Organizing spices

[MrsPete]

I've had it with my spice cabinet! I have a small cabinet (above my kitchen desk), which should be ample space . . . but isn't because of my disorganization. I have two double-decker lazy susans in the cabinet to hold spices. It isn't working for me.

These are my problems:

- Too many jars, many of them duplicates -- because I can't tell what I have, I buy more --okay, that problem's easy to solve. I won't fuss about that one any more.
- I love to buy spices in bulk at the health food store (the quality & the low cost!), but sometimes the spice is too much to fit into a jar I already have, so I end up with a bunch of baggies shoved to the back of the cabinet.
- I have glass jars, large plastic shakers, plastic tubs, metal tins (do they still make metal tins?). And with so many shapes, there's wasted space between them.
- No organization; At one point they were loosely alphabetized, but that's fallen by the wayside.
- I can't read the labels for the spices in the middle of the lazy susans.
- I prefer CLEAR containers so I can see at a glance how much spice I have left.
- I make some homemade spice mixes, and they're just rattling around in whatever Tupperware I can find.



As with most other things in my life, I don't mind paying to get what I want . . . but I want to be sure it's going to serve me well -- I don't want to buy something cheap today, then want something else next year.

So, how do you organize your spices?​

I was considering those round metal spice tins from Bed, Bath & Beyond, but they seem too small. And these seem to be best for keeping on a refrigerator (because they're magnetic on the backside), but I want things hidden away in a cabinet -- I have enough clutter.

I'm thinking about buying this system: http://www.tablefare.com/ If anyone has this, I'd love feedback. Because of my preference for clear containers, I don't think I like the metal things that hold on the nameplates. But that's easy enough: I can make stick-on labels and discard the metal nameplates. I like that it can fit in my cabinet now, and for my next house (which we're building), I think I'm going to have a spice DRAWER (I'm very short and have trouble reaching all but the lowest shelves). This system would transfer to a drawer just fine.

Any great ideas?​

 

[Lanshark]

Got the same issue. I'll be watching

 

[lizabu]

I love, love love these kinds of magnetic tins. You can put up a special rack on the wall if you have alot or you can just stick them to the fridge if you have only a few http://www.custommagneticspicerack.com/wallspicerack

 

[justjulie]

I have this one (hopefully the link worked) and take an empty container to the bulk store for measuring so I make sure I never buy too much ...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...BCanister%2BRack%2Bwith%2BEasel.jsp?locale=en

 

[Grimley]

I have a big three-tier lazy susan in a corner cabinet. Bottom shelf is spices organized loosely by what I use together. So all the different peppers are together, baking spices together, garlic, onion, parsley basil, oregano together. I've had a much easier time staying organized and being able to find and keep track of thing using this system.

Middle shelf has baking soda & powder, chocolate squares, extracts - more of the baking stuff that would also be used together.

I tried buying in bulk years ago and it doesn't work for me. IMO spices and dried herbs lose their "flavor" if they're stored too long.

 

[DisneyCher]

I have about a dozen or so of my more "popular" spices in magnetic tins on the side of the fridge, near my cooking space. I haven't labeled them b/c I know what is in them, but the lids are clear, and small labels could be made and attached to them if desired. I have a vintage wooden 1950's spice cabinet on the wall (as much for decorative purposes as for storage) for the spices I use less often, as well as extracts, food coloring, etc.

 

[golfgal]

Clean out a drawer, put dividers in as needed and lay your spices in there. It is MUCH easier to find. If you need to take utensils out of the drawer or whatever, put those in a Rubbermaid tote in the cabinet where your spices are now.

My mom's old house had drop down spice racks that fit under the cabinets. Her's was custom made by the previous owner but it was similar to this:

 

[Jeafl]

I love, love love these kinds of magnetic tins. You can put up a special rack on the wall if you have alot or you can just stick them to the fridge if you have only a few http://www.custommagneticspicerack.com/wallspicerack

That does look really cool. but I don't have any wall space in my kitchen. I have about a bajillion cabinets, but the only wall space I have is between the upper and lower cabinets.

OP, I have the same problems you do. Right now I have all my spices in a large lazy susan-type cabinet. I am forever buying duplicates because I can't find what I need easily and it is quicker to just buy another one. I probably have 125-150 jars and bottles of stuff in there. I am very interested in seeing what everyone else comes up with for this problem. Most spice organizers have maybe 12-15 slots, but I have WAY more than that to organize. There has to be a good solution for this.

