Once you’ve narrowed down your cache to a reasonable stash, it’s time to invest in some smart storage. While it’s best practice to keep your spices away from heat and light, we recommend keeping them where you can see them. Michael Sullivan, a senior staff writer on the kitchen team, has some small-kitchen storage solutions that will work in spaces of any size.
Create uniformity. Although I roll my eyes at the wasteful, influencer-driven organization systems that require decanting all of your food into new containers, this is one case where we’d recommend it. Using clearly labeled, same-size glass spice jars is not only visually appealing, it also makes it easier to find and use the spices you have. We’ve recommended Berlin Packaging 4 oz Clear Square Glass Spice Jars in the past, but anything similar should do.
Hang with the popular crowd. This is a case where you want the things you grab the most to be the most grabbable. “Develop a use-based organizational system, putting the high-use spices up front where they’re easy to grab (this is the only way I can find what I need when I’m cooking!),” Frisch told me in an email.
And this is where our “choose your own adventure” splits.
Hang them on the wall. Michael built a custom spice rack, which he has proudly hung in two small apartments. Frisch and his business partner, Ori Zohar, have both installed picture shelves for their spice jars. (Wirecutter doesn’t have a specific recommendation, but Frisch and Zohar used The Container Store’s White Ledge Shelf).
Stick them to the fridge. If you don’t have wall space for a rack, you can attach magnetic shelves to the side of your fridge. Michael likes the Hoopoton Store Magnetic Spice Rack, which fits two rows of jars, so you can line them up or arrange them any way you like.
Store them in a drawer. Michael is currently testing some drawer solutions, but typically, people lay the jars on their backs, with the labels pointed up for easy scanning.
Top pick
This three-tiered expandable shelf is best for storing spices so they’re well organized and easy to reach.
Keep them behind closed doors. If a cabinet is your only option, take a long, hard look at your everyday practices to see whether you can reorganize away from the basket. (People often keep things in a particular spot because that’s where they’ve always kept them—a trap for anyone who has lived in the same place for a while). A few years ago, I bought The Container Store Expand-A-Shelf, a Wirecutter pick, and this little spice stadium brought order from chaos for me.
If you absolutely must use the basket, Michael recommends labeling the top of each jar so it’s easier to scan and grab what you need.
