How to Organize Spices: 5 Tips for Spice Organization

Spices are aromatic flavorings from seeds, fruits, bark, rhizomes, and other plant parts. Used to season and preserve food, spices had value as trade goods for thousands of years—the word “spice” comes from the Latin “species,” which means merchandise or wares.

Here are some pantry organization hacks and storage ideas for your spices:

1. 1. Avoid storing spices on your kitchen counter. It’s common to keep spices on a spice rack on your kitchen counter for easy access. However, the countertop is not an ideal storage location for spices because the kitchen can be warm at times, and heat hastens their degradation. Instead, store spices in your pantry, kitchen drawers, or on a mounted shelf inside a cabinet door or pantry door.
2. 2. Install a lazy Susan or rotating spice organizer. A great solution for small spaces, lazy Susans and spice turntables optimize cabinet shelf space. This small kitchen organization tool provides easy access to the spice jars in the back of your kitchen cabinet.
3. 3. Store spices in airtight containers. Store your spices in tightly-sealed, airtight glass containers to prevent premature oxygenation, which reduces their potency. Some spices from the grocery store come in small glass jars or tins; it’s acceptable to keep them in their original containers, or you can make DIY spice jars by reusing mason jars or baby food jars as spice bottles.
4. 4. Try tiered shelves. To make the most of your cabinet space, use a tiered spice shelf for organizing spices. This storage solution allows you to see your spices at a glance.
5. 5. Use a drawer organizer. If you use a kitchen drawer for spice storage, use a drawer insert or drawer organizer to keep spices neat and organized.

If you’re looking to declutter your kitchen drawers or give your spice cabinet a makeover, follow these steps to organize your spices:

1. 1. Review your spice collection. Gather your spices and combine or discard any duplicate spices. Also, check expiration dates and throw out expired spices.
2. 2. Select a cool, dark place to store your spices. Keep spices off of your countertop and out of the direct sunlight. Instead, store spices in a cool, dry place like a spice drawer or spice cabinet to keep them fresh.
3. 3. Label your spices. Use a label maker to create easy sticker labels or opt for printable labels for your cumin, oregano, paprika, and other spices. Write the month and year of purchase directly on the spice container to give you a sense of when to discard and replace old spices.
4. 4. Create a system for grouping your spices. Whether you organize spices in alphabetical order, based on how frequently you use them, or group your baking spices together, an organization system or hierarchy is essential for spice cabinet organization. Use dividers to group spices by type or to separate spice blends.

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