Outside or inside the refrigerator?.. The best ways to store spices and seasonings

Spices and seasonings remain the most important element to complete the “deliciousness” of any food dish, but many people sometimes wonder about the safest place to keep them.

While some believe that spices should be kept in a dry, dark cupboard away from moisture, heat, and light, and away from the sink, oven, or dishwasher, and in tightly sealed glass containers, others consider that placing them in the refrigerator is the most appropriate thing.

Do spices spoil?

Carla Walsh, a writer specializing in the field of food, health and fitness, pointed out that dried herbs and spices do not spoil, but they lose their flavor and effectiveness over time.

She said in an article on the Better Homes and Gardens website that any spice can be judged fresh by color and smell. Walsh suggested testing the freshness of spices by placing a few dried herbs or spices in one hand, then rubbing them with the palm of the other hand. Walsh explained that fresh spices tend to have a bright, rich color and a strong smell after rubbing. “If they look pale or smell weak or off-putting, they should be discarded immediately,” Walsh explained.

Walsh said that an easy rule of thumb is to replace dried herbs and spices once a year. The shelf life of spices depends on the processing method, type of spice, and storage method of spices.

The shelf life of spices varies depending on:

Dried herbs: between 1 to 3 years.
Ground and powdered spices: between 2 to 3 years.
Whole, unground spices: their shelf life is approximately 4 years.

Expert tips for storing spices

One of the most inherited grandmothers’ recipes for preserving the flavors of spices is to keep them in the refrigerator or freezer immediately after opening the bag. However, food handling specialists consider this “a kind of exaggeration.”

In an article on the Washington Post, food experts, such as Bill Benzi of Benzi’s Spices and Angel Gregorio of Space Saut, gave a number of good tips for keeping the flavors of spices fresh.
Freezing may introduce moisture into your spices, especially if they are not properly sealed (pixels).

Among the most important of these tips:

Do not store spices and condiments in the refrigerator or freezer. Gregorio suggested that freezing may introduce moisture into the spices, especially if they are not sealed well, causing the flavors to change and fade.
Avoid sunlight and heat. Benzi stated that both sunlight and heat can cause loss of flavor and color. Consider a dark, cool cupboard, drawer, or pantry an ideal place to store spices. Benzi pointed out that one of the most common places to store spices is the cupboard or shelf above or next to the oven to keep spices close at hand when cooking, but at the same time, he advised changing their location if those cupboards are warm, or reach the heat of the oven.
Keep it tightly sealed. Moisture is an enemy of spices, as it causes clumping, so it is recommended to make sure that you store spices in bottles or cans, and that the lids are tightly screwed on. It is also recommended not to spray spices and condiments directly from the bottle over the cooking pot, as steam can seep into the spice bottle and affect its flavor, and spices can turn into solid, lumpy pieces in the bottle due to the steam.
Glass instead of plastic. Experts prefer glass containers over plastic for storing spices, as glass does not absorb flavors or odors, and will not react with the oils contained in it.

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Buy whole spices. Whole spices maintain their freshness longer than ground spices. Benzi and Gregorio reported that ground spices only retain their flavor for 6 to 12 months, while whole spices can continue to maintain their quality and taste for a few years. It is best to buy whole spices and grind them at home in a specific amount when used.
Purchase as much as needed. The last and easiest tip to ensure that spices are fresh, according to food professionals, is to use and replenish spices regularly.

Resisting the purchase of large quantities of spices is the best thing you can do to conserve spices and money, as spices are likely to become old and have a dull taste before they are fully used.