Spice up Your Kitchen | Lifestyle

by KCKudra

What would life be without spices? Even the commonplace salt and black pepper elevate our food to heights that are unattainable without them. Garlic adds yet another dimension to our plates. Without spice, our food is bland and unappetizing. With spice, it climbs to culinary perfection.

With more exposure to other cultures, we are experiencing more of their cuisines, and their regional spices. It is not uncommon to experience the foods and spices of Mexico, China, Italy, and India in a single week. The week after that, maybe you will try something from Morocco or Afghanistan. Regional spices are becoming more available all the time, and as we taste these new combinations, it wins us over. Suddenly we have added a new favorite to our cupboard.

Storing Spices

Can you remember the last time you bought spices? They do not have an indefinite shelf life. As time goes by, they lose color and flavor. To keep your spices as fresh as possible, store them someplace away from oxygen, heat, moisture, and bright light. As convenient as it may be to keep them near your stove, try to keep them away from your kitchen appliances. Heat and steam can cause dampness, which will shorten their shelf life. Airtight containers made of glass or tin will help preserve the volatile oils in the spice, keeping their flavor intact.

Each spice can have a different shelf life. Check the ones in your cupboard periodically to check for freshness. Look at the color... is it faded? Is the scent still strong? Remember that whole spices will keep for a longer time span than those that are ground. It also depends on what part of the plant your spice is from.

For whole spices, remember that leaves and flowers may last up to a year. Roots, seeds, and barks can retain their goodness for over two years. Ground spices have a shorter life span. Leaves, seeds and barks will be good for about six months, while roots will remain fresh for up to a year.

Ethnic Cooking

Special spices give ethnic recipes their unique flavors, and you may end up buying some you are not familiar with. For example, if you want to make a chicken spaghetti recipe. You may need some cayenne or seasoned salt to give it a flavorful boost.

If you decide to try an Afghani dish, you may need spices like savory, sumac, and sesame. For Indian food, you may need coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Japanese recipes may require furikake, chilies, ginger, and miso.

Have fun exploring the vast world of spices. You are sure to find something new that you really like. Keep an open mind when trying spices. For example, you may find that Afghani food is really good, while maybe; Thai food is not your favorite. Unless you give them a try, you will never know.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

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