storing spices and culinary herbs in bulk

[tanyalynn]

I've never considered this before, but I'm starting to look online to buy spices and culinary herbs in large quantities, probably 1-pound at a time.

I'm thinking I can preserve the freshness pretty well if I bag or double bag, maybe with some dessicant that doesn't touch the herbs/spices (Houston--humidity is a concern) and then I freeze them. Maybe humidity isn't an issue in the freezer, I'm not sure how that works.

Does that sound like a reasonable plan, or am I missing something?

I was surprised when I looked at the cost of bulk herbs vs the little jars at the grocery store.

Any BTDT advice? TIA.

[oiseau]

You might want to try to find a store locally that sells bulk herbs and spices. We have a lot of health food stores that do this. You still get the low price, but you don't have to buy so much at once (I can't even imagine how much a pound of, say, dill is!). I just buy about 1/2 a cup of whatever I need and store it in the small zipper bags they have at the store or in old spice jars I have laying around. I keep some of them in the freezer (especially chili powder and cumin) and they're fine.

[ollyoxenfree]

I do the same - buy a small amount (about 1/4 cup or less, depending on the herb or spice) from a bulk food store. I avoid the little jars from major brand name companies- you're paying for the jar and the label, and there is no guarantee that the contents are fresh. The exceptions are specialty items that I have trouble finding in the bulk store.

[DashsMama]

Another vote for finding a local store with a good bulk aisle. If the turnover is good the herbs will be nice and fresh anytime you want them, you will be able to try new things without having to pay for a large quantity, and you won't have to worry about storage space.

[Arduinna]

I store my bulk herbs in glass canning jars. Works well for me.

[tanyalynn]

I'll check out the prices for bulk locally, I was under the impression that it was a lot more than I'm seeing at Mountain Rose Herbs--I buy other non-culinary herbs there anyway, so shipping isn't a big adder.

oiseau--it's funny you mentioned dill, because that was one I was excited about. I make pickles and I go through dill like crazy, and the cost really adds up! But at $8 for a pound of dill weed, I can make pickles til the cows come home!

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

I store my bulk herbs in glass canning jars. Works well for me.

That's a good idea. Jars I have plenty of.

Well, I checked my local bulk prices and they look to be 2-3x the price of Mountain Rose Herbs--I like their non-culinary herbs, hopefully I'll be pleased with their culinary herbs as well.

Thanks everyone!

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

Well, I checked my local bulk prices and they look to be 2-3x the price of Mountain Rose Herbs--I like their non-culinary herbs, hopefully I'll be pleased with their culinary herbs as well.

My main concern is that herbs lose flavor quickly once dried. And if they're ground, your spices lose flavor even quicker. Even stored in the freezer, they're not going to be as potent as when they're fresh unless you have a vacuum sealer to seal them with. I wouldn't buy large quantities of anything I didn't use in large quantities. For me that would be chile powder, garlic powder, cumin - for you that's obviously dill.

[425lisamarie]

well if you have a vaccum sealer you can do it. You really have to seal herbs/spices well to have them last a really long time

[deditus]

Tanya,
I buy bulk herbs & spices often - from my Frontier acct or MRH or Azure - and they store fine in the freezer in ziplocs.

[mamadelbosque]

I buy garlic by the pound on a very regular basis (we go through a pound in probably 2-3 months, tops). Once a bag is opened I keep it in the freezer. I also have parsley & oregano that I bought a pound each of, oh, probably 2+ yrs ago, and I'm finally starting to get kinda sorta low They've both been kept in my freezers with just twisty ties around the bags and they've kept peachy fine

[Smokering]

Hrmm. How well does freezing preserve freshness? Herbs that have lost their zing are worse than useless - like adding bits of dried grass into your cooking. And old spices can be contaminated with botulism. Anyone know how much impact freezing would have on flavour and safety? I wouldn't personally store herbs in bulk in glass jars - they let the light in, and they won't prevent flavour decay or bacteria. Unless you mean putting the jars in the freezer?

I prefer to buy mine in small quantities - whole if possible so I can grind then fresh (well, not fresh, but freshly-ground!). Even spices I use fairly often - mustard seeds, cumin and cinnamon - I only go through a little baggie every few months, so I don't feel like I'm always running out to get more.

[CookiePie]

I do buy large amount of the things I go through quickly from Frontier. Me & a friend tend to split them so it's just a 1/2 pound each. Maybe you could find a friend to split some with you?