Cookaholics Bulletin Board

did anyone see the recent ci test kitchen about storing spices in baggies with file type labels on them? takes up way less space than jars. I didn't get the details. Help.

Kathy,
Here's a thread from TOBB.
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/ibb/posts.aspx?postID=280406

Soooo, CI is taking hints from potheads now? Just don't get your baggie of oregano mixed up with... well, you get the picture.

I have some spices in bags just to save room but don't think I would like it for all my spices as the are more difficult to scoop the spices out and, as too often happens to me, if the zips are not zipped all the way there is a nice dusting of whatever spice all over. It would save a lot of room though. Maybe our local boy genius Todd can figure out a neater, yet equally compact, spice storage solution when he is done with his toffee project.

Mary

thanks everone!

I keep spices in foodsaver bags, or more specifically, specially made ones, made form the rolls of plastic, so the sizes are about what I need. I keep some of each out, depending on how fast I use it, then refill it when necessary. It does take up a lot less space than jars, esp. when vac-packed, and it keeps just about forever. I just snip the corners off the bags, then re-seal that corner. And I keep a box of just these things in the freezer, and an inventory list, so I know how much I have left in the freezer, if any.

It may not matter much, but I always let the spices warm to room temp before refilling, so they won't pull moisture out of the air; may not matter much in the winter, but if the humidity is bad it's something to think about.

My sweetie was once stopped by the police for carrying a baggie of bulk-bin oregano back from the market.

The cop smelled the oregano, and said "Hey, that's some good stuff! Where did you buy it?"