welcome home !! this video log will hint on how to purchase, store, use & organise groceries.. groceries highly depend on user's food type & family members in the house so, i will be showing, how i organise my groceries (tamil family, with 3-4 members) you can customise & change my method according to ur lifestyle i have this cupboard beside my gas stove under this, there are hooks for hanging vessels handlers, cloth,scissors etc it's a small cupboard that holds only one box (in depth) this type of box (oblong shape) occupies less space, but holds 1 kg of things
it comes with a spoon inside it this suits my cupboard. similar way u can get something that occupies less space, but more volume totally 14 boxes so, it will be helpful if u get 2 dozens of 1 kg-volume boxes, any shape, according to ur cupboard i keep all groceries ,that i use in everyday cooking, in these boxes, near the stove i use spoons for powders, but for dal & other solid ingredients, i don't keep spoons inside i store.. sugar coffee powder
idly powder refer "idly podi" recipe in my channel i prepare this only when the old powder is finished even if i prepare earlier, i fill it only after i wash the box, after it becomes empty i fill empty boxes, everytime, only after washing & drying it this is jaggery i use jaggery for many savoury & sweet recipes it has more iron content refer "sambar" playlist for different types of sambar in my channel
i buy1/2 kg jaggery & break down to smaller pieces & store these are salt, sugar, tamarind & dry red chillies refer "tamarind" video, to know how to buy,store & use tamarind, in my channel i use both powder salt & rock salt rock salt is preferable, health-wise this is roasted gram urad/ulund dal/split black gram dal split black gram dal/tuvar dal methi seeds/fenugreek seeds
refer "methi seeds | health tip" in my channel i get 1 kg methi seeds refer "idly dosa batter" in my channel refer "quick dosa batter" video in my channel i use less ulund dal & add methi/fenugreek seeds for batter.. the idlies will be soft & dosas will be more crispy if we add more methi/fenugreek seeds i got good feedback from my viewers on this idea :) refer "methi sambar" video in my channel this is bay leaf
this wont fit in masala box refer "masala box organising" ; "oil organising tips" in my channel this is tea powder i mix 2 tea powders refer "tea masala powder" video in my channel this is moong dal/split green dal refer "tiffin (moong dal) sambar" ; "snake guard poriyal"; "moong dal kheer" videos in my channel i use tuvar (red) dal & moong (green) dal equally in my cooking this is white rava/sooji rava
i dry roast both sooji rava & moong dal once i purchase them from stores, how much ever quantity it is once it cools down, i store it in these containers this method will make it last for more time without pests & also u no need to dry roast it every time u need it for a dish this is coriander seeds powder/ dhaniya powder 1 kg dry roasted, powdered coriander seeds this is dry red chilly powder 1 kg dry roasted, powdered dry red chilly it lasts for a year
refer "tips to make masala powders"; "masala box organising" videos in my channel i fill these powders in masala box & store excess in these containers; refill masala box from this keep a dry spoon separately for all powders inside the box these powders will last for 1 year; so we must handle it using dry hands refer "oil organising tips" in my channel when we get oil in packets, we store it in an oil pourer, near the stove.. the extra oil , i will store it in a closed tight box like this, to avoid spillage & spoiling this is already opened packet even if the box falls down, oil inside wont go to waste ;-)
there is another big cupboard in that, there are two 25-kg rice drums one filled with idly rice & another plain rice, with measuring cups inside it refer "kitchen measurement tips" video in my channel i buy rice for a year u can buy & store according to number of members i also store a tray like this.. other groceries will be stored in this tray if u store each separately in a box, it will consume more space
it will be tough to maintain & u dont need to buy that many boxes this tray is just rs.150 get a strong one & shape & size according to ur cupboard size the cupboard is closed one, so i got an open tray i have a closed tray as well if open cupboard, go for closed trays like this.. if there are more items, i use both trays i keep extra oil packets, salt these both will be used more, so i buy & store extra
