Storage for herbs and spices?

[eleny]

For the new year, I'm going to treat myself to some sort of new storage for these tins and bottles. Currently I keep them in two plastic, double decker lazy susans. They sit on open shelves near the stove. Over the many years they've gotten pretty shabby.

When you have a lot of herbs and spices, where do *you* store yours? Mine are all from different companies. So the containers are different sizes and I like keeping them that way.

And do you discard them after a certain time? I know they all dissipate in strength. But I'm afraid that I don't clear mine out routinely. Maybe it's another thing to do each January.

[NMDemDist2]

1. what kind of kitchen decor do you have (or are working toward)?

I have a two nice cabinets right next stove that have doors, so I keep spice in one and salt, oils, vinegars etc in the other

no worries what the containers look like since they are in a closed cupboard

[Neecy]

2. a closed cupboard is the best place to keep 'em...

Light exposure will prematurely suck the flavor out of a lot of spices. It's a small detail, but if someone doesn't go through them very quickly it's the best place to store them.

[NMDemDist2]

4. the other thing that kills spices is heat. I have my actual spices

around the corner from the stove, the one right next to the stove (the left side) is where I keep the oils and salt etc that aren't so heat sensitive

the cupboard that is to the right of the stove is one of those little doors with looooonnnnggggg depth to the corner that I have my "good" china stacked in the back with medication and weird stuff in the front leaving the nice cabinet on the right above my work area

[wildeyed]

30. I stole your mirror idea.

It added light in just the right place! Really make the room more cheerful. I also reserved a few feng shui books at the library and reorganized my spices AND my cooking utensils drawer. :wipes sweat off brow: Phew. Thanks! :hi:

<img src="">

[NMDemDist2]

31. ok this pic is after you have just cleaned you heart out right?

take another one in a week, is it always SO CLEAN!??!!!

my counters are never that neat (even when the MIL is coming LOL )


but it looks super and what a cute mirror!

[wildeyed]

33. Cleaned my heart out and re-organized.

Even shined the stainless with the special stainless cleaner that I got with the stove and never used, even though I bought it over a year ago. Usually it is covered with grease spatters, crumbs and hand prints from the kidlets. Also we stack the mail, kid's art projects and other miscellaneous junk on the counter to the left. I put the basket there hopping that people would drop junk into it instead of on the counter, and then eventually put it away. But I am not holding my breath. My husband is a confirmed piler.

Your place looks great, and like I said, the mirror idea is fab.

[NMDemDist2]

34. FlyLady calls those places "hotspots" and they just grow and grow

unless you stay on them literally three times a day

i try to get to them at least twice a week (mine is on the left side of the stove too, right next to the door to the garage)

with practice and dedication, we have it down to a dull roar most weeks now LOL

if you have never checked it out, go look at www.flylady.com

she may end up being your best friend LOL

and it just looks BEAUTIFUL!!

[wildeyed]

35. I looked at that site earlier today on the advice of the feng shui

thread. I got as far as cleaning the sink, and then life took over. I have recently been feeling very domestic, so that kind of thing is a good fit for me right now.

I hope that if I get the kitchen organized better, the hot spot won't irritate me as much. I had so much counter space in my old kitchen that the piling didn't irritate me much. In this kitchen I really need that space to work, plus it is the first thing you see as you come in from the garage, so it is kind of a bummer when it is a disaster. Oh well, I will read more fly lady and maybe get some good advice. Or renovate the kitchen and get more counter space, lol.

[NMDemDist2]

36. piles grow to fit the counter space available in my experience LOL n/t

[eleny]

39. That does it! I'm getting a little mirror, too

Both your and AZDem's stoves have that "something speical" going on. I was thinking of putting a magnetic knife holder up there. But I can create another space during the reorganization.

[NMDemDist2]

40. I can't see myself in it (nor did I plan to) but it is fun and looks nice

and is supposed to bring prosperity to the cook :-)

[eleny]

41. I looked around and don't find any small mirrors in the house

But I know I can find just the right one at the thrift! ;-) another reason to plan a trip to the new one that just opened nearby.