 

[MrsPete]

I love, love love these kinds of magnetic tins. You can put up a special rack on the wall if you have alot or you can just stick them to the fridge if you have only a few http://www.custommagneticspicerack.com/wallspicerack

I haven't seen this before, but I like it. The tins are larger than the round ones from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I read on a review site (not for this product, but for another) that salt-based spices can "rust shut" a metal tin -- maybe I can find more about this on their website. I'm curious about that. And although I like the look of this, I don't know where I could put it in my house; I could put it in the pantry, but that'd be a bit unhandy. The cost is about the same as the TableFare system I was considering.

I have this one (hopefully the link worked) and take an empty container to the bulk store for measuring so I make sure I never buy too much ...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...BCanister%2BRack%2Bwith%2BEasel.jsp?locale=en

This seems to be the same one that they have at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
LOVE the idea of taking an empty container to the health food store. A visual reminder of how much I should buy.

I have a big three-tier lazy susan in a corner cabinet. Bottom shelf is spices organized loosely by what I use together. So all the different peppers are together, baking spices together, garlic, onion, parsley basil, oregano together. I've had a much easier time staying organized and being able to find and keep track of thing using this system.

Middle shelf has baking soda & powder, chocolate squares, extracts - more of the baking stuff that would also be used together.

I tried buying in bulk years ago and it doesn't work for me. IMO spices and dried herbs lose their "flavor" if they're stored too long.

Yeah, I didn't say it, but I was hoping that by consolidating the spices into a smaller space, I might be able to get baking soda (and similar) into the cabinet too. Right now I keep those in my walk-in pantry, which is -- as I said a moment ago -- unhandy. The pantry's great for canned goods, but for spices . . . not so good.

I don't know how other stores do it, but when I say "buy in bulk", I mean I have the ability to measure them out myself. If I wanted, I could buy just 1 Tbsp of paprika -- I don't have pounds of stuff sitting around getting old. I love it because the quality is so good and because the price is so low -- for example, something common like Cumin or Thyme might cost $4-6 at the grocery store; the same amount at the health food store is .40-50.

On the negative side, the store where I like to shop is more than an hour away from my house, and I don't go that direction often. When I know I'm going to that area, I try to make a list and stock up -- that's another reason I want to get organized with something clear, so I won't miss a spice that I need to buy. And another negative: It takes time to scoop out the spice, label the bag. It's not a fast-shopping store, but I do enjoy it.

THANKS, All, for the help! Keep it coming!

 

[golfgal]

Another thought--get all of the spices into the "same" container. Since you buy in bulk, put everything in baggies. You can buy Ziplock and other bags that have a place where you can write on the bag with a Sharpie, etc. Organize the in your rubbermaid containers (alphabetically maybe). You could even use 3 ring binder dividers if needed to organize. That will make it a lot easier. Maybe hang some measuring spoons on the Rubbermaid thing so you have easy access to those for scooping them out??

 

[MrsPete]

Clean out a drawer, put dividers in as needed and lay your spices in there. It is MUCH easier to find. If you need to take utensils out of the drawer or whatever, put those in a Rubbermaid tote in the cabinet where your spices are now.

I like the idea of having spices in a drawer, but I am happy with my current drawer-use and don't really want to change anything there. Plus my current drawers are deep, which would be space-wasteful for spices.

It occurs to me that I could put the spices into Rubbermaid totes in the cabinet -- Italian spices here, baking items there.

I probably have 125-150 jars and bottles of stuff in there. I am very interested in seeing what everyone else comes up with for this problem. Most spice organizers have maybe 12-15 slots, but I have WAY more than that to organize. There has to be a good solution for this.

Yeah, I wonder who has a dozen spice jars and feels the need to organize them. Whatever jars or tins I choose, I'll need a lot of them.

 

[lizabu]

Since you have so many it may be time to check and see how old they are. Dried herbs are good for 1-3 years and ground spices are good for 2-3 years
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/101417

 

[MrsPete]

Another thought--get all of the spices into the "same" container. Since you buy in bulk, put everything in baggies. You can buy Ziplock and other bags that have a place where you can write on the bag with a Sharpie, etc. Organize the in your rubbermaid containers (alphabetically maybe). You could even use 3 ring binder dividers if needed to organize. That will make it a lot easier. Maybe hang some measuring spoons on the Rubbermaid thing so you have easy access to those for scooping them out??