after the salt in the oblong box is emptied, i wash, dry it & then refill it i follow this for all items.. items, that are in loose packets, will be closed with rubber bands, as shown buy a pack of rubber bands if we fold & keep these packs, it may spill i also buy soya balls, which is healthy, also a good substitute when u dont have any veggies @ home refer "soya fry"; "soya masala fry" recipes in my channel kids love it in their lunch box & is healthy, quick & easy to make as well u can use this in veg-biriyani : refer "vegetable biriyani" in my channel
this is cinnamon refer "cinnamon hot water" video in my channel cinnamon hot water helps in in weight reduction this is coriander seeds i use this daily in "drumstick leaf soup" : refer my channel i buy sachets of milk drink powder cos, we drink different flavours, so we dont buy huge bottles of it if we buy bottles, it may become lumps soon, if we dont handle it dry this is horse gram
this is green dal i dont roast these, like sooji rava, after buying them.. if we roast, it wont sprout there are different varieties of these dal , available chickpea,green gram dal,cow pea beans, rajma,etc i buy any 4 varieties for 1 month then i go for different varieties next month i also buy other fresh beans like butter beans, lima beans,green peas during season time at that time i buy less of other varieties
refer "peas paneer pepper curry"; "vegetable cutlet"; "veg white kuruma" in my channel refer "mix veg red gravy"; "rice flakes upma"; "quick green peas masala" in my channel if u buy more than the shown quantity, then store it in freezer, to avoid pest invasion u can store it in these covers, tied up or in containers dont get more of these items, get few varieties in limited quantities get different varieties each time check out "raw mochaikai poriyal"; "pooja channal"; "green dal lunch"; "channa gravy" recipes in my channel in this sliding cupboard.. i store 3 masala boxes
check "masala box organising"; "tips to make masala powders" videos in my channel all these items, i use regularly, so i've kept it in this tray nearby the stove there are 12 mini boxes (rs.10, each), tray - rs.30 this is garam masala refer "garam masala" recipe in my channel i prepared this in a small mixie jar, that holds in this container this quantity lasts for 2 months i use this very less refer "tips to make masala powder" video in my channel, to know how to buy ingredients & recipes
this is pepper powder-home made refer "pepper chicken"; "chicken tava fry"; "salem mutton chukka" recipes in my channel this is herbal powder check out "herbal gravy"; "herbal rasam" recipes in gowri samayalarai this is sun-dried vegetables (wonder berry) check out "raw milagu thakkali kulambu"; "vatha kulambu" recipes in gowri samyalarai there are different varieties of sun-dried vegetables. i get one variety @ a time chickpea, cluster beans etc are available in this dried form stick labels on each box & write down the name for easy identification
this is omam/oregano/ajwain omam-hot water helps during indigestion refer "hot water for weight loss" tips in gowri samayalarai this is cinnamon powder. dry roasted & powdered helps in weight loss. check "cinnamon | health | beauty | tips" in my channel this is baking powder this is palm sugar i use this in poppy seeds milk, that gives good sleep check out "poppy seeds milk" recipe in gowri samayalarai
this is dry ginger powder this is curry masala powder it's different from garam masala. refer "curry masala powder" recipe in my channel i prepare less amount. usage is very less this is rasam powder. check "rasam powder" recipe in my channel i prepare less amount of this. after filling it in masala box, the remaining, i have stored in this box it's better to prepare less of it, cos the aroma of it vanishes quickly, on long storage i prepare in small mixie jar. it lasts for 2-3 months this is nutmeg
i have put separate spoons inside all these boxes it dint come with spoons when i bought it. so i use the plastic ice-cream spoons this avoids handling with wet hands, so all these powders remain fresh till exhaustion i store these 4 big boxes in the big cupboard this has wheat flour i brought whole wheat,sun dried & grind it in machine i usually get 3-4 kg of wheat & grind it. lasts for 2 months check out "chapathi dough" video in gowri samayalarai i grind it finely in machine, let it cool down, then store it in a closed container with a spoon inside it
