Storing Spices Aboard

[Therapy]

I have numerous spices that do not come in a container.......well a bag is a container......

Looking for advice on the perfect container.

I envision a square shape for ease of storage, air tight seal and a perforated part on top for shaking.

Oh yea. Low cost - a given.

Anything super duper?

[ConradG]

I supose it depends on the amount. Asking your friends to save their spice jars can get a quick suply. However, I have the feeling you are taliking bulk... If so, I have been saving my hershy's 100% cocoa containers. They are rectangular and stack and pack nicely. I drink alot and accumulate about a container a week so it works for me. Good old mason jars come in many sizes and some a little square. They are pretty darn strong although glass.

[barnakiel]

We keep ours in original containers- mostly glass or plastic shakers. What comes in paper packs is kept in a couple of alloy boxes.

b.

[sarafina]

Tap plastic has small acrylic boxes, 10 for 10 bucks, but no shaker.


I use test tubes with corks or screwtops and like how they stack on their sides taking up little space. Or you could get a metal test tube rack, the 24 tube size is pretty compact and holds them upright.


I love the small round metal containers with the clear lids, but they are always pricy...

[ConradG]

Awsome stuff! I love the test tubes. What a great idea...
Just ocured to me that I forgot to mention that when I was in the humid salt environment I used to through some dry rice in with certain dry goods including spices to help absorb any moisture.
Also, on the cheap side and if they can be stowed where they won't be crushed, good old ziplocks for the reserve to keep the dispensers full.

[RainDog]

For stuff like this I always find IKEA had good prices and clever solutions:

IKEA | Food storage & organizing | Spice & condiment stands | CELEBER | Spice jar
IKEA | Food storage & organizing | Spice & condiment stands | RAJTAN | Spice jar
IKEA | Food storage & organizing | Spice & condiment stands | DROPPAR | Spice jar

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by ConradG

I supose it depends on the amount. Asking your friends to save their spice jars can get a quick suply. However, I have the feeling you are taliking bulk... If so, I have been saving my hershy's 100% cocoa containers. They are rectangular and stack and pack nicely. I drink alot and accumulate about a container a week so it works for me. Good old mason jars come in many sizes and some a little square. They are pretty darn strong although glass.

Thanks all thus far.

Bulk will be in ziplocs probably.

Want shakers for the galley. Moisture proof.

[svHyLyte]

Bulk will be in ziplocs probably.

Therapy--

Some years ago we met a couple of which the wife fancied herself a Chef and, accordingly, evidently carried quite an assortment of spices in bulk in zip-lock bags aboard their boat. As they related it, it seems on their return from a trip to Mexico they had rather a lot of difficulty with the Coast Guard in San Diego when their stock was discovered until their Oregano or dried Parsley or whatever proved not to be dope. During the interim the boat was alledgedly ransacked pretty thoroughly.

FWIW...

[lorenzo b]

Ziplock bag inside a ziplock bag inside a etc conforms to any volume or storage shape cheap easy will drive the DEA crazy

[ConradG]

I guess you would be in trouble if you got some 'do gooder' who couldn't tell the smell of oregano, let alone that of dope! What a lark! Hops on the otherhand, can actually be grafted to canabis root I have read..but I don't have any idea of what that smells of. I guess you could offer to sit down and smoke some to prove the non effect..?

[Vasco]

We replace most of our spices every season. The heat etc. does not help no matter what they're stored in. Ours are kept in their original containers or ziplocks. We find that many lose their potency after six months on a boat, especially cumin which we use a lot of.

[Squeaks]

[QUOTE=sarafina;406232]Tap plastic has small acrylic boxes, 10 for 10 bucks, but no shaker.


I use test tubes with corks or screwtops and like how they stack on their sides taking up little space. Or you could get a metal test tube rack, the 24 tube size is pretty compact and holds them upright.


Safarina: After a galley reorganizing I'm left with this very question and think the test tubes are a great idea (although I am concerned about breakage and capacity). My local hobby shop has "regular" test tubes but your pictures rack looks the best. Where did you find it/them?
Thanks, John
PS - we don't miss the colder wx up there :-).

[Pegasus44]

My wife and I use a seal a meal vacume bagging system and keep the items frozen until needed. Works great on spices, herbs and everything else. safe cruising Pegasus44

[lorenzo b]

If you like to cook and use a lot of spices, check out SF Herb and Spice Co. For the price of one of those stale little jars from a market, they will mail you a pound of fresh.

[cabo_sailor]

I recently bought a bunch if spice jars from the Spice Barn Spice Jars and Labels I bought mostly the one oz plastic for those that I use but not in great quantity such as allspice berries. I also bought some of the larger plastic containers, about the size of the supermarket spice jars for other stuff such as dry mustard, various chili powders etc. About once a year I replace all the spices with fresh due to degradation under heat, and such.

Rich

Edit: I buy most of my spices online from the Spice House due to better quality and price than the supermarket