Spice up your cooking and your pull out spice rack with these basic spices which will take your cooking from bland to brilliant. Whether you are a beginner or a master chef, you need to make sure to add these spices – from bay leaves to rosemary – to your shopping list.  If you would like to learn more about how easy and economical it is to install your own custom built pull out spice rack in an existing cabinet in your kitchen, contact DIY Shelfworks today.

Basic Spices Every Kitchen Should Have

Let’s face it, life is pretty dull without a little (or a lot) of spice. To help you add that much needed flavour to your food, here is a handy list of all the basic spices and seasonings that you and your spice rack should never be without.

Bay Leaves

Believe it or not, bay leaves are actual leaves from a bay tree. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a bay tree in your backyard then you can purchase them dried. Make sure that they have a rich green colour. Bay leaves can be added whole to your recipe and they give an aromatic, woodsy taste to soups, stews, and marinades. Bay leaves are popular in British and European cooking.

Tip: Rub the bay leaf before cooking with it to bring out its flavour and remove the leaf before serving.

Best Recipes with Bay Leaves: Seafood Creole, The Best Vegetarian Chili in the World

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is made by grinding up small, moderately hot, mostly red chili peppers. This type of seasoning is found in many bottled hot sauces and it is also used in Cajun and Indian cooking. Not only does this tasty pepper spice up your food, but it also has many benefits for your health.

Best Recipes with Cayenne Pepper: Shakshuka,  Sweet and Spicy Braised Cabbage

Chili Powder

Chili powder is made from a blend of dried chilies, cumin, coriander, and oregano. It adds pungency and flavour to your cooking. It is great in Mexican, Italian, and Southwestern dishes.

Best Recipes with Chili Powder: Mom’s Healthy Chicken Soup with Chili powder,  All American Chili

Ground Cinnamon

Cinnamon is such a versatile spice that it is used in both baking and savoury dishes. It’s a warm, aromatic spice which has a reddish brown colour and bittersweet flavour which is the perfect addition to breads and cakes. It also adds a lovely earthiness to stews, chilies and curries. Cinnamon is so widely used around the world and in so many types of dishes that it is hard to give it a style designation. It has been in use for so long that even the ancient Egyptians used it.

Best Recipes with Cinnamon: Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns,  Cinnamon Sweet Potato Slices

Ground Cumin

Ground cumin is a popular spice found in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking, especially in curries. It comes from the seed of a flowering plan that is part of the parsley family and it is usually ground up. Like cayenne pepper, cumin also has health benefits.

Best Cumin Recipes: Cumin Grilled Chicken Breasts,  Spaghetti with Garlic and Cumin

Curry Powder

Curry powder is a blend of up to 20 different spices and is a prominent ingredient in most Indian dishes. The main ingredients include coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Unless you have an Indian heritage you probably won’t have the know-how to blend your own curry powder. Thankfully you can buy it.

Best Curry Recipes: Chicken Curry,  Coconut Curry Cup of Noodles with Spiralized Butternut Squash Noodles

Dried Oregano

Oregano is actually a flowering member of the mint family. It is a robust herb that is often found in Mediterranean, Cajun, and South American recipes. It too has many great health benefits.

Best Dried Oregano Recipes: Meatballs with Fennel and Ricotta,  Yucatan Chicken Tacos

Dried Rosemary

You’ll find rosemary in many Mediterranean dishes. It is a woody perennial herb that smells like a combination of lemon and pine. It is often used to season meat. It also has many health benefits.

Best Rosemary Recipes: Rosemary Pork Roast, Butternut Squash Pizzas with Rosemary

Tips for Labeling Your Spices

1. If you have re-fillable containers for your spices, purchase wipe-off labels so that you can easily relabel them if you choose to use the container for a different spice.
2. If you like to see into your containers, use clear containers and label them with transparent tape and a permanent marker.
3. If you don’t like labels, use a permanent marker and write right on the container
4. Write on the tops of your spice bottles as demonstrated in the following video.

Benefits of Having a Pull Out Spice Rack

• Your small jars of spices will not get lost in the back of your cabinet.
• You won’t have to bend down and reach around in the farthest, darkest corner of your cupboard to see if you actually have a jar of oregano.
• You won’t buy yet another bottle of cinnamon when you already have two hidden in the back of your  spice cupboard.
• You won’t be taking up precious countertop space with an outdated spice rack that sits on your counter.
• Your special sauce won’t boil over as you search for the next spice that you need to add.

DIY Shelfworks Sliding Shelves Come With the Option of Having a Custom Built  Spice Rack

When you order pull out shelves from DIY, you can also have a custom built spice rack to fit perfectly inside and help keep your spices totally organized. It is also simple to remove to make cleaning a breeze.

Why Buy DIY Rolling Shelves

Rolling shelves are a great invention, but what sets DIY Shelfworks apart from the competition? Quality and Price. DIY Shelfworks sliding shelves are manufactured in Canada from the highest quality materials with the finest craftsmanship. Our Baltic Birch shelves are made from 9 ply Baltic birch with baked on manufacture finish lacquer to make them resistant to moisture and dryness. Their full-extension steel rails can support up to 100 lbs of weight fully extended. What’s more, our rolling shelves are priced much lower than our competitors’. Place your order now and start enjoying the convenience of DIY Shelfworks sliding shelves in your kitchen.