Agree with funkycamper about the Ikea spice tray. I think I posted a picture of mine a while back and I LOVE it. Would never go back to storing spices in a cabinet. And it's very inexpensive.

Thanks, I like the idea of the tray, but giving up one of my three top drawers for spices just doesn't seem like it makes sense in my little kitchen.

When we had a smaller space, I put This door rack

on the back of a closet door for spices. Each basket is easily removed and carried about. I organized the spices by use -- baking, Italian, peppers, salts, etc. there are deep ones for oils and vinegar, too. I also used one for packet stuff -- taco seasoning, stuff like that. I would just grab the basket and bring it to my prep area. The baskets hold A LOT ! And are see through, so easy to grab the right one. The bar that holds them is super sturdy. Just put in enough screws. they are quite pretty too if you have a space on the stairs behind the door. (just a thought...)

I have mine in a pullout in a cabinet like the ones you have in your pantry. Each bottle is labeled on the top and either taped on adhered with the adhesive from the label printed from a label maker. I printed most of the labels in small font on the computer for ease of reading. And then organized them in alphabetical order. Mostly so hubby can find them without asking "where's the..."

In my new kitchen, I specified a four drawer base so the drawers would be a better depth for spice bottles and other small packages. It will be to the right of my stove. The luxury of remodeling.

I'm thinking that the cheapest/easiest option would be to try the IKEA inserts. It means I'll have to find another place for some cooking implements, but maybe that makes sense... hmmm.

If you prefer the pantry as a location, have you looked at some of the clear plastic fridge bins as an option?

Thanks, sherri. That could work, though would only solve the problem of having to pull out spices for the spices that are on the outside, labels facing out - or having the labels on top. So it being clear won't make a difference & would work about as well as my she box. You're right, though, I do prefer the pantry location.

Desertsteph--yes, very easy to open, they aren't twist or anything, just lift-off. The bigger sizes are slightly looser than the smaller--in fact, we were worried they'd be so loose you couldn't pull 'em out by the lid, but that was fine.

Carrie, if you take a look at the dimensions, there are boxes which are 4" wide x 14" long - which would hold a row of 2 jars - both on the outside, so they'd all be visible. :)

I know you just remodeled your kitchen, great job by the way, and I don't remember if you have the wall space, but we recessed a shallow cabinet into a wall to use as a spice cab.

Here are a few shots.

Closed

Open

This isn't my kitchen but I did something similar:

I used the IKEA magnetic knife holders (which are super strong) and Bonne Maman jam jars (of which i have many) to store the most used 8 spices right in my prep area. The rest are in an upper cabinet. I buy spices in bulk in bags so this works for well for me.

Whatever you decide to do, I say Step 1 is putting all your spices into identical jars. Any number of options would work: it could mean all Spice Island brand jars, or it could mean little metal tins, or it could mean baby food jars or small mason jars ... but as long as you have large bottles and small bottles and everything else in between, the whole thing won't be neat, and it'll be harder to find things.

I have a fantastic spice "system" that I bought years ago. The medium containers hold about 4 oz of spice, they're plastic and have a stainless steel front, and have a spot where I can change the name of the spice. I keep mine 3 high because that works with my cabinet height.

Here you're seeing them front to back, and you can see that the containers come in three sizes:

And here you can see how I keep mine: I have mostly three mediums high on two small turntables:

Positives -- whatever system you choose, these are the things you want to consider:

- With everything uniform, it's so easy to spin the table and pick out the spice I want.

- The openings are shaped nicely so a measuring spoon fits in, and the lid has a "straight edge" across the bottom so it's easy to flatten out your spice /know you're measuring properly.

- I can remove 1-2 towers of spice and at a glance see which jars are low on spice.

- I buy most of my spices from a health food store that keeps them in big bulk jars, and I just spoon out however much I want; thus, I typically don't have bottles for my spices anyway.

