Your kitchen simply would not be complete without spices that enhance the flavors of your meals. The United States is the world's largest spice importer and consumer, and it's not uncommon to find a wide array of unique spices in the average American home. Some of these spices are quite expensive, with saffron costing an average of $2,000 per pound. It's uneconomical and impractical to toss your spices out when moving from home to home. Learn how to prepare and pack for a move.

Sort through Spices Ahead of Time and Put Aside the Ones You Use the Most

If you love to eat and cook, chances are you'll have hundreds of different spices in your kitchen cupboards. Packing all of these spices can take a long time. To prevent feeling overwhelmed, sort through all of your spices a little by little ahead of time and put aside the ones you use the most. You can start to pack the spices that are only used in occasion. Just make sure you steer clear from recipes that need them.

If you have a lot of one spice, you don't have to set aside the whole jar or container. Instead, you may want to set aside a small amount that will last for several days prior to and after the move. Portion it out based on what you usually need each day.

Wrap Bottles with Bubble Wrap or Packing Paper

Don't expect the professional movers to handle your spices with care. If there are a lot of boxes that need to be loaded and unloaded, some movers may not be as careful as you'd like. If you don't want to open up a box only to find the spices everywhere, make sure you wrap the bottled several times with bubble wrap or packing paper. Fill up any excess space present with foam peanuts, which will absorb the pressure of any impact.

Try to place the bottles and jars standing upright, and if possible store your spices in sealed plastic containers rather than corrugated cardboard boxes. Corrugated cardboard boxes are more likely to become damaged during a move whereas sealed plastic containers tend to be more rigid and offer more protection.

Absorb Excess Moisture by Adding in Beans

Once the spices have been packed and sealed into the right containers and boxes, they are susceptible to moisture. Moisture accumulation within the bottles and containers can cause your spices to clump together making it much more difficult to use in the future. You might have to chip away at the clumps in hopes of being able to separate them. Otherwise, you might have to end up tossing the whole spice jar in the trash.

The trick to preventing moisture from getting into the containers and getting absorbed by the spices is to add a handful of dried beans. The dried beans will do a great job at absorbing and retaining excess moisture. Some people swear by rice; however, if you are using a shaker container, the rice may be small enough to fit through the shaker. The beans, on the other hand, won't be able to.

Also, make sure you store the containers and boxes filled with spices in a cool and dry environment. It really will make a huge difference in preventing the spices from clumping up.

Conclusion

Most spices have a relatively long shelf life. Make sure the spices last by taking the steps to properly pack them during a move. If you want to save some time, consider labeling the boxes with the type of spices stored inside. This way, you can prioritize which boxes and containers to unpack first. Contact local movers for more advice.