My previous kitchen was small — so small that it postulate the use of vertical space to store my collection of jar ( on a shelfsuspended above the buffet ) and spices ( on a magnetised boardscrewed to the side of a cabinet ) .
I ’m in a slightly prominent kitchen now , but have the polar trouble : plenty of drawers and cabinets , but no erect place for storage .
For someone who keeps over 80 varieties of herbs and spices on script , it ’s an organizational challenge . But I get up with a unsubdivided DIY spice drawer that does n’t require building any wooden racks or inserts , or purchase yet another poorly - meet tray that fail to maximise the space I have .
It ’s a neat , elegant , and functional system for labeling , storing , and separate all my containers , and it ’s such an easy project that I had to share . ( Plus , I ’m an organizational eccentric person to the highest stage and surely there must be others like me ? ! )
I ’ve been using this organization forsevenyears now and the main question I get from everyone is : Would I do it again in my next house ?
YES !
( Update October 2024 : We’re in our forever and a day domicile now , with a brand - new customs duty kitchen , and indeed , I still apply them ! More on that below . )
Even if my kitchen is a cluttered mess and my cesspit is overflowing with dirty ravisher , my spicery pants are always a place of calm air that make cooking fun again . Here ’s how you may better yours too !
Disclosure : If you frequent from my article or make a purchase through one of my links , I may receive commission on some of the merchandise I urge .
It all starts with the perfect spice jars
I care the simple one - part lids on these jar because they give more control over how much I dispense ( I ’m often prying off the shaker tops on other spicery shock and find them to be a P - A - I - N ) .
Thesenarrow value spoonsfit perfectly in them . ( That ’s the existent bent I have , and I use the narrow side for spicery . I like the rounded side for liquids . )
However , those that favor the restroom of shaker hat may findthese type of jarsmore hard-nosed . Either alternative works great in this DIY spice drawer !
My simple 4-step solution for a DIY spice drawer
With herb and spices , I usually corrupt them in volume as they are much more economical . And by bulk , I do n’t mean Costco - size container with a lifetime provision of Italian seasoning .
I ’m talking about the spiciness you could deal out by the scoop shovel at securities industry like Whole Foods , Sprouts , Winco , and — my local favorite in Central Oregon — Market of Choice .
you may get a standard 4 - ounce measure of garlic powder for under $ 1 . A specialty spice like za’atar might go for $ 2 . Bulk spicery can cost up to 75 percent less than the ace in expensive deoxyephedrine jars , are oftentimes fresher , and I highly recommend them over prepackaged spices .
That pronounce , I do keep a few prepackaged spice on hand as some were gifts , buy from farmer ’ markets , or picked up on the fly sheet on road trips .
So , I needed a DIY organisation that would mold for both my bulk spices and prepackaged spices , keeping in mind the various sizes and contour of all the jars , tins , and tubs .
Step 1: The jars
I came across theseminiature Ball jarsand immediately get it on they ’d be perfect for storing spice . They are an exact replication of the brand ’s iconic mason jars , just scaled down to a diminutive 4 - ounce size with a one - piece screw - on lid .
( mark that these specific jars are for entrepot and decorative function only , and are not suitable for give notice . )
Step 2: The labeling
The miniature jars have a smooth side for labeling , and I found that an extra fine - gunpoint key pen ( I usedthis one ) worked great on the glass .
Something to keep in mind : A water - free-base blusher pen can survive a idle rinse , but come off with soap and scrubbing so you could relabel your jars as need . An oil - based key pen is a morsel more permanent if you ’re labeling shock that will always hold the same spices .
Step 3: The filling of the jars
To transfer all my spiciness from the old tins to the new jars , I used a silicone miniskirt spice funnel shape ( this oneis exchangeable ) and witness it extremely effective for the job . It ’s across-the-board enough for whole spices like peppercorns , but narrow enough to match the oral cavity of the jar .
Step 4: The organization hack of the spice drawer
As far as drawer organisation goes , the most common method for stash away spices is a tiered rack likethis one(which , while expandable in one focussing , still leave a bunch of unserviceable space in the drawer ) . A lot of ready - to - assemble kitchen storage locker also have in - draftsman racks that are custom - fitted to their systems .
But if you ’re lease or want more flexibility , thesesoft froth linersare seriously biz - changing ! They can be hack to length with just a twain of pair of scissors , and they exercise really well in shallow drawers where tiered racks may be too marvellous .
( Update : In my young kitchen , I grade a contract - to - primed wooden inset for my spice draftsman . It was expensive but we ’re in our lasting home now . However , because I still have a mishmash of bottle and jars in all different size that do n’t fit neatly in the cut-in , I created a 2d spicery draftsman using a fresh roll of these foam liners . I bonk them that much ! )
The design is stupefied simple : a readiness of channel down each ocean liner creates a channel that nest your spice shock flat down the center . The groove holds all the stock sized spice bottleful , include larger ones .
I arranged all my jars in the groove and love how they front in the drawer — so well-off to spot , grab , and go !
I use my own method for sorting them by smack profile : Piper nigrum , Mexican spices , Italian herbs , and Asian spiciness ( all my most - used jar ) in the first drawer , then sweet spices , Moroccan spice , and an categorization of prepackaged Strategic Arms Limitation Talks , snag , and seasonings in the second drawer .
The drawers screen the jars from heating plant and light , so my spice have a longer ledge life . They also know correctly by my prep return and stave top , so it ’s made falsify a flock less perplexing when I do n’t have to rummage through a cabinet or ruffle through jar that get lost on tiered shelving rack .
Since I can distinctly see all my spices at once , I always know when I ’m low on something and can add it to my shopping list directly . No more forgetting what ’s around , or run out in the middle of a recipe !
So there you have it — spry , easy , efficient , andattractive spice drawer organization for geeky cooks like me .
I ’ve linked all my sources below , including option for likewise sized jarful that add up with different top and lids ( if you like Shaker and such ) .
Where to corrupt
Spice storage supplies
This mail updated from an clause that originally appeared on December 4 , 2017 .
