is hand-picked at the stage of ripening and the taste varies from year to year (think of it as the spice version of wine). It is pungent, earthy, and woody. The 2008 stock was sold out (the 2009 is just in, in case anyone is looking for it, The salt traders has it). (Geesh, you think I am a little passionate about it?). Anyway, while I love Wynad pepper, I also like variety and finding some (like Penja which comes from Cameroon) proves almost impossible. And, when you do find it, it comes in the fancy little tins in miniscule amounts in the "gourmet" (aka: pay out the arse) section. Sorry okepokesfan, I didn't mean to hijack this thread (I think I will start a new one for secrect sources)....See MoreNew (to me) Spice Storage Idea
Comments (9)Question: BUT does anyone have problems with these on the door, and when closing the door the jars bump into the stuff inside your cabinet? It seems to me that you aren't saving any space if you have to push back things and you can't store items (cans/bottles) right up to the front edge of the cabinet?...See Moremsl511
10 years agocarsonheim
10 years agoangela12345
10 years agobpath
10 years agotexaspenny
10 years agoxxxxOldTimeCarpenter
10 years agoginny20
10 years agobreezygirl
10 years agoleela4
10 years agodrbeanie2000
10 years agobreezygirl
10 years agoSherrie Moore
10 years agorobo (z6a)
10 years agoscrappy25
10 years agoxxxxOldTimeCarpenter
10 years agoxxxxOldTimeCarpenter
10 years agoSherrie Moore
10 years agoSherrie Moore
10 years agoxxxxOldTimeCarpenter
10 years agobreezygirl
10 years agocarsonheim
10 years agomrspete
10 years agojustmakeit
10 years agorkb21
10 years agonumbersjunkie
10 years ago
Related Stories
PRODUCT PICKSGuest Picks: Spice Up Your Spice Rack
The right spice rack adds a pinch of style and a dash of functionality to any cook's kitchen
Full StoryORGANIZING7 Habits to Help a Tidy Closet Stay That Way
Cut the closet clutter for a lifetime — and save money too — by learning how to bring home only clothes you love and need
Full StoryKITCHEN STORAGEHow to Add a Pullout Spice Rack
Keep spices neat and free of kitchen grime by giving them a well-organized home in your cabinets
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKey Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones
Full StoryBATHROOM MAKEOVERSRoom of the Day: See the Bathroom That Helped a House Sell in a Day
Sophisticated but sensitive bathroom upgrades help a century-old house move fast on the market
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSE10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell
Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market
Full StoryMOST POPULAR7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight
In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN24 Hot Ideas for Stashing Spices
Create a Mini Spice Pantry in a Wall, Drawer, Island or Gap Between Cabinets
Full StoryECLECTIC STYLE9 Ways to Spice Up Your Kitchen Cabinetry
If a perfectly matched set of built-in units isn’t your cup of tea, try these ideas to add some variety
Full StorySTORAGEDownsizing Help: Shelve Your Storage Woes
Look to built-in, freestanding and hanging shelves for all the display and storage space you need in your smaller home
Full Story
a2gemini