Different Ways to Store Your Spices and Herbs: Why Glass Jars are the Better Choice?
Whether you cook all your meals or do occasional cooking, one thing that is an indispensable part of your kitchen is the small jars of dried spices and herbs that make your meals flavorful. Without spices and herbs, it’s almost impossible to bring out the hidden flavors of various foods. But despite being such an important and constant part of our culinary experience, more often than not, the storage of seasoning and herbs is overlooked. So, you might ask why it is important to think about storage? There are two main reasons, to keep the freshness intact and increase their shelf life.
Before we discuss your best options, let’s look at the possible reasons your precious spice and herb collection can go bad. High temperature, exposure to air & light, and humidity build-up are the four major dangers your spice collection faces. To avoid loss of flavor and to keep the herbs fresh for longer, you need to be very careful about these elements. You have many options that you can consider when it comes to storage: plastic jars, glass spice jars, ceramic containers, paper bags, etc. Below we have listed each of them and which storage is the most suitable.
1.Glass Containers
Glass jars are the most commonly used storage vessels for spice and herb storage. There are a number of reasons for their popularity. They can be washed and cleaned easily, the contents are visible at all times for easier usage, and as long as the lid is airtight, you don’t have to worry about spoilage. Also, spices have an expiration date. If stored properly, glass can help increase the shelf life of spices.
2.Ceramic Containers
Ceramic jars might be the most suitable to store spices after glass jars. They have a lot of qualities that make them almost perfect. One important feature is that it protects your herbs from all the elements discussed above. They are airtight, which in turn discourages humidity build-up. They can also resist heat (however, intentional exposure should be avoided), and light can’t penetrate the jars because ceramic jars are opaque. But the biggest disadvantage and the reason most people prefer glass spice jars is that ceramic jars are expensive. It might not be suitable to buy multiple jars for your ever-increasing stock of spices.
3. Plastic Containers
Plastic containers are a staple all over our house and especially in the kitchen. We use plastic Tupperware to keep our food fresh and store perishable kitchen food items. Thus, it’s no wonder that plastic containers are commonly used in our houses for storing spices. But does it fare well against the 4 elements that are dangerous for condiments? Yes, plastic jars provide adequate protection against air and humidity, but long-term storage is not recommended. Some spices may even react with plastic, and you might not realize it until later.
4.Metal Tin Containers
Metal containers are rarely used, but it’s not surprising to find tin or stainless jars in some kitchens. They are lightweight, and provide adequate protection from air, light, and humidity. Along with that, unlike glass spice jars, accidental breakage isn’t possible. However, what makes them a bit unpopular is the fact that the metal is highly conductive, and if it comes in contact with heat, the spices can spoil very easily and very quickly.
5.Paper Bags
Paper bags are a short-term solution and should only be considered if you want to keep your spices temporarily in a different vessel. Due to the fragile nature of paper, exposure to air, heat, and humidity is highly possible, leading to quick spoilage.
There you have it; there are a number of options to store spices and herbs. While glass spice jars may seem like the most optimal choice, you can consider other options as well as per your taste and budget. There are several options in the market, such as a glass jar with cover, glass jars with corks, colored plastic jars, hand-painted ceramic jars, and more. At Homesmiths, you can shop trendy, handy, and aesthetically pleasing glass jars of all sizes that will light up your spice racks. So, go ahead, stock up your pantry with these storage essentials today!
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