[NMDemDist2]

42. yup, let's go find a mirror, some spice jars

what else were we looking for???

hey have you looked at your mom's cast iron? if you love that heavy aluminum, I bet you'll love cast iron once you get it all seasoned again :)

[eleny]

43. So far, I found one small skillet in my pantry closet

The rest must be packed in a shed. This one is 6" across the top. Perfect for making a fried egg. It was pretty caked up on the bottom, so I scraped a little bit away. It says Cast Iron Skillet on the top, Griswold in a cross shape in the middle and Erie, PA across the bottom.

The inside is so silky. But I see some rust around the inner side. I'm going to oil and salt it with coarse Kosher salt to see if I can get rid of the wee bit of rust.

Now I'm worried about the others. Even if I packed them in a box, a shed was the wrong place to keep them. It's too cold to go out there to ferret them out today. It's snowing and the wind chill is -2!

[NMDemDist2]

44. Griswold is the "name" brand in vintage pans

just oil it up and don't use soap no matter what


i think you'll love them once you "rescue" them LOL

stay warm!

[wildeyed]

45. Maybe we can have our own little mirror over the stove forum....

or not. But if you put the knives there, it will be hard to get at them when you are cooking on the stove top. So mirror it is :-) BTW, I continue to like my little mirror. My kitchen is kind of dark, so the mirror brightens it up allot.

[NMDemDist2]

46. we'll get skinner to do a gallery for us LOL n/t

[eleny]

47. Yes, reaching over a stove is awkward

A mirror makes the best sense. It'll be a surprise to see motion in it for a few days. But I'll get used to that pretty quick.

[eleny]

6. We have pine walls

So I could get some sort of country cabinet. In fact, if I take some stuff down on one wall, I think I can fit a long, skinny one in that space. I didn't think of a cabinet. Thanks!

Edit: Is that a mirror above your stove? Cute!

[NMDemDist2]

9. yes it is a Fung Shui thing for prosperity hehehe n/t

[Eloriel]

3. If I had the room, what I'd like to have

are custom-made drawers, very shallow, that pull out and then down at an angle so you can see and select the things you need. These "drawers" have partitions all across the width so that they hold all the different spices in all the different size and shape containers and you can have several of these very narrow drawers per cabinet space or they could go under overhanging cabinets. Not sure I've described them adequately, but that's what I'd like. I'd have them too if I had a space to put them, but I don't. The space under the cabs hold lights, and none of the other cabs are in the right place. :-(

[eleny]

5. I think I can picture them

They're installed under cabinets. Maybe they flip down in a way that keeps them in place.

[NMDemDist2]

7. what about these? I love this website

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/index.jhtml?CATID=6

[eleny]

12. Hmmm... I wonder

I've got a drawer stuffed with oven mitts and hot pads. If I get rid of some old crap I could appropriate one drawer for spices. And then maybe get a samll cabinet for the wall. That should do it. I've got a load of herbs and spices, so this was going to be a project one way or the other. This solution is very neat and tidy.

That online store reminds me of Bed, Bath and Beyond. Dangerous!

[yellowdogintexas]

27. I like the one that flips out of the inside of the cabinet, that would

work for my Tupperware ones, I bet.

Time to pay a call on Containerstore, I have to avoid that place as I will always find something in there that I like ...it is way too convenient to my house!

[NMDemDist2]

8. PS El, look at my kitchen pic above, that is thanks to you and your

Fung Shui thread, we completely revamped how the kitchen was laid out

thanks!! It has made my cooking so much more enjoyable

please note the "prosperity" mirror above the stove LOL

[eleny]

10. It wasn't me!

There's someone else with a similar user name. Maybe it's her. I'll have to find that thread. I'm in the mood for making changes in my kitchen and eating area, too. I've got to make some adjustments and already know that I'm getting rid of one of the kitchen tables. One will be replaced with some sort of rolling cart with storage below. I'm already using the second table to just store stuff on top. A rolling deal would be great but they're pricey. I think we can build something simple.

