Full-bodied Flavor

By Kris Wetherbee
Published on October 1, 2002
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Herbs bring a whole new dimension of flavor to foods. And when it comes to convenience, dried herbs are one of the handiest staple ingredients found in kitchens today. Properly dried, herbs are always at hand, take little storage space, and are available at any time of year. They also pack loads of flavor and can be used in a pinch to enliven any dish. The amount of flavor they deliver depends on how you store them and use them.

Unlike oils and whole-grain products that can go rancid, most herbs and spices rarely go bad, but their flavor weakens over time as essential oils fade away–a fact I discovered more than twenty years ago when I inherited an ensemble of seldom-used seasonings from an aunt. With great excitement, I added each herb to different foods, a little at first and then a lot, only to taste nothing but great disappointment. The seasonings had lost their flavor. Deeming them relics, I tossed them out and started fresh with a new batch of dried herbs. That’s when I learned how much herbs enhance food.

Flavor savers

Herb essences quickly degrade, depending upon how and where an herb is stored and the way it is used during cooking. An herb’s flavor will linger longer when kept away from enemy elements such as heat, light, air, and moisture. Don’t store herbs and spices in a decorative rack on the counter close to a sunny window, by the kitchen sink, or near a stove. In these conditions, their potency will simply lack staying power.

Zip-type bags and plastic containers may be fine for storing some foods, but they’re not the best type of container for storing dried herbs. (Plastic is air-permeable and can sometimes transfer off-odors to foods.) Instead, choose a glass container with an airtight lid. Canning jars with rubber seals or other glass or ceramic jars are great. You can usually find a wide assortment at kitchen centers or specialty stores of decorative jars ideally suited for storing small amounts of herbs and spices. Recycled glass mayonnaise, mustard, and peanut butter jars also work well. For smaller amounts, try using baby food jars. Select ceramic jars or darkened glass when storing dried herbs on the counter to protect against light deterioration.

The ideal place to store dried herbs is in a cool, dark, dry area such as a cupboard or drawer. Keep herbs away from heat or humidity sources such as a stove, microwave, sink, or dishwasher, and avoid exposing dried herbs to light–though for short-term storage you may make exceptions. Because I do a lot of baking, I display frequently used herbs and spices in clear glass jars on the counter by my bake center. This niche of the kitchen doesn’t receive any direct sunlight and the spices are generally used within a few months. The rest of my seasonings are stored in wire racks located on the inside of the bottom cupboard doors–not in upper cupboards and topmost shelves, to where heat rises.

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