Hi friends!
A lot of you already know I’ve been tackling small spaces in and around the kitchen this past week or so. I started out by organizing under the kitchen sink and even though it isn’t a big space, it’s functioning so much better for us now that everything is containerized! Today, I wanted to share with you how I decided to store our dry cooking spices by creating a spice drawer.
For the past couple of years since moving into this house I’ve kept spices in the small cupboard above the stove. It was always frustrating trying to find something I needed because I would have to get up on a chair to look for the right spice. A lot of times, more than I’d like to admit I’ve bought a new spice thinking we were out simply because I couldn’t find it. It was getting out of control! I mean…who needs 6 containers of thyme?! So I pulled everything out of the cupboard, and tossed whatever was old or rarely used.
I also condensed a lot of separate spices into custom mixes for seafood, chicken, steak etc…This is a FANTASTIC way to use up those spices you normally wouldn’t grab, and save space and time! Here’s some of my custom blends…
Italian
- dry basil
- dry oregano
- dry thyme
- dry rosemary
- dry parsley
Seafood
- paprika
- celery salt
- dry mustard
- red pepper flakes
- lemon pepper
- ground bay leaves
Chicken
- ground up chicken boullion cubes
- lemon pepper
- cumin
- rosemary
- basil
- cayenne pepper
- paprika
- celery salt
- dry mustard
- garlic powder
Steak
- onion powder
- garlic salt
- parsley
- celery salt
- paprika
- course black pepper
Once I had my spices made, or knew the ones that I was keeping I put them into little glass jars with an air tight lid. Spices can last for a pretty long time, but I tend to buy new spices every 6 months or so because they do lose their pungency after a while, especially if they aren’t kept properly. I also don’t usually buy spices in bulk unless I know we go through it fast.
How long can you keep spices? Well it depends….
• Ground spices (cinnamon, cumin): 2 to 3 years
• Herbs (basil, oregano, parsley): 1 to 3 years
• Seasoning blends: 1 to 2 years
• Whole spices (cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks): 4 years
• Seeds: 4 years (except for poppy and sesame seeds, which should be tossed after 2 years)
• Extracts: 4 years (except for pure vanilla, which will last forever)
So now that I sorted and containerized I needed to put them somewhere that was more easily accessible. I have this small drawer right next to my stove that was holding potholders and oven mitts. Stupid use of space on my part. These things can easily be hung on the inside of a cabinet and I knew the drawer they were in would be perfect for spices. So I took out the mitts, cleaned the drawers, and added the same contact paper I used under the sink area.
Are these jars not the cutest little things ever?! I picked these up at The Container Store last time I was there and now I’m kicking myself that I only bought 12 when I could easily fit 20 into the drawer. Next time I’m there I have to get a few more. They are the perfect little spice jars!
I love these rectangular measuring spoons
Again, not a big space, but a huge improvement in not only looks but functionality for our kitchen! Now when I’m cooking I won’t have to stand on a chair over a (usually burning hot stove) to look for the specific spice. I just open the drawer, look down at my labeled little jars and take out what I need.
So when’s the last time you’ve cleaned out your spices? Do you make your own custom blend for something that’s amazing? I’d love to know about it! So leave me a comment below or on my Facebook page!
Talk to you soon friends!
Take care and happy organizing!
XO
*DISCLAIMER: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, where if an item is purchased using my link I will receive a very small commission. For more information on First Home Love Life’s disclosure policy click here.
I am doing the very same thing! I also bought my jars at the Container Store for $3 a jar. Then I found a place online called the webstaurantstore where I could have gotten the same jars at $14 a dozen. Ggggrrrrr. That website has quite a wide variety of kitchen stuff at great prices.