Spice Organization

I love spices, don't you?! They are a treat for the senses. I went to the Dubai Spice Souk in 2017 when I was visiting my husband on a port visit during a deployment and oh my, it was gorgeous! The color and scents can be stunning. When I cook I love stirring several spices together and seeing the colors and textures blend.

Because of my love for spices, and various guests coming to my home who love to cook in my kitchen (*cough* my mother-in-law and father *cough*), I have accumulated a lot of spice containers over the years. I became a fan of tiered shelving for my supply and have always alphabetized my spices. However, with the various sizes and shapes of containers and jars, and the sheer volume I have, it became difficult to quickly locate what I was looking for despite the alphabetizing. It was time to focus on getting this portion of my kitchen under control. Here is what I did:

I ordered NEAT Method's Spice Jars and NEAT Labels. These are a bit of splurge, but they are highly rated to maintain the freshness of the spice, and I really like the look of them which is important to me. (There are cheaper options available through Amazon and The Container Store.)

1. I filled all of the jars and put the backstock in a pantry drawer for refilling when needed. After the jars were labeled, I alphabetized.

2. I purchased two of the iDesign Linus In-Drawer Spice Racks for the drawer. They didn't hold all of my spices, but hold 24 of my most used like cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and various peppers and salts. My rarely used spices, like nutmeg and cardamom, are stored in a pantry drawer above the backstock.

Now I can easily find what I need, the colors are a joy to see every time I open the drawer, and I save a tiny bit of time cooking.

If you have a smaller space and want to organize your spices, consider a Lazy Susan for a cabinet or countertop, a stackable system or hanging method, magnetic spice containers or holder, or a countertop set. I found a few online that look stylish and practical for small spaces - a perfect combo! Let me know what you like to use. Have a spicy day!

Other storage options:

1. Hanging Spice Rack (Lisa's Kitchen Shop on Etsy)

2. Magnetic Jars with Stainless Wall Plate (Gneiss Spice)

3. Kamenstein 16 Jar Warnder Stainless Steel & Bamboo Revolving Spice Rack (Sur la table)

4. The Counter Top Rack (Evermill)

5. The Home Edit by iDesign 2-Tier Lazy Susan (The Container Store)

6. Yamazaki Magnetic Spice Rack (Food52 and Amazon)

A photo from the Dubai Spice Souk.