"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 11/15/2013 12:46 AM, Polly Esther wrote:
>>
>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "sf" > wrote in message
>>> news >>>>
>>>> I keep far more "seasonings" in my refrigerator than the average
>>>> poster to RFC does, but for other everyone else - the lazy Susan idea
>>>> works very well for me in my cupboards, so I see no reason why it
>>>> wouldn't work in my refrigerator too.
>>>>
>>>> Put a lazy Susan in your refrigerator too!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> I did try that. Was nothing but a big waste of space. And there is
>>> no way I would refrigerate spices. They're not meant to be
>>> refrigerated!
>
> Says who, Julie? I freeze herbs and spices all the time. Lots of people
> do. Dried spices lose their 'kick' over time if stored at room temp in
> bottles or jars. Properly packaged, they retain their pungency with
> refrigeration or freezing.

I know we had this argument before. I know that fresh herbs can be
refrigerated (and should be) and frozen. And when you dehydrate your own
things, they say to refrigerate. At least that was the instructions that
came with my dehydrator. But if I were to put all of my herbs and spices in
the fridge, it would take up one whole shelf and probably then some. I have
two lazy Susans in the cupboard and an additional two tier really large one
on the counter. Granted there are some other things on there like vanilla
beans, extracts and oils, food colorings, dried vegetables, salt and pepper.

My concern with the fridge aside from lack of space would be that moisture.
I would think that would eventually get them, especially if one got put away
without the lid being fully on.

I do not usually have problems with stale seasonings. Yes, I did with the
Costco peppercorns and also the Costco parsley. I will still buy the
peppercorns there even if it means throwing some out. But I will just buy
smaller containers of parsley. They are easier to store.

I do go through everything every 2-3 years and replace or toss as needed.
Occasionally I buy something for a recipe then never use it again. And
since I bake very little now, I use little in the way of stuff like
cardamom, orange and lemon peel. I do still use a lot of cinnamon though.
I do try to buy small containers unless it is something that I use a lot of.
>
>> I keep many spices on the top shelf door of our refrigerator. Stuff I
>> hardly every use. Well. Stuff I frequently use. The totally dumbest
>> thing I note in 'decorator' kitchen design is keeping them above or
>> beside the stove top. Polly
>>
> I don't know what that means, Polly. Where you choose to store things in
> the kitchen is up to you. It doesn't have to be stored above or beside
> the stovetop.

I think she was saying that was a poor place to store them. My mom used to
keep her spice rack on top of the stove. The lids of the bottles got that
sticky, greasy, dusty coating that is difficult to clean off. And being
above the stove, the heat it emits causes them to degrade more quickly.