How do you store bulk spices?

[rburganmckinley]

I just made my first trip to a penzeys. Wow, when I got home (picked up a catalog when I was there) and putting away my finds I compared some prices from the catalog to my normal grocery store price tags. Penzey's is so much cheaper! What a happy find! My question is this, I have a couple things I bought in the bulk bags, how do you store these? In a dark cupboard? Or in the freezer?

[Hammster]

Depending on how quickly you will use them up, inside the cupboard is fine. Otherwise you can freeze part and leave part in the cupboard for use. Then bring the frozen part out later. Most bulk spices last a long time in the cupboard as long as they are in tightly sealed containers so you may not need to freeze them at all. Light and heat are the biggest enemies to the spices so in a cabinet is a good storage place. It's best to get them out of the bags and into a good sealing container like from Rubbermaid or Tupperware or even those metal tins.
Hope this helps.

[VictoriaL]

I go to Penzeys four or five times a year and stock up. When I arrive home, I sort the bulk bags into freezer bags and freeze until I need to refill the jars in my (cool, dark)cupboard.

I have the spices in my freezer divided into three jumbo freezer bags according to what type they are (dried herb leaves, ground spices, whole spices) to make a certain type easier to locate.

[rburganmckinley]

Thanks for the advice!