Spices storage question

[cintinative]

We use a lot of certain spices like chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, oregano and basil. I finally bought the larger containers of spices to save money, but they won't fit in my pantry. 

Does anyone have a system for this--do you use an old spice container and just keep refilling it? Or is there a spice container you bought to refill?

TIA! 

[marbel]

I generally just refill spice containers to keep in the spice drawer. I have bought some occasionally, at places like IKEA or World Market when I didn't have a jar for something - such as, when I bought bags of whole cumin and coriander, and wanted to keep some ground and some whole in the spice drawer in the kitchen. So obviously I don't have nice matched-size/shape spice jars. 🙂 I love having a good variety of spices around. 

 

[Sneezyone]

I use glass mason jars for bulk spices to preserve freshness. I label the jars with a white marker and black peel/stick labels. I have two sets of these and refill as needed. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07G7TK6TJ/ref=mobile_oh_details_?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited March 22, 2021 by Sneezyone

[cintinative]

3 minutes ago, marbel said:

I generally just refill spice containers to keep in the spice drawer. I have bought some occasionally, at places like IKEA or World Market when I didn't have a jar for something - such as, when I bought bags of whole cumin and coriander, and wanted to keep some ground and some whole in the spice drawer in the kitchen. So obviously I don't have nice matched-size/shape spice jars. 🙂 I love having a good variety of spices around. 

 

Yes, I don't care about matching. I just don't have room for big containers.  😃

[cintinative]

2 minutes ago, Dreamergal said:

When I open the master packet, they get transferred into Ziploc bags and live in the freezer until needed. I find masala powders freshness lasts longer when used this way.

 

Do you double bag the spices? Or do you find the single freezer bag is enough to keep the smells from seeping into other foods?

[Sneezyone]

Just now, Dreamergal said:

My every day spice box looks this. It is called a masala dabba.  This lives on the counter.

Pretty much every Indian household has a box like this and we keep filling it up as and when necessary which is on average once a week. I get spices in amounts of 100g to 400 g at a time depending on the spice. I usually buy 400g (coriander) or 200g of spice powders (fennel) depending on the frequency of usage if necessary. During the pandemic I upgraded to 800g and 400g. 

Most years my parents or inlaws bring spice powders they made, double bagged and they sit in a shelf in the freezer. When I open the master packet, they get transferred into Ziploc bags and live in the freezer until needed. I find masala powders freshness lasts longer when used this way.

Whole spices are kept in bottles  in the right hand cabinet closest to the stove. I use them almost every day, usually taking them out on a plate when I wait for the oil to heat.

These are awesome. ☺️ I use spices we’ve accumulated from our travels from all over so storage is a definite problem. DH complains that I have more spices and condiments than actual foods, lol. Some things I only use 6 times a year, like za’atar or Bahraini masala. Some I use all the time like ginger, basil, oregano, and cumin, lavender, rosemary, thyme, black lemon, dried sweet red pepper, different peppercorns, BAH!! So many! And, of course, I have them in whole and ground form which doubles the storage need. Our freezer space is limited too b/c I keep my 00 flour in there. 🤣

[Tina]

I have a pine cabinet in the kitchen where I store the bags of spices and other awkward sized items until I can use them to refill the jars in the spice cabinet/shelf.  I also have the cookie making extras here, sprinkles and such.   I have some dark blue jars from supplements that I want to build a spice rack for, where all my most loved spices will be in identical jars.

   

[marbel]

@Dreamergalthat is a thing of beauty. If I had counter space, I would love something like that!

[Bambam]

I have pullout drawers on either side of the vent hood above the stove top for my spices. These are pretty narrow, and there simply isn't enough space for all the spices, so I have an additional cabinet with the plastic stackable shelves for the rest of them. The ones that are too fat (salt, etc) are on the shelf above that. I do have some flat packs of spices in a drawer that I use to refill, but this thread now makes me think I should be keeping those in the freezer. 

[Annie G]

Dreamergirl, that is BEAUTIFUL.

 

I have spice jars and buy spices in flat packs from Spice House and just refill my jars. 

[KatieJ]

I almost always buy large containers. I refill my small containers (sometimes I have to buy a cheap slice at the dollar store just for a new containers ) and FREEZE the originals. 

[Tap]

I keep my old Pensey's jars and just refill them. For frequently used items, I sometimes I fill multiple jars at once. Penzey's used to give away a lot of spices for free or a $1, and coupons didn't expire. I didn't go often, but there were times I would go in and buy a couple of items, but walk out with 6 or 8 free jars of new items. If I didn't like taste, I tossed the spice and saved the jar. Sometimes I make a label myself and stick it to an old jar if I am refilling with a different item. I like to keep my bulk items in the dark, so I put them in a paper bag and keep them in the pantry. I don't buy more spice that I will use within 6-12 months unless that is the smallest size I can buy.  For spices I don't use often, I don't repurchase until I need it (not just when I run out) to encourage freshness . If I need a specialty spice, I usually need another ingredient from an ethnic store, and just buy the spice at that time.