if there is pest problem, then store it in zip lock covers in freezer check out "wheat dosa" recipe in gowri samayalarai this has tamarind i buy (new)tamarind during march/april for 4-5 member family, 2 1/2 kg tamarind will do, for a year i buy, separate & keep in sunlight for 2 hours then mix with 2 handfull of rock salt & store it in a plastic container. it will be good for 1 year refer "tamarind" video in my channel, to know how to buy, store & use tamarind don't store tamarind, salt in silver container. cos the moisture in it will react with silver
store them in plastic container or non-metal containers if u buy small quantity, say 1/4 kg, u dont need sun dry/ mix with salt just store them in a plastic container this has 1 kg samabr powder i use this for all sambars & all veg-gravies check out "sambar"; "side dish for idly dosa"; "lunch gravy" playlists in gowri samayalarai check out "samabr powder" recipe in my channel this has 1 kg chicken | mutton kulambu powder i use this for non-veg recipes & few veg masala recipes
refer "potato gravy"; "cauliflower gravy"; "egg gravy"; "mushroom gravy" recipes in my channel refer "chicken & mutton kulambu powder" recipe in gowri samayalarai i grind it, let it cool down & store it in a dry air tight container with a spoon i refill this, when the powder is emptied in the masala box the aroma & freshness goes off quickly, so i store little in masala box & rest i store in air tight container like this, which will opened very rarely u have to dry roast all the ingredients well & dry it in sunlight after grinding it, u must let it cool down & then close it handle with dry hands or else it will perish soon
this will last for a year, give or take a few months i prepare this only when the powder completely runs out i mostly plan to buy in march/april of every year.. ..cos that's when the ingredients will be fresh,new & cost will be low also it's summer in india during march, so u can dry these ingredients in sun light if u fear pest invasion, then u can put it in zip lock covers & store in freezer there are different sizes of zip lock covers. buy accordingly after the powder cools down, u can pack in 1/4 kg covers in fridge/freezer & take one pack out & use it dont pack when the powder is hot
use rubber bands for half filled covers, so that air doesnt get inside for monthly purchase/grocery list.. i check the items' level in these transparent boxes i buy those items which are very less i note down all the items which are very less & prepare a list, every month when i go for grocery shopping biriyani rice, mustard seeds, urad dal, cinnamon, cloves will all be checked for refill before going for grocery shopping all these items are available in packs of 5g,10g,50g,100g etc i buy those items in a small quantity, that holds in the masala boxes i showed there are also other items like wheat rava,vermicelli,spaghetti,noodles,flat rice etc..
all different grocery that we usually use every month should be checked every month for refill & should be bought during shopping papad, asafoetida also will be checked for refill if any powder is noted for refill, then the ingredients needed for those powders should be noted down & purchased it will be easy if u note down missing ingredients & prepare a list before purchase it avoids repetition of ingredients or missing out ingredients after shopping but these days, all ingredients are available in all stores/online so dont toil too much to prepare the list :) these items, masala box, oil tray & the small tray i showed, will be taken for daily cooking.. all extra groceries will be stored in open/closed trays & boxes in the big cupboard
these are yealry replenishing items-sambar powder, chicken kulambu powder,rice,tamarind items like dry fruits, basmati rice, biriyani rice, gram flour, corn flour, all-purpose flour... ..will be stored in fridge in containers or closed packs refer "fridge organising" video in gowri samayalarai as told earlier, u can also store powders, pulses & other grocery items in fridge/freezer since i handle with care, i store these out organising things around, will make cooking interesting & innovative to get rid off ants, pests... i use pest control pencils & marks in all slabs in the cupboards
or, u can take all out, wipe slabs clean & spray pest control sprays, keep the cupboard open for 1 hour.. ..then stack it with all these boxes i use pencil for pest control in closed cupboards for more water prone areas, like under kitchen sink, near dustbin.. i use pest control sprays check "house keeping essentials" video in gowri samayalarai hope this video log was useful :) customise this according to your lifestyle try, share & subscribe to gowri samayalarai for more such interesting tips & recipes