Avoid Storing Seasonings In This Part Of Your Kitchen

From basics like salt and pepper to more esoteric options like black cardamom and saffron, spices are essentially what make food taste good. A well-stocked spice rack or shelf is a necessity for any operational kitchen, and there are many ways to store your spices. However, there's one particular location where you shouldn't store them: near or above your stove.

Storing spices near the stove seems to make sense: They're within arm's reach for cooking, and a spice rack can fit neatly and attractively on the kitchen counter. But there's one big issue with keeping them in this location: the heat. 

If your spices are close to a working heat source, like a stove or oven, the rise in temperature can damage their essential oils and chemicals, causing them to lose fragrance and flavor. In addition, moisture from cooking steam can potentially make its way into an open container, causing the spice inside to clump or grow mold. Even sunlight can cause harm to your favorite seasonings, so to prolong their life, keep them in a cool, dark space.

Finding a safe area for your spices might sound like a pain, especially if you have a kitchen with minimal cabinet space, but it's an annoyance that's worthwhile because it can noticeably prolong the life of your spices. When sitting out exposed to the heat of a stove, spices might last around six months. However, when they're properly stored in a cool, dark location, they can last for up to a year without a noticeable change in flavor or fragrance.  

Keep in mind that spices don't all deteriorate at the same rate. Even when stored properly, ground spices are the first to go, particularly spice blends. They've already been crushed up and exposed to oxygen, so they'll lose potency faster. Whole spices last significantly longer, but you have to grind them up yourself with something like a mortar and pestle, so they're less convenient. 

If you're wondering whether it's time to chuck a particular bottle of seasoning, there are some ways to tell when your spices have expired. The easiest is to just open up the container and take a big whiff of the spice inside. If the scent is still strong, the spice will probably still do its job. If you can't smell anything, the spice has likely lost potency, and you'll be better off buying a new batch.