Organizing spices is an often overlooked task. Too often, the so-called “spice cabinet” is filled with jars of glass, most of them half-empty, some not seen directly in the back for years, sometimes decades.
The best possible organization of the kitchen results in smooth, efficient and trouble-free cooking. As one of the most commonly used ingredients in the kitchen, organizing spices is key to ensuring this. Whether you have an extensive collection or some of the main spices you use all the time, it should be easy to find, easy to access, and easy to maintain. It’s not an easy task, let’s face it. But it can be done.
“I found spices from 1995 in one of my customers’ closets, so don’t worry – everyone has something outdated, ”says Rachel Burditt, a professional home organizer also known as The Declutter Darling on Instagram.
Below are expert tips on the best strategies for arranging spices so they are never wasted and are always easy to find.
Organizing spices
In addition to good kitchen storage ideas, a systematic system for organizing spices makes it much easier to work with them, which in turn can result in better cooking overall. The jury chooses this, but it’s worth a try, so we’ve gathered the best expertise to help give you the best chance…
1. Simplify spices
(Credit to Life Kitchens)
Before you start organizing your spices, check out what’s in and compress your collection. One of the best tips we can give you is to get rid of duplicates and everything before. While most do not spoil, the spices lose their flavor. If you can’t read their expiration date, smell one – the stronger the smell, the fresher they are.
Before replacing, think about whether you really need it. if it is outdated, chances are it has been hanging for some time. The number one rule when organizing your kitchen is not to waste space on items you don’t need / use.
2. Order the spices in alphabetical order
(Credit to Martin Moore)
There are several ways to order herbs and spices. Think about what is best for you and how you cook. Categorization by kitchen or type (spices for hot baking, herbs, aromatics, etc.) works for some people, but can result in crossbreeding.
“The most logical way is to keep the spices in alphabetical order so you can get what you need right away, especially if you have more than one cook in the house,” says Andra DelMonico, senior interior designer at Trendey.
3. Group the spices according to the frequency of use
Save time and increase efficiency by creating a small group of the most commonly used spices and storing them in a great place, separate from the rest of your alphabet spice collection. Put them together in a portable spice rack or carousel-like organizer. This allows you to easily move them while cooking.
4. Pour into smooth jars
(Credit to Kilner)
Spice packs can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them difficult to store and giving the kitchen a chaotic look and feel. A sustainable alternative is to buy a metered amount of bag and decant it into reusable bottles. Make sure you have rubber seals to keep it fresh and fit comfortably in a teaspoon.
“It’s a great way to monitor inventory levels and maintain consistent and stylish storage,” says Melissa Klink, Harvey Jones ’chief design officer.
When storing spices in an outdoor location, such as a wall-mounted spice rack, keep in mind that direct sunlight can affect the quality of the spices over time, so choose your bottles wisely.
5. Label all spices
Spices may look similar, so effective labeling is essential to avoid cooking errors. The way spices are stored affects how best to do it.
“If you store spicy jars vertically in a drawer, put the place names on the lid,” advises Ann Lightfoot, co-founder of Done & Done Home. “When storing on shelves or flat, place the label on the side of the bottle so that it is visible at a glance. When decanting, be sure to write the expiration date on the bottom of the container.
Once the spices are on display, Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr, suggests, “Refresh your glass jars with customized labels – this will help simplify the whole look while adding an extra style element”.
6. Place the spices near the cooking zone
(Credits image: Future)
Organizing your kitchen by activity makes navigation easier. Whether stored in drawers, cabinets, or wall-mounted racks, place herbs and spices as close to the stove and hob as possible so that they are easily accessible during cooking.
If your kitchen layout doesn’t allow this, consider storing your most commonly used spices in a free-standing director or in a raised carousel. You can take it closer while cooking and then store it nicely on a shelf, in the pantry or on kitchen worktops.
7. Take advantage of uncomfortable places
(Credits image: Neptune)
The beauty of the spicy jars lies in the small proportions, which means they fit nicely in places that would otherwise remain unused. Customized storage can make the most of these spaces.
“Pull-out or fold-down storage allows for a seamless cooking experience, providing easy access to ingredients where you need them,” says Graeme Smith, Life Kitchens ’head of retail and design. “Many are available in a variety of sizes, with many boxes, trays and other inserts to hold bottles, plates, glasses and more, making it perfect for placing next to the hob for quick access to herbs and spices.”
8 Make a cupboard for spices
When customized options aren’t on the agenda, smartly organizing your kitchen furniture is a quick and easy way to prevent your spicy shelf from sinking into chaos. Cascading organizers create cascading shelves, lifting objects at the back of the cabinets so you can see more clearly what you’ve got. Place them on top of a jack for better visibility and use the hole underneath to store refills or other dried goods. The non-slip lining also prevents the bottles from tipping over.
If there is room, Emma George, the housekeeper for Declutter and Emma, suggests placing a lazy Susan in her closet: “the jars are held in place and rotated so you can easily access what you need without having to rummage through and decide the things.” he says.
9. Dedicate an drawer to the spices
(Credit to Life Kitchens)
Alternatively, if you like to cook with lots of spices, you may want to arrange your kitchen drawers to take away your spice collection.
“Customized drawer inserts allow you to place spicy jars with easy-to-read labels at a glance so you can see what’s clear,” says Tom Howley, Tom Howley’s director of design. “Not only is this more efficient during cooking, but storing it in a cool, dark drawer can extend the life and flavor of your spices.
10. Use chamber doors
(Credit to Harvey Jones)
The use of doors in the design of the chamber can go a long way in maintaining the orderliness and ease of finding spices. The hanging rack provides single-row storage for herbs, spices, oils, spices and other everyday ingredients, ensuring they are not obscured by other objects. Shelves of different heights allow it to be positioned as when arranging a chamber; heavier, less used objects at the bottom, more frequently used objects closer to the top, ideally at eye level.
While custom design is hard to surpass, store-bought varieties also work well. Wooden racks are preferable to metals because the glass clogs when the door is opened.
How to arrange the spices in the drawer?
The arrangement of the spices is primarily determined by the depth of the drawer. You can also store spices while standing in deep drawers. Order in alphabetical order and use vertical dividers to keep them from falling or group them into categories (e.g., kitchen, use, frequency of use, etc.) and place them in transparent dishes, trays, or baskets. Be sure to clearly label the cover.
Laying the spices flat on their sides is a good option for thin drawers, and the added benefit is that you can see when they run out so you can replenish your stock in plenty of time. Use custom inserts to keep them from rolling and place them in alphabetical order with the label facing out so you can find what you need at a glance.
How do you remove spices?
Review your spice collection and get rid of duplicates or their expiration dates. Although the spices do not come out, they lose their flavor over time. If it’s been so long that the expiration date is gone, take the sniff test – the stronger the smell, the fresher.
Don’t automatically replace everything that’s already gone without first thinking about whether you really need it. Ask yourself when you last used it. If it happened more than two years ago, say goodbye. It makes no sense to make room for items you don’t need or never use.