How to store masala powder for a long time?

Indian cuisine is famous for the wide range of spices used in it. Its flavors and aroma have been recognized since ancient times. The use of basic masalas such as turmeric, clove is as old as a human civilization because they have medicinal value. India is blessed to have the right environment and the land to cultivate a variety of spices and export it worldwide. Even a simple dish that we eat daily has the basic masalas like salt, chili powder, turmeric in it.

Indian spices include turmeric, coriander, garam masala, cinnamon, cumin, fenugreek, asafoetida, bay leaf powder, black pepper, mustard seeds, etc. When these spices are finely powdered they are called masalas in India. Either they are used individually or a few of the masalas are used as a mixture. Earlier, our ancestors used fresh spices from the fields, made them a powder, and use them in the food every time they had to cook which is the best thing ever as it used to be organic from the home gardens hence no preservatives. Even today there are people in villages who follow the same thing hence their health is well-maintained and their immunity is strong but for the people in metro-cities, it becomes a little time consuming hence a majority of them prefer making the powder and store in the jars so it becomes easy.

Masalas are those magical ingredients that have to put in the right amount as a little less, or a little more might ruin the entire recipe It is difficult to say for how many months exactly the masalas can be preserved because each masala is different depending on the texture, the way it was powdered, the container used, etc. Masalas don’t stay the same forever as they lose their fragrance, essence, quality if it is not stored properly but usually the whole spices stay longer when compared to the ground spices. It is always recommended to buy masalas in smaller quantities so that you can use them fresh but if you have too many people in the family buying them frequently might not be a good choice and there is no other option besides storing them. Also, it is always good to buy masalas that are packaged and not loose. Because loose masala powders are exposed to many external factors like dust, moisture, etc., hence it is not hygienic.

Below are some tips with which the masala powders can stay for a longer time.

1. Use the right container: Storing the masalas in the right container is the crucial step to preserve the aroma, quality and for a longer time. There are different kinds of jars available but it is always recommended to store them in glass/opaque jars. Although you might feel it fancy to store the multicolor boxes matching your kitchen décor you don’t want to struggle every day searching which masalas is kept in which box. So to make it easy, it is better to use air-tight opaque jars like glass, metal, mason jars.
2. Choose an ideal place to store: The place where you store the masalas is also very important as the main aim is to preserve them for longer we don’t want them to get spoiled because so easily wasting all our time and energy. The best place to store the masalas is in the cool, dark place where neither it is exposed to direct sunlight nor moisture. Make sure the shelf you are storing the masalas on is not directly above the stove because again the steam and moisture might affect the quality of masalas.
3. Avoid using wet spoons: The slightest mistake of using the wet spoons to take the masalas from the box or to measure might spoil the entire quantity. When we say it must not be exposed to moisture we mean even the droplet of the wet spoon. So, even if you are in hurry make sure to use a dry spoon, or if the spoon is washed wipe it with a dry cloth and then use it because just a few seconds of ignorance might cost you a lot.
4. Store it in the refrigerator: As a refrigerator is dark and cool it is also considered to be an ideal place to store the masalas hence there is no problem in freezing it. If you have bought the masalas in larger quantities it is better to store them in the fridge, at the same time if you want to use the masalas on daily basis avoid freezing them as they will get exposed to air and moisture continuously which might lead to spoilage
5. Know when to dispose of: As important it is to know about the storage of masalas it is also important to know when to dispose of them. To do this you can have a quick fragrance test. If you feel the fragrance is not the same as it was when you purchased it, it is time to empty the container and refill it with new masala powder as it will not add flavor to your dish hence it is always better to store it in small quantities and refill when required.