In Drawer Spice Rack Plans

My previous kitchen was small — so small that information technology necessitated the use of vertical space to store my collection of jars (on a shelf suspended above the counter) and spices (on a magnetic board screwed to the side of a cabinet).

I'm in a slightly bigger kitchen now, but have the opposite problem: plenty of drawers and cabinets, just no vertical space for storage.

For someone who keeps over lxxx varieties of herbs and spices on hand, information technology's an organizational challenge. Merely I came up with a simple DIY spice drawer that doesn't require building any wooden racks or inserts, or buying nonetheless another sick-fitting tray that fails to maximize the space I have.

It's a neat, elegant, and functional system for labeling, storing, and sorting all my containers, and it'southward such an easy project that I had to share.

(Plus, I'm an organizational geek to the highest degree and surely there must be others similar me?!)

I've been using this system for iii years now (and adult recipes for a cookbook in this kitchen!) and the main question I get from everyone is: Would I exercise it over again in my next house?

Aye!

Fifty-fifty if my kitchen is a chaotic mess and my sink is inundation with dirty dishes, my spice drawers are always a place of calm that makes cooking fun once again.

Disclosure: All products on this page are independently selected. If you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

I like the unproblematic one-piece lids on the jars because they give more than control over how much I dispense (I'thousand often prying off the shaker tops on other spice jars and find them to exist a p-a-i-n).

These narrow measuring spoons fit perfectly in them. (That's the actual set I take, and I use the narrow side for spices. I like the rounded side for liquids.)

All the same, those that prefer the convenience of shaker lids may notice these types of jars more practical. Either option works great in this DIY spice drawer!

My simple 4-step solution for a DIY spice drawer

With herbs and spices, I usually purchase them in bulk equally they are much more than economic. And by majority, I don't mean Costco-size containers with a lifetime supply of Italian seasoning.

I'thou talking about the spices you tin dispense by the scoop at markets like Whole Foods, Sprouts, and — my local favorite in Fundamental Oregon — Market of Choice.

You can go a standard 4-ounce quantity of garlic powder for under $1. A specialty spice like za'atar might go for $2. Bulk spices can cost up to 75 per centum less than the ones in expensive glass jars, are oftentimes fresher, and I highly recommend them over prepackaged spices.

That said, I do keep a few prepackaged spices on hand every bit some were gifts, purchased from farmers' markets, or picked up on the wing on road trips.

So, I needed a DIY organization that would piece of work for both my bulk spices and prepackaged spices, keeping in mind the diverse sizes and shapes of all the jars, tins, and tubs.

Pace ane: The jars

I came across these miniature Ball jars and immediately knew they'd be perfect for storing spices. They are an exact replica of the make's iconic bricklayer jars, just scaled down to a diminutive iv-ounce size with a i-piece screw-on lid.

(Notation that these specific jars are for storage and decorative purposes only, and are not suitable for canning.)

Footstep 2: The labeling

The miniature jars take a smooth side for labeling, and I found that an actress fine-indicate pigment pen (I used this i) worked corking on the glass.

Something to keep in mind: A water-based paint pen tin can survive a light rinsing, but comes off with soap and scrubbing so you tin relabel your jars as needed. An oil-based paint pen is a bit more permanent if you lot're labeling jars that volition always concur the same spices.

Step 3: The filling of the jars

To transfer all my spices from the old tins to the new jars, I used this silicone funnel and found information technology super efficient for the job. Information technology's broad enough for whole spices similar peppercorns, only narrow enough to fit the rima oris of the jars.

Step 4: The organization hack of the spice drawer

As far as drawer organisation goes, the most mutual method for storing spices is a tiered rack like this one (which, while expandable in one direction, yet left a lot of unusable infinite in the drawer). A lot of ready-to-gather kitchen cabinets as well accept in-drawer racks that are custom-fitted to their systems.

Just we're renting right now, didn't want to invest in beautiful (but expensive) wooden drawer inserts, and couldn't find any generic racks that fit the verbal dimensions we needed.

Instead, I found these soft foam liners and they are seriously game-changing! They tin be cut to length with just a pair of scissors, and they work really well in shallow drawers where tiered racks may be too alpine.

The pattern is stupid elementary: a set of channels downwards each liner creates a groove that nestles your spice jars direct down the eye. The groove holds all the standard sized spice bottles, including larger ones.

I arranged all my jars in the groove and love how they look in the drawer — so easy to spot, catch, and become!

I apply my own method for sorting them by flavor profile: peppers, Mexican spices, Italian herbs, and Asian spices (all my near-used jars) in the first drawer, and then sweet spices, Moroccan spices, and an assortment of prepackaged salts, rubs, and seasonings in the second drawer.

The drawers shield the jars from heat and light, so my spices have a longer shelf life. They also live right by my prep counter and stove top, so it's made cooking a lot less confusing when I don't take to rummage through a chiffonier or shuffle through jars that get lost on tiered shelving racks.

Since I can clearly see all my spices at one time, I always know when I'm depression on something and can add it to my shopping list immediately. No more forgetting what's around, or running out in the middle of a recipe!

So at that place yous take it — quick, easy, efficient, and attractive spice drawer arrangement for geeky cooks like me.

I've linked all my sources below, including alternatives for similarly sized jars that come with dissimilar tops and lids (if you lot similar shakers and such).

DIY Spice Drawer Sources

Ball Prepare of 24 Miniature Storage Jars | Ball Prepare of 8 Miniature Storage Jars | Encheng Hexagon Jars with Gold Lids | Paksh Novelty Spice Jars with White Lids | AllSpice Spice Jars with Black Lids and Shaker Tops | Talented Kitchen Spice Jars with Preprinted Labels and Shaker Tops | Sharpie Extra Fine Point Oil-Based White Pigment Marker | Sharpie Extra Fine Point Oil-Based Gold and Silver Paint Markers | Sharpie Extra Fine Betoken H2o-Based Metallic Paint Markers | SpiceLuxe Silicone Mini Spice Funnel | YouCopia SpiceLiner Spice Rack Drawer Organizer | Spring Chef Magnetic Measuring Spoons | 2lbDepot Copper Measuring Spoons | 2lbDepot Black Measuring Spoons

This post updated from an article that originally appeared on December 4, 2017.

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Source: https://www.gardenbetty.com/simple-spice-drawer-organization/

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