5 Simple Ways To Tackle Your Messy Spice Drawer

5 Simple Tips from Cook and Pan to Tidy Up Your Messy Spice Drawer!

Inventory Your Spices

Take all your spices out of the cupboard, even the ones hidden way back in your pantry. Place them all on the counter, or on another surface where you can clearly see what you have. This is usually the first step in organizing a space, because it's really important to actually see what you have to determine the best solution. Once you have all the spices lined up, try grouping them by flavor. You often have multiple of the same spices, so this step is crucial for organizing them.

Find the Expiration Date

You've all played fast and loose with expiration dates before; like that yogurt that expired a week ago but still smells and tastes fine, or that can of beans that's past its date but has never been opened. Spices are a completely different story, in that some food experts believe they don't really expire because they're dried. However, they do lose some of their potency and flavor over time, so it's really up to you how long you want to keep them. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven't cooked with it in over a year, it's probably time to let it go. So take a few minutes to go through your collection and toss out any spices that don't need to be there anymore. This step alone will help free up quite a bit of space.

Give Them a Home

Once you've curated your spice collection, you need to think about where all these spices will be placed. Preferably somewhere near where you cook, so you can easily access them. But this place will really depend on the space you have available. The classic spice drawer? Open shelves on the wall? A turntable in your cupboard? Don't be afraid to move other kitchen items around so you can create a home where all your spices can live together.

Bring Unity to the Jars

There's just something visually appealing about the unity of jars. Unfortunately, unless you're very brand loyal with your spices, you probably have a mishmash of jars, bottles, and bags in which you currently store your spices. Consider putting your spices in matching jars. You can use a jar specifically designed for it, a mason jar, or really any jar that matches your kitchen decor. Try to make sure the jar is airtight to maintain freshness. It's also important to pay attention to the opening. Choose a shaker if you sprinkle your spices, but if you're more of a spoonful-by-spoonful person, the top should be wide enough to fit a measuring spoon. Or simply choose a combination of both!

Label, Label, Label

Consider the label, just like a cherry on top, as a decorative, but absolutely necessary, finishing touch. Not only does it help you identify the contents, but a clear and consistent labeling technique also helps reduce visual clutter. Labels can be as simple as handwriting the name on masking tape or as beautiful as a custom-printed design. Just like with any other space you want to decorate in your home, it's about what works for you, your lifestyle, and budget.