So the mirror is for the fung shui purpose. Every time I see a show on HGTV about this method of arranging rooms, it makes sense. Having an easy flow to rooms has to reduce stress in an area. I've got to find that thread! Congrats on your changes!

[NMDemDist2]

11. I meant Eloriel, sorry LOL

edit to add, search for author eloriel

the thread started in the Meeting room and then was moved to the Astrology group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=111&topic_id=36729#40847

[eleny]

13. Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time to find it for me. I'm going to check it out right now.

[NMDemDist2]

14. now you have me doing it.... I need to totally rearrange my spice

cupboards so I can find stuff easier

I can rearrange the shelves and maybe move one shelf from the one cupboard to the other, then a couple of the little step thingies to raise the stuff in the back........


Drat! another project lol

[eleny]

15. I'm going to make a trip to the Bed, Bath and Spend store

That way I can see the dimensions of things in person. After that, I can check out the Container Store online for better pricing. I'm thinking that this will be fun. Once I get to thinking about rearranging, I get to cleaning. Washing down the bottles and tins makes space look better, too. Also, I know that a couple of my herbs and spices are out of date. They can last a long time, but there's a limit.

I read a bunch at the fung shui thread. It sounds great! I'm even rethinking my front door. I don't want to paint it even though red would be glorious. A wreath with predominant red things in it will do the trick. I've got a grapevine wreath stashed around here and can do two jobs with one project. Lessen the stash and spruce up the door.

You know that we're on our way to Spring cleaning, dontcha? After a miserable year, I think I need to clean and rearrange.

[NMDemDist2]

16. i will just keep my eye out at the thrift stores

usually when I need something, it appears within a week or so at one of my favorite thrift stores (or something better)

i have also had good luck with ebay (but not good for instant gratification)

have fun, that feng shui thread has changed my life so much, I have so much more energy and cooking is now a "hobby" instead of a daily chore

I have herb and tomato seeds started and my kitchen just gets more and more fun and DH is overwhelmed with all the yummy choices he gets for dinner and snacks LOL

[eleny]

17. You thrift!!!

So do I!!! There's a really good ARC store a few miles from here. And then a new one just opened even closer. Haven't been in there yet but I'm planning to stop there this week.

There's nothing like thrifting. I bet I can find a spice cabinet if I practise patience and enjoy the thrill of finally finding one some day.

We're going to nail this storage thing and maybe even with some vintage flair to boot.

[NMDemDist2]

18. another thought that came to me right away with your OP was a

little "curtain" over your open cupboard

that would hide the mismatched spice containers, give you a pretty touch of color and could be done cheap (especially if you found some curtains at the thrift store) I have seen some really nice curtains in the thrift stores and a little cafe rod is cheap cheap

try to figure out a hook or something so you can get the curtain out of the way or get the curtain just big enough to cover the space so it would glide out of the way on the rod easily


just a thought....

[eleny]

19. The shelves

They were built by a friend and are somewhat decorative. Routed, curved sides and all. But I think you've pointed out something very important. The shelves are terribly cluttered since I like having things at hand. I'm not sure if I'll put a curtain up. But when I imagined the curtain the picture in my imagination was very calming. So, the spices have to be moved elsewhere and be put out of sight. ~And~ the shelves have to be dealt with as well. The jumble of cans, boxes, tins and bowls are getting some attention. There's no way around it. The clutter is too disquieting.

Btw, thanks a bunch. You've been so helpful and it's been fun chatting. Today has been a better day than many. Nice to be taking charge and at least making headway in our home even if the political scene is a jumble. :)

[NMDemDist2]

20. you're welcome! i enjoyed it :-) n/t

[BamaGirl]

23. Y'all are gonna get me down lol

One of my best "missed buys" was at a garage sale this summer, a wonderful old spice cabinet. I should have bought that darned thing. I just have so little space!

