Spice Up Your Spice Rack

Spice Rack Or Cabinet

A Cluttered Mess?

Is your spice rack or spice cabinet working for you? Here I will explore how you can simplify your supply of spices and free up valuable real estate in your cabinet or on your spice rack.

Whether you enjoy cooking or not, most of us have an abundance of spices within our reach. When you need a specific spice, you expect it to be where you can find it. It can be frustrating to discover that you are out of a spice you were sure you had.

Have you purchased a spice simply because you could not remember if you already had it at home? I have, and you know spices are not cheap. So here are my suggestions for organizing your spices in a way that saves you time, money and space.

I love the uniformity of matching clear canisters for spices. This one is great because you have air tight caps and you can easily see the spice inside as well as being label friendly. They are large enough that you are not constantly refilling.

These are especially great if you use the Seville Classics 3-Tier Expandable Bamboo Spice Rack Organizer

The same concept of a spice rack inside of your spice cabinet.

The concept is simple. I find myself buying large canisters of spices to save money. The draw back is they take up too much space in the cabinet. I like to use a reasonably sized jar for each one and store away the larger container for future refills.

If you do not have alternative storage space for these larger spice containers, try this idea: Empty your larger spice containers into labeled (I like quart size) zip lock style baggies. These can easily be stored standing up in a decorative basket for quick refills.

I have 41 different spices. Yes, I counted them. When you consider how much space 41 large containers take up, you will see the practicality of freeing up that space.

Duplicate spices aggravate me so I consolidate mine.

Disclaimer: I know that spices have expiration dates and shelf life. I must confess that I never pay them any attention. Maybe I should, but if I have 3 jars of garlic powder, I will combine them into one zip lock bag. For you I recommend that you pay attention to the expiration dates.

I am not a gourmet cook so there are many spices that I have never used. If I have a “weird” spice that I only used a year ago, I will toss it.

Seasonal items for me include: poultry seasoning, sage, cloves, Christmas cookie sprinkles, etc… If they are seasonal, why keep them in with the other spices all year long. Label them “Seasonal Spices” and find an out of the way place, to store them.

For those seasoning “packets” that get buried under the clutter, try using an attractive basket or container and keep them all in one place.

Last but not least, carefully place your spices with the labels facing the front. Everything should be front and centered! This gives the space a fresh and appealing look. No more digging! You might actually be inspired to cook something fabulous!