Negatives:

- This is a big one: They quit making this system. I have about 60 jars, mostly mediums, but I wish I had more. Since I bought these online from a small company that went out of business, I don't anticipate being able to get more -- ever. I do look at ebay occasionally, but I think my chances are slim. Whatever you choose, I suggest you choose something that will definitely be available in the future.

- I can't see the expiration date. Not really an issue with the things I use on a constant basis, but I don't have a good answer for how to manage this with things that don't get much use.

- My husband doesn't like the spice storage system. Too bad for him.

My plan for my new house:

I'll definitely keep this spice system, and I'll continue to keep a small tub of won't-fit-yet spices on the top shelf.

I plan to get some of those round tins that can attach to the inside of a cabinet, and I'll use those for my homemade spice mixes (which tend to be larger than my containers can hold anyway). This'll free up some of the current containers. I can't do this now because the cabinet in which I keep my spices is too shallow; that is, if I had the spice tins inside the cabinet, I wouldn't have space for the turntables.

OR I'll choose shelves on the back of the cabinet door, which would allow me to use matching bottles for my homemade spice mixes and rubs. But does the extra weight on the back of a door cause trouble over the years?

Just a third comment re the IKEA spice inserts - I also have them and love them (they take up 1/2 of a wide top drawer, shared with utensils that I don't want out all the time)

This doesn't look bad but it would be better if labels were on the front instead of the top. It also comes in grey.

JosephJoseph

Jancy, that's quite a bit like my above-described spice system! I like mine better because it's not so juvenile looking and has labels on the side, where they're easy to read -- but this one has the advantage of still being available!

I'd prefer yours too mrspete. Wish I could find yours also. I've never seen this one in person but I think the grey may look a little better.

If I was to use something like that, I like the bright colors. I could see putting most used seasonings in, let's say, the purple ones. Or having the green for seasonings that work best for poultry, red for fish, yada yada. I'd also use my label maker to make labels on the sides as well.

OK, this is absolutely no slam against Mrs. Pete's storage or those who would like it but I would really hate to have my seasonings in something like that. We're all different and have different preferences. When the seasonings are in my drawer right next to my range, I simply open the drawer and leave it open while cooking. If I want, a seasoning I pick it up and use it and put it back, then the next one, and so on. No extra steps or movements. And I don't need to transfer to new containers.

I have the cooking seasonings and seasoning mixes in the drawer by the range. In my baking center, I have another drawer with spices and extracts.

I think those containers are cute, but it would be my luck that not ALL of a container of spice would fit...then , I would have to store the leftover in the original container, and before long, I would need twice as much storage!! Plus, it seems wasteful to put them in a separate container and throw out the other container.

mine are in a BIG drawer next to my range, labeled on the top, mostly in alphabetical order. I buy in bulk, and the bags of extra are in the freezer.

Great ideas, all! I think I'm going to get at least one of the IKEA inserts to start. I have things in my near-range drawer that are not used very often & can get demoted, and I can put the most frequently used spices in there. I wonder if IKEA is worth braving on Xmas eve... probably not...

I wonder if IKEA is worth braving on Xmas eve... probably not...

OMG, NO!!!! I almost got a panic attack for you. Weekday, non-holiday mornings only. :) Merry Christmas, Carrie.

Heh! I'm not really a celebrator, so it's annoying to me that I can't get my life-errands done this time of year. Only (half) kidding. Enjoy yours!

I'd
prefer yours too mrspete. Wish I could find yours also. I've never
seen this one in person but I think the grey may look a little better.

Yeah, but this one has the advantage of being available for sale right now! If you get it, I'd suggest you buy all the containers you think you're likely to need NOW ... so you won't be in the same boat I'm in: Wishing you could have 5-10 more.

When the seasonings are in my drawer right next to my range, I simply
open the drawer and leave it open while cooking. If I want, a seasoning
I pick it up and use it and put it back, then the next one, and so on.
No extra steps or movements.

My spices are in an upper cabinet next to the range. No extra steps or movements -- the difference between a drawer vs. an upper cabinet is just a matter of putting your hand up vs. down.

