Monsoon Kitchen Hacks: Storing and using spices properly will keep your dishes tasting fresh and delicious. Spices need more care during the rainy season. With these methods you can also store spices properly at your home.
There is a problem of moisture during rains, due to which pulses and spices get spoiled. Do not store spices directly over the stove or near the dishwasher, as heat and moisture can cause spices to clump, become moldy, and lose their flavor.
Store in air tight container
Store spices in air tight containers only. This keeps away dirt and prevents the spices from getting damp of any kind, hence it is very important to ensure that you use good air tight containers. Store the oil used for cooking only in a glass jar with an airtight lid.
Spices (Photo.Social Media)
One thing you have to take special care of is that you should take care of some special things while buying spices. For better aroma and longer shelf life, buy whole spices and grind them just before using. Whenever possible, try to buy whole spices, such as black pepper, cumin and cinnamon. Whole spices last for 2-4 years, while ground spices go bad after only 6-12 months.
Do not stir the spices directly over the boiling pots, but use a dry spoon to remove them, to prevent moisture from getting into the jar. Also, avoid mixing them together, because if old and new spices mix together, then the spices will spoil quickly.
Spices (Photo.Social Media)
Make sure that the label you have put on the jar remains the same, if you put any other spice in a jar with a different label, you may still face problems. Write the expiration date on the jars so you know when to replace them. Also keep them away from strong smells, this changes their taste. Do not keep spices near things with strong smells like garlic or coffee.
You also need to understand this very well that you should not try to keep most of the dry spices in the refrigerator. This adds moisture to the spices, but keeping red chili powder and paprika in the refrigerator protects them from insects and maintains their color.