Hmmm . . . I think that'd be hard to keep organized -- the baggie's slip down under one another, especially as they approached empty.

But now I'm thinking about a hook INSIDE my cabinet and hang my measuring spoons right with the spices.

Since you have so many it may be time to check and see how old they are. Dried herbs are good for 1-3 years and ground spices are good for 2-3 years
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/101417

Yeah, I know I have some stuff that's too old -- mainly because it's shoved to the back of the cabinet and because I buy duplicates.

 

[golfgal]

I like the idea of having spices in a drawer, but I am happy with my current drawer-use and don't really want to change anything there. Plus my current drawers are deep, which would be space-wasteful for spices.

It occurs to me that I could put the spices into Rubbermaid totes in the cabinet -- Italian spices here, baking items there. Yeah, I wonder who has a dozen spice jars and feels the need to organize them. Whatever jars or tins I choose, I'll need a lot of them.

Very true . Most of my spices are on shelves in one smaller cabinet by my stove. They are in baskets by "use"-so the baking spices are in one, grilling spices are in another, etc. I can just pull out that basket as needed. The ones in my drawer that I took a picture of the one section, are my "everyday" cooking spices, the ones I use the most. I haven't counted but I am sure I have 100 or so jars of spices of some sort or another.

 

[golfgal]

Hmmm . . . I think that'd be hard to keep organized -- the baggie's slip down under one another, especially as they approached empty.

But now I'm thinking about a hook INSIDE my cabinet and hang my measuring spoons right with the spices.Yeah, I know I have some stuff that's too old -- mainly because it's shoved to the back of the cabinet and because I buy duplicates.

I thought of this because of a friend of mine that does this. She has a very small kitchen. She buys in bulk but the bags from the spice store (Penzey's for her mostly--and me) are stiffer so they stand up on their own for the most part so it works for her.

 

[diznygirl]

Throw everything out and start over. Seriously, you need all the same size containers, whatever they end up being. You are wasting money by trying to save money. Just suck it up and buy the more expensive ones in the matching bottles at the grocery store. Then, once you have all of those, you can refill with the bulk after you make a list of what you need!

Or google Empty Spice Jars and find something you like and start filling and labeling. I found this at Amazon - pretty neat:

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Acrylic...KP7Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1312469809&sr=8-4

 

[LisaR]

I have the same problem! I bought a good sized spice rack that has been working out pretty well recently. It didn't solve the dilemma of the extra spices but it helped tremendously for the spices I use regularly. Last week, on the exact same day just minutes apart, I broke not one but two spice jars! I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get replacement jars and they discontinued the spice rack I just bought there a few months ago. Of course, none of the other jars are the right size so I am back to square one.

I would love the magnetic one but I don't have the wall space either. The only place I could put it would be on my backsplash and I spent months picking out the perfect ceramic tiles to fill in that space. I really don't want to cover it up!

 

[Sadie22]

You can make an inventory of what you have, but since open spices degrade, it may be better to use the inventory as a shopping list/list of what not to buy. I use software to keep track of what I need and what I have.

I don't have a place where I can buy from bulk bins just what I need. I think the stores around here discontinued those because there was too much wastage and contamination.

I tend to buy one or two brands which have small, medium, and large bottles. I purchased Spice Stack brand spice racks (available from Bed, Bath and Beyond and others or directly from the company) for my cabinets. I needed two of the large size. They do contain all of my spice bottles but not baking soda, baking powder, and the like. The labels on the front of the tilt-down trays work very well. I also find it's helpful to date the bottles.

 

[dis-happy]

I'm fond of my Dean and Deluca test tubes...

http://www.deandeluca.com/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=160213168&ref_code=GoogleMerchant


They sit out on the counter for everyday use, and then I have add'l specialty spices in jars in the cabinet. My bulk spice place sells clear jars that are standard spice jar size so everything stays fairly neat.

 

[Traveliz]

I have the Tupperware Spice container set - actually two in my cabinet. LOVE it.

Going to get another one for my condo to get the spices organized there.

Liz