Do you have an area of your house that you’re really proud of? That you like so much that occasionally you think it should have it’s own spotlight or theme song? 
Ok, maybe that’s just me. But today that area of my home is my spice drawer. A small project with a big impact, one that makes me happy when I see it and makes my life and cooking easier.
Need to get a handle on your spices, just in time for holiday baking and feasts? Here’s how!
Sort what you have:
- Clean off a counter.
- Collect your spices from all the places you have them stashed in the kitchen and pantry.
- Line them up on the counter and put them in alphabetical order. Trust me on this one. Many kitchens have at least a few duplicates, 2 or 3 jars of the same spices.
Get rid of spices past their prime:
- Once you know what spices you have on hand and how many, review what you have to determine if some of the spices are no longer spicy.
- Ever wonder how long spices last? A quick google search yielded a lot of information! The cooking and spice websites seemed to agree:
- whole spices can last 4 years;
- ground spices last 3-4 years;
- dried leafy herbs can last from 1-3 years (color is an indicator, too – herbs usually are green, even when dried, but can turn brown with age!); and
- extracts are good for 3-4 years, except for vanilla which can last longer.
- One website suggested that you can just use more of an older spice or herb to make up for lost flavor from age but that could get confusing! If you open the jar and
don’t strongly smell the spice, it’s time for it to go. - Make a list of spices you purge, so you know what you may need to replace. Keep in mind, some items are seldom used, so you don’t have to replace those until you need them again. However, if you tossed the black pepper or basil, replace them soon!
Decide where and how to keep your spices:
- Store your herbs and spices in a spot convenient for cooking but not next to or above a heat source. Prolonged heat will ruin the flavor and aroma of spices
and herbs. - My spices are in a drawer near (but not too close) to my stove. I have this great insert for my drawer, seen here from a side view. Unfortunately, I’ve had it so long that I can’t find an exact replacement.
I found something similar to this on a quick Amazon search, for “spice drawer organizer insert” - A client who bakes – a lot! – had a basket of savory herbs and
spices (curry, basil, oregano) and a basket of sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg,
baking extracts) in her cabinet so she could grab what she needed depending on her task at hand. 
Of course, there is the lazy susan option, a great idea for all those little bottles. Sometimes the spices fall over like bowling pins, but this is option improves visibility.
Maintain the system:
Buy big spice containers (often cheaper per ounce) and share with friends or family! I love shopping at Costco, but their containers are huge! Vanilla extract lasts forever, and we use a lot of cinnamon, so those are two items I buy in large sizes.
- Consider growing your own herbs. Even just a pot on the windowsill can keep you in basil for a long time! (I love my basil, oregano and lavender plants!)
This little project can reap big benefits! Give it a whirl this week!
list. Yikes, what a chore! I quickly realized the secret is the time spent together in loving and creative ways, not the actual frosted butter cookies. So we now stick with our specialties, I call and thank my mother, and I let others frost and sprinkle.
others