I think those containers are cute, but it would be my luck that not ALL
of a container of spice would fit...then , I would have to store the
leftover in the original container, and before long, I would need twice
as much storage!! Plus, it seems wasteful to put them in a separate
container and throw out the other container.

My medium containers are about 4 oz, and that's perfect. Most bottles of spices fit "just right" into the containers. Typically I buy my spices from a bulk source, so I tend to bring them home in little ziplock baggies.

It might be wasteful to toss the store containers, but you're never going to really have your spices organized and easy to find it your containers don't match.

It might be wasteful to toss the store containers, but you're never going to really have your spices organized and easy to find it your containers don't match.

Not so - I store my spices in their original store containers in the IKEA organizer - works perfectly and I can see all the labels. Sometimes it's even alphabetized.

We have one of these: YouCopia Chef's Edition SpiceStack 30-Bottle Spice Organizer, White for the small jars. It can hold 30 commercial standard jars, or more if you have some of the half-height short ones.

And a bunch of turntables with big jars on them for the bulk spices.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VERRLS?keywords=spice%20racks%20for%20cabinets&qid=1451045652&ref_=sr_1_4&s=home-garden&sr=1-4

As a temporary help, take a sharpie and label the tops of the jars so you don't have to rummage around the box reading lables. Also I recycle my spice jars when they are empty.

Drawer storage is really the easiest. That's why we're always saying drawers, drawers, drawers here.

I buy Simply Organic spices because the bottles are so pretty, and I refill them with bulk spices. They're about 4" tall and made of heavy glass. I lay them on their sides in a 16" drawer. You can buy their spices and this spice rack from their website--$32 for the rack alone. There's a store locator and coupons on their website. In my area, Whole Foods and lots of food co-ops and small grocers sell them.

I made magnetic spice storage in my pantry with vintage metal trays and hexagonal jars. I purchased the jars and rare earth magnets online. I placed the magnets inside the lid. Most of the herbs and spices I immediately recognize, but for
some I used a fine sharpie to note the contents. It works great!

Mayflowers - that's the thing, though, right? Drawers are best for EVERYTHING, and, presumably, we've got more stuff that we can possibly have drawers, at least for those of us with small kitchens & small drawers. I want to put all eating utensils & cooking hand tools in the top drawer. I want my knives & vitamins in the top drawer. I want at least one "junk" (ok, tape, pens, shopping list paper...) in a top drawer. And it makes sense to have spices in a top drawer, too. And I've only got 3 top drawers, even though all my lowers (besides sink) are drawers. So, it comes down to deciding if I can devote one third (or thereabouts) of my top drawers to spices... and then, what can I move to a lower? My spatulas & other cooking tools? Surely not my eating utensils...

How about this on the wall left of the range, or inside one of the range cabinet doors

Why not have your spices in the second drawer from the top? That should work just fine.

Jesshs - my lower drawers are pretty deep, so either I'd have to stack the spices (and have to dig to get the lower ones) or just do one layer & waste a good amount of space above. Plus, where would I put my pots/pans/linens/cat food, etc.? Not expecting you to answer these questions for me, just expressing my difficulty in deciding.

re stacking spices. You could group them in stacking boxes. Baking spices, salts/peppers, rarely used ones, italian, etc. Then maybe they could live happily in a deep drawer right where you prep.

Amazon Idea

Those hexagons are beautiful!!! I use a drawer to the right of our cooktop. It's about 8.5 x 19 x 4. The bottles are from ebay.

Right before I found this thread, I actually had placed an order for the Rev-a-Shelf cabinet pullout for my spices. I have a 12" wall cabinet next to my stove in our new kitchen. I wanted to live with it for a few months before I committed to something, so this is what I settled on. It also has the benefit of allowing me to change this cabinet to a pull out instead of a traditional cabinet door which swings against a wall, so less chance of dinging up the wall over time.

Will post an update after I get it and try it out.

