[Sca-cooks] spice storage

[K C Francis]

I too had an odd collection of jars and cans which I mostly stored on racks 
by the stove.  Yes, I know that is the worst place but there it was.

So, I bought a bunch of nice glass/plastic top spice jars at Cost Plus.  
Filled some from the old containers but mostly with fresh herbs and spices 
and labeled them on top with clear preprinted round stickers and on the 
bottom front with clear preprinted rectangular stickers.  The display was 
amazing.  All the wonderful colors!  BUT, I knew that they needed a better 
place so...

I rearranged the few drawers I have in my small kitchen and devoted one to 
herbs and one to spices.  The drawer depth was perfect for the jars and I 
put cardboard strips between the rows so they wouldn't slide around too 
much.  The top labels make it so easy to pick out what I want.  The drawer 
is deeper than I need at the moment.  In the meantime,  I store a few odds 
and ends at the back.  I am sad I cannot see the colorful display but I know 
the herbs and spices will last longer when kept in the dark.

I had to make up some labels as I have the usual SCA collection of odd herbs 
and spices as well as many interesting but uncommon blends.  I use the old 
racks for a timer, salt and pepper and a few other odds and ends.

I also created a spreadsheet that I can sort to give me a shopping list to 
replace herbs and spices after a reasonable time.

I am very happy with the new arrangement and do not mind giving up the 
drawer space for these most important cooking ingredients.  I love Alton's 
tins stuck inside the cabinet doors, but there aren't enough doors in my 
kitchen to hold the variety I have.  I agree that any of the countertop or 
fold out spice racks just aren't big enough.

Katira

>From: Cat Dancer <pixel at hundred-acre-wood.com>
>Reply-To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
>To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
>Subject: [Sca-cooks] spice storage
>Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2006 13:17:32 -0600 (CST)
>
>
>Since I'm on the topic anyway...
>
>I need a better storage solution for my spice cabinet. I have square glass
>jars, plastic Penzey's bags, bags from the Indian grocery store, small
>plastic jars (Penzey's and otherwise), large Penzey's glass jars, and a
>few random boxes, all overflowing the cabinet and gradually taking over
>that corner of the counter as well.
>
>The people who design spice racks have no comprehension of how large one's
>seasoning collection can be. What do other people do to keep their herbs &
>spices in order?
>
>Margaret
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