Best Ideas To Organize Your Kitchen Spices
Master the Art of Spice Organization: Tips for a Perfectly Arranged Spice Rack
Is your spice cabinet a chaotic jumble of half-empty bottles past their expiration date and forgotten spices? If so, I have the perfect solution for transforming your spice collection from a cluttered mess into a neatly organized and functional space. Whether you have a small kitchen or a spacious pantry, these tips will help you keep your spices in order and ready for use.
When we redid our kitchen many years ago after all the mold damage, this spice rack is still one of my favorite things!
affiliate links are listed below you can read my full disclosure here.
I’ll admit, it wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t great, everything needed organizing. I used to go through everything about once a year and I think it’s been about 3 years, yikes! This is where the spice rack pulls out, right next to the stove!
Materials Used
Kit with jars and labels
3 Tiered spice rack
Lazy Susan
Shelf Liner
Start by Decluttering
Before diving into the organization, begin with a thorough decluttering. Remove all spices from your rack and place them on your kitchen counter, throw out the expired ones, and old spices. Sort the rest into categories and alphabetical order.
Before:
Expired Spices: Discard any spices that have lost their potency or have expired.
Duplicates: When you can’t find what you need you end up with duplicates. This can be a costly mistake since they have an expiration date. I had a ton of spices and threw away about 15 duplicates/expired store-bought spice bottles.
Unused Spices: Consider donating or discarding spices that you haven’t used in a long time.
Alphabetize each spice before the next step.
Clean Out The Cupboard
I gave the pull-out spice rack and the cabinet a good cleaning and laid down shelf liners to protect the shelves. Don’t forget to clean the cabinet door as well!
Choose the Right Storage Containers and add Labels
Investing in the right storage containers is crucial for maintaining an organized spice rack. Consider the following options:
Glass Jars: These are ideal for easy identification and easy access. Glass won’t release harmful chemicals when exposed to heat. Glass creates a better seal, and storing spices in their original containers with a seal will increase the longevity of the spices.
Airtight Containers: To keep spices fresh, opt for airtight containers.
Labeling: Use spice labels or a label maker to identify each container. This will help you quickly locate the spice you need. My kit came with everything I needed including a collapsible funnel.
Simply click on the pictures below to see what I used.
Utilize Vertical Space
Make the most of your available storage space by utilizing vertical storage solutions:
Tiered Racks: These racks allow you to see multiple rows of spices at once.
Wall-mounted Racks: Install a wall-mounted spice rack to free up counter and cabinet space.
Spice Drawer organizers: If you prefer keeping spices in drawers, use drawer inserts to keep them organized and visible.
Arrange Spices by Alphabet
Add your spices into your new containers, I didn’t want to clean the funnel after each use so I carefully poured each spice into the new bottle.
I chose to use glass spice bottles that would all be the same and I arranged them from A-Z and placed them in the cabinet. These included my everyday spices like oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, etc. If my existing spice was already in glass bottles, I kept them in their original container, took the label off, and added a new matching label.
I placed custom labels on the front and the top of the lid.
For my Specialty Spices, I decided to keep them in a separate cabinet.
If the alphabet doesn’t work for you, place your spices into groups. For example: most-used spices, baking, savory, etc.
I placed all of the small items on the last shelf.
Use Lazy Susans and Rotating Racks
In the cupboard, I used tiered organizers to free up available space, it also allows you to be able to see everything. We buy taco seasoning and chili powder regularly and buy the larger bottles so I added those to the tiered shelves.
Using a lazy Susan gives you a ton more space. I added olive oil, glazes, vanilla, and more of the tall bottles here. They allow you to spin the rack to access all your spices without having to take items out and reach into the back.
Maintain and Update Regularly
A well-organized spice rack requires ongoing maintenance. Follow these tips to keep it in top shape:
Regularly Check for Expiration: Periodically review and discard expired spices. Since many of the spices were put into new spice containers, I added a little sticker on the bottom with the expiration date.
Restock Wisely: Only buy new spices when needed to avoid overcrowding. I put our leftover spices in a labeled wire basket and everyone knows to look in the basket before buying a new one.
Clean Containers: Wipe down spice jars and racks to keep them clean and free of spills.
More Spice Storage Solutions and organizational items
magnetic spice jars with magnetic strips
kitchen drawer organizer
test tubes
Organizing your spice rack doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By decluttering kitchen spices, choosing the right storage containers, and utilizing vertical space, you can create a beautifully organized and functional space. It has made cooking more enjoyable!
Happy organizing!
