Can you ever imagine a meal without any spice? Well, it’s definitely not a meal. Spices form some of the basics and must-have ingredients for every meal, sauces, salads, and even baked treats. In fact, it can be one of the secret ingredients. This emphasises the before some necessary little glass jars of spices in your kitchen.
This article informs you of some of the “must-have” spices you should stock in your kitchen. These spices are unique in their flavour and essence, adding a unique flavour to your meals.
These are some of the basic spices that you need even if you are not a professional chef.
13 “Must Have” Little Glass Jars of Spices
1. Basil
Basil is an essential herb mostly used in Italian dishes, such as pasta, sauces, salads, and pesto. It can be fresh or dried and stored in square glass jars with lids, which help retain its flavour.
2. Garlic (Fresh or Ground)
Garlic is one of those spices that is added to almost every meal from stew, soups, and roasted dishes, to stir-fries, just name it. You can have the garlic cloves stored in a square spice glass jar or have it grounded in your jars, ready for use. The glass jar helps preserve its aroma and prevents it from clumping due to moisture.
3. Chili Powder
Chilli powder is widely used in Indian, Asian, and Mexican dishes. It adds a bit of heat to your dishes. Storing it in small glass jars ensures it remains hot and ready for use.
4. Parsley
Beyond just garnishing, Parsley enhances flavours in sauces, soups, stews, and salads with its mild, slightly peppery taste. You can have dried parsley stored in clear square glass spice jars to make it easier to access and sprinkle over any dish.
5. Thyme
Thyme is also one of those essential spices you should have at call and beckon in your pantry. It is mostly used in meats, roasted vegetables, stews, soups, and other meals. Keep them in clear glass jars with lids to preserve their aroma, and prevent contact with moisture.
6. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Red pepper flakes have a distinct or higher heat level compared to other peppers. You can sprinkle a bit of it in your stir-fries, dishes, pizzas, and pasta. Have them stored in clear little glass jars with lids to preserve the heat, have them neatly organised and prevent moisture contact.
7. Paprika
Paprika brings a mild, smoky sweetness to dishes. Whether you prefer sweet, smoked, or hot paprika, storing it in square jars maintains its deep red colour and rich aroma, perfect for seasoning meats, soups, and stews.
8. Rosemary
Rose is another kitchen staple which is often added to potatoes, meats, bread, and other dishes. Store them in transparent glass jars to maintain their flavour for a longer period.
9. Cinnamon (Sticks or Ground)
Cinnamon with its sweet and savory flavour is used for baking, beverages and curries. You can store them in sticks or grounded in glass storage jars with lids to preserve them for a longer period and have them at your disposal when in need.
10. Nutmeg (Whole or Ground)
Whether whole or ground, you must have nutmeg stored in square glass spice jars in your pantry to retain its rich aroma. It is mostly used for sauces, desserts, dishes, and even drinks.
11. Cloves (Whole or Ground)
Cloves are an essential spice added to curries, gingerbread cookies, and pickling spice among other dishes and beverages. Keeping either whole or ground cloves in little glass jars ensures they stay flavourful for longer.
12. Red Pepper (Ground)
Ground red pepper is also known as cayenne pepper. It is often added to soups, stews, roasted meats and marinades to add subtle heat and flavour. Keeping it in square glass spice jars with lids prevents exposure to air and moisture.
13. Ginger
Ground ginger is an all-time staple for different kinds of cooking. It is one of the spices with a wide range of uses from dishes to baked treats, stir-fries, and beverages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best jar to store spices in?
The best jars for storing spices are square glass spice jars or glass jars with lids. This is because glass is non-porous, and won’t absorb flavours or odours while keeping these spices fresh for longer.
How many spice jars should I have?
The number of glass spice jars you should have depends on the number of different spices you intend to have but as a rule of thumb, you should have at least 10–15 essential spice jars.