[NMDemDist2]

24. treasures are everywhere, something else will come along :-) n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

26. check your local unpainted furniture place for a rolling cart

they usually have a variety

I saw some reasonable ones at Target? maybe...they are out there.

Of course if you have the building skills and tools, you can probably do better than the commercial ones.

[wildeyed]

21. I need to reorganize my kitchen, too.

We moved a year ago, and I just threw everything into cabinets. Now I have been working in the kitchen for a while, I know better where things should go.

My spices are a particular mess. I recently ran out of a bunch of different kinds; chili powder, curry powder, cumin, dill, pepper corns. I reordered from Penzey's, there is a thread here about them. Now I am going to use my food saver vacuum packer to store the stuff I don't use everyday. I have an attachment that seals mason jars, so I will put the spices in the smallest size and seal them up. They should stay good for twice as long now :) Also, I need to alphabetize so I can find what I need.

[BamaGirl]

22. I keep mine in the cabinet next to my stove,

which is not the best place, but I have major lack-of-space issues in my kitchen. I go thru everything pretty quick so I don't know about shelf life, but I always thought as long as they stay relatively cool and dark, they'll last a long time.

[yellowdogintexas]

25. TUPPERWARE!!!!Hands down the best spice containers on

the market. Yes they actually make a spice container, in two sizes.

Lids have sprinkle and measure openings, and the measuring side is large enough to put a teaspoon in and level it. They stack neatly, since they are designed to stack, you can see inside them, they are dishwasher safe, and there is a set of labels you can purchase. And they have a lifetime guarantee so if one should crack, split, peel or break you can get it replaced free.

I do not know what the current seal color choices are, but mine are old so they are red.

I buy my spices @ the bulk spice station (by far the freshest and most economical way) so I get just what I need, and then bring it home and take it out of the store baggie and put it in the T'ware container.

I think they make a rack of some kind, but the design of these containers is so efficient, I find I don't need a carosel or anything
like that. They are also designed to fit into most of the door shelves, under the cabinet shelves, racks, etc that are out on the market for spices.

you can view them online @ Tupperware's web site, I should imagine.
These were a subset of the Modular Mate canister line originally and used to be in that part of the catalog, don't know how they are doing it now. (Yes I used to sell Tupperware years ago)

on second edit: hunted all over that )OQ#*&$(* websited and couldn't find them. Now I am mad, discontinued my favorite item!!!! And just when I thought I needed a few more of them, too. #O*)#
on edit: web link http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/home

on third edit: LOL did a quick scan of EBAY and found some at reasonable prices,probably samples being sold off by dealers since it looks like they are gone for good. still a bummer, but afterI get my errands run (assuming I start them) I am going to see if I can get some that way. I need a few more large ones.

[eleny]

29. Okay, if they're gone from retail - they'll be at the thrifts

There's usually an aisle just for plastic products at thrifts. So, I'll check it out next time I go. I would think that Tupperware would be easy enough to sanitize with very hot sudsy water and some bleach. And the spice containers aren't for drinking out of anyway.

I've always liked the celery and lettuce containers. They really do lengthen the time of freshness.

[yellowdogintexas]

38. easy to sterilize; baking soda paste is excellent for stain

removal, and Oxy clean soak is good also.

Good luck.

I will be on the lookout too, I can't believe they discontinued these; I must have sold a ton of them

[stanwyck]

28. Is this a good idea?

I have mine in our second refrigerator. When we bought a new refrigerator, we put the old one in the pantry for beverages. I also store beans, grains, and spices in that refrigerator. Is that a good idea?

[NMDemDist2]

32. spices can be damaged by high humidity I think

i would only do it if i had really really airtight seals

you may want to check the penzey site http://www.penzeys.com/ and see if they have an FAQ on spices

[stanwyck]

37. Thanks!

For the link.