The Best Tips for Organizing Spices

If you really love to cook, you’ve probably got quite a few spices in your kitchen. The right blend can really make a meal pop and have everyone asking for seconds. But what is the best way to organize spices in your kitchen, especially when you have a variety?

 I’ve got a few tips to organize spices in a kitchen of any size. Check them out below!

And if you need a few extra dinner recipes to add to your rotation, here are a few options from Good Housekeeping to check out after you get those spices pretty and organized!

What is the best way to organize spices?

There are a few things to consider when you organize spices. 

First and foremost, you need to be able to see all of them. 

Let’s be honest, spices are not cheap and I see A LOT of spices go to waste just because homeowners can’t see what they have. This leads to going to the store and buying extra paprika this time and chili powder the next time. It’s a waste of money AND takes up space you are trying to clean up and organize. 

Stay with me because I’m going to show you multiple options to fit your kitchen that will make it easy to see all of the spices you have. 

I also like to keep spices in the cooking zone, within close proximity to the stove. If I can see where the specific spice jar belongs all while stirring my pot of sauce on the stove, it is easier to put it back where it came from right when I’m done using it. 

How do you store a lot of spices?

Clean out expired and used spices

As I always say, before you try to store anything, go through and make sure that you need all of the spices you have. So often we have expired spices and spices we will never use (like that exotic spice you got as a gift 5 years ago and still has a tag on it). 

You may not need as much space as you think. I have been in hundreds of homes and on average we see 30-50% of the spices in a home get purged because they are old…. I mean really old! If this ends up being the case for you as well, then you’ve just cleared out half the space you were originally using. This makes it easier to incorporate any method to organize spices in your kitchen. 

Now that you have simplified your spices down to what you need, are safe to eat, and will actually use them, let explore some ways to store them.

How do you organize spices in a small space?

Those of us that have small kitchens are always wishing for more space and room, right? But sometimes we don’t need more room, we just need a better system for creating space and storage in the kitchen we do have.

(If you need a few more tips on maximizing your small kitchen check out this blog as well).

Depending on your kitchen and the layout there are a few options that help you maximize your space, minimize waste, and make cooking a breeze when you can grab your garlic salt with ease.  

Drawer

This is the best option for the cook who wants easy access to spices in their cooking zone. You can see what you have, find it easily, and grab it fast. 

Find one of these great inserts that fits your drawer. Next grab some matching jars to make everything look clean and cohesive. Then simply add labels to organize spices by use or alphabetically. It might sound a little time consuming, but the outcome will be worth the work, I promise. You’ll probably be showing it off to people when they come over!

Turntables

This is one of my favorite products to use, not only to organize spices, but even for items in the pantry and bathroom. It's such a simple fix that makes everything so much easier to see and to grab. 

You can try the double-decker or two-level turntable seen below with a single layer of spices facing out on each level. They come in multiple sizes, but I usually suggest 9-10 inches for cabinets to organize spices because they fit nicely without losing too much space in the middle. Before you buy, make sure you check the depth of your cabinet to confirm it will actually fit. 

Cabinet door

I am a huge fan of leveraging every vertical surface. This rack is a great way to utilize the inside of the cabinet door when you are short on space. This meets our criteria of seeing every spice you own and can also be placed in a cabinet near the stove! 

Magnetic Board

This is a fun option because it’s so unique and will make your kitchen stand out. 

Adding magnetic boards to a wall or cabinet makes for an easy-to-grab method as well. It is a great way to utilize that unused wall space and make a statement. Plus, now that you’ve freed up a cabinet or drawer, you’ve got more storage and space that you didn’t have before!

Not to mention, you can use it as fun decor if you are creative and intentional when you organize it.

You’ll have your kitchen organized and ready to whip up some great dishes when you incorporate any of these 4 techniques for organizing spices. Let us know in the comments what worked best in your home!

Want to learn more on how to set up your kitchen and pantry? Check out our new Pin-Worthy Pantry Kit.