Maybe I misunderstand how the spice storage carousel works, MrsPete. It looks like you have to take the top containers out to get to the ones below. If that's not the case, I agree that steps/motions would be equivalent to drawer storage. If you do have to do that, it's too much work for me. YMMV.

I find it easiest to keep my spice blends in their original store containers because they are so easy to identify. I don't even have to read the label as i just recognize the Old Bay, Johnny's, Mrs Dash, etc., containers. Super quick to grab. The rest are in an assortment of tins, jars and small bottles but they are alphabetized and easy to find. They don't have to be in the same containers to be organized.

oh carrie - time to remodel and put in more drawer stacks - lol!

Desertsteph - I'll have to put them in the living room! (all my kitchen lowers are drawers!)

DH made these holders, and so I have cooking spices on two upper cabinet doors, and my baking spices on a third. Extra spices (and less used ones) are in the cabinets as well.

That is so smart to have the lucite fronts on those spice shelves so you can read through them!

Here's my half-a-drawer with the spices in their original containers, on the IKEA "shelves"

I am short. I have the spice pull downs that rebunky showed you in a picture. They are available online only from Target. Mine cost $11.00. They have worked out really well. I have a series of these in two cabinets. I have a lot of spices and they are in all sorts of containers. It's a very efficient use of space and a lot of bang for the buck.

Only once have I lived near a market that sold spices in bulk. And of course they didn't sell every spice I used.

I've used several of the spice storage options suggested on this thread, all have worked okay. I wouldn't invest in a system though where all spices needed to be decanted unless I could buy all my spices in bulk. Decanting every little McCormick, Spice Island, etc. seems a pita to me compared to the solutions that adapt to any size spice jars.

oldbat2be - I've seen little shelves like that online somewhere - probably amazon. I really like those.

carrie - but if you get rid of your beautiful new table, you could add another drawer stack at the end of your sink run - around the bump out space... just put a piece of counter top on it w/a hang over into your 'dining' space to replace your table... sound like fun? lol!

Was going to post a pic of mine, but they are the lucite- fronted ones above. It does make for a shallower shelf, but that is a plus-- keeps the oil and vinegar collection at just 2 or 3 deep. (I like this solution enough that we did 2 cabs worth in the new house.)

Thanks so much, everyone. I ended up going with the IKEA organizers, at least for now. They were a cheap & easy option, so I won't feel too bad if I end up changing my mind & donating these out one day. Two of the $3.99 trays fit most of my spices, with just a few stragglers tucked in above/left.

I did use up most of my "junk drawer", but a lot that was in there wasn't stuff that I needed such easy access to anyway. What do they say about necessity being the mother of invention?

Thanks so much, everyone. I ended up going with the IKEA organizers, at least for now. They were a cheap & easy option, so I won't feel too bad if I end up changing my mind & donating these out one day. Two of the $3.99 trays fit most of my spices, with just a few stragglers tucked in above/left.

I did use up most of my "junk drawer", but a lot that was in there wasn't stuff that I needed such easy access to anyway. What do they say about necessity being the mother of invention?

I picked up one of the Rubbermaid pull-down spice racks yesterday, and DRAT - it's too tall for my cabinet shelf! I may end up having DH cut out half of one shelf to fit it in. Though I'm going to check out the spice liners shown above as well.

Donna

I think you'll really like this, Carrie. It's going to make cooking even quicker. Better to put your junk drawer stuff in that shoebox, imho. It's more important to have your cooking stuff in your cooking zone.

Someone pointed out recently that while many of us have junk drawers in the kitchen, really, most of the stuff that goes in that drawer doesn't belong in the kitchen at all - so keep the spices and move the junk!

You know, given that I've got so little storage, there's stuff in the kitchen that probably technically doesn't belong there...

Remember before kitchen rehab when all placemats, tablecloths & cloth napkins were stored in the living room because there was no room in the kitchen?

I have a drawer in the LR hutch with transit tokens, pens, tape, calculator, etc. and the kitchen junk drawer w/ some of that stuff: shopping list paper, pen, scissors, tape measure... one drawer is not enough... so...