How do you store your spices?

[Seahorse]

My spices are all jumbled up in the cupboard but there must be a better way I don't think I want one of those racks with the 'fitted' jars that you refill (because I'd do it once and never again ). Anyone have a good way of storing different shapes and sizes of small jars?

[zazen999]

One of the neverending conversations in our house...if you ever find an answer I'd be interested to know.

Nightmare when I'm cooking curries, as I use a mix of them and there's always one at the back that I need and I have to empty the whole cupboard out.

I saw those racks in John Lewis 2 days ago; perhaps now I'm 40 it is time to buy one.

[lynda66]

i got a couple of stacking things from wilkies, they aren't massive, but they take a lot of standard height spice containers, the bigger ones can go in the top.

they are like the big vegetable shelves with a dip at the front, only smaller, so when you need spices, take the whole thing out, then put back in the cupboard when finished.

[smallblueplanet]

They keep better 'away' from light and heat, so maybe if you could put them in some of those slide out wire baskets in a kitchen base unit? At least you can reach them!

[lottie dolly]

an ice cream tub,a small plastic basket you can get from wilko or tesco,i find them good to store all kind of things in,dried pulses for 1,anything you want to ,is so much easier to lift 1 container down with every thing in that particular food group,and maybe stack 1 on top saving even more space,also is easier to give the shelf a clean,is of putting when you have to move so many smaller containers.

[Seahorse]

See, now you say use something you can lift down/pull out, it sounds obvious

I'll look into getting one of those wire basket things for a cupboard, I think!

Thanks

[SarzWix]

We've been looking for solutions for the same problem! We've got 2 shelves in the cupboard that are jammed with different packets/jars/tubs & it's impossible to get the thing you want without emptying half the cupboard I found these things on Lakeland that all look useful - just need some cash now
Step It Up - Lakeland, the home of creative kitchenware
Packet Store - Lakeland, the home of creative kitchenware
Slide-Out Store - Lakeland, the home of creative kitchenware
Easy-Reach Storage Caddy - Lakeland, the home of creative kitchenware

[trousers]

with our busy kitchen wellie knows what herbs and spices we use a lot so she bought the jars and then made the shelf unit, and she's got a curtain (being washed) that covers the m all up, so they live in the dark. She does get through lots of them.

[Headfry]

Mr HF made me a fab rack many moons ago.... work a treat!
tip....
Write the sell by date in marker pen on front of jars, boxes, etc ...saves ages hunting around for the tiny stupid sell by dates!

[Hilary B]

I buy spices from the local market, in funny little plastic packages. The whole lot are stored in a biscuit tin (we have one of the fancy sort with a ventilation thingy in the lid that reminds me of a fryer-filter, but much smaller). When I want to make a curry, I gat out all the right packets, make pretty patterns of spices on a plate, then put all the packets back. I mostly use ready ground spices, because for years I lived where anything else could only be bought in quantities far too large for practicality, and it got to be a habit, but every spice you put in a curry is a slightly different shade of brown, and I like making 'pictures' with them on the plate<g>.
These days (after bitter experience of how rapidly it spoils) I rarely use chilli powder. If fresh chillies are not an option I use tabasco.

[Capsid]

One of the kitchen drawers is devoted to the spice jars laid on their sides, hopefully label up but mostly not. The herbs are in a cupboard. My OH printed out a list of what we store and stuck it to the inside of the cupboard door, so now we know whether we should have it or not. When they run out, the item goes on the shopping list.

[Alice]

I their no end to your talent Wellie. Just the biz.

[wellie]

Alice, Trousers bought me my own Bosch drill a few years ago for my birthday.
Where there's a Wellie - there's A Way....!
(See Wellie Curtsey) X

[zazen999]

So, I went to Lakeland today after the inspiration; and got 2 of those in cupboard slide out thingys for the spices, plus some veg bags to keep veg fresher, a mini salad spinner [we are really pushed for space here], and 2 bottles to put red and green tom ketchup in.

So, thanks Sarah for the nod; kitchen looking better already. OH will be very impressed when he gets in [once he has dried off as it's pouring here again and he cycles to work].

[Seahorse]

I think I'm going to get a couple of the Lakeland slide out thingys too. They look just the job.

It's dangerous for me to go into that shop though. Things just leap into my basket and insist on coming home with me