Many sci-fi fans are familiar with the phrase “the spice must flow” — a quote from the classic 1984 film Dune. But in the kitchen, spices sometimes don’t flow as smoothly as you’d hope. Spices and seasonings can clump up inside the jar, and you might end up having to vigorously shake or even hit…
Just Do the Twist
When you open up a spice jar, you’ll find a thin, perforated cover. This little piece of plastic, known as a sifter, is designed to give you better control when seasoning your food. With the jar held upside down over your food, pinch the sides of the sifter between your thumb and forefinger, and twist the jar back and forth. The spice will sprinkle out effortlessly and evenly, which reduces mess and waste. When you’re done, release your grip and the spice will stop flowing.
A visual explanation always helps, so check out this Instagram reel from Aaron Turk(@fatsdabarber), who first brought this hack to our attention. Much like Turk, you may be left wondering why you didn’t know about this trick sooner.
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The Two-Jar Trick
YouTube food scientist Jessica Gavin offered up another tip for those stubborn spices. This hack works best with glass spice bottles, especially those that have a textured bottom, as the ridges help create friction. For this, you’ll need two spice jars. First, turn the stubborn spice jar upside down. Then hold the other spice jar right side up and rub the bottoms of the two jars together. The vibration from the ridges rubbing against each other will travel through the glass, helping to dislodge any clumps. The spices should now flow freely from the jar.
