Help! My spice and baking ingredients cabinet is a disaster, and I don't even know where to begin. It's actually one of the only unorganized spots in my house, and I just don't know what to do with it. I don't even know what I have hidden back there. I think my issue is that although the cabinet is large, there are only 2 shelves, so spices get stacked on top of each other. Then they fall over, things get thrown in the back..it's a disaster. Any organization tips?
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I use a SpiceStor and I love it. It is a little pricey for what it is, but it really helps.
http://www.spicestor.com -
At my old apartment I screwed a bunch of drawer organizers onto the door of my cabinet and kept my most used spices there. I got the idea from this: http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2012/02/less-mess-project-pantry-reveal/
It definitely didn't hold all my spices but it kept my 10 most used ones at hand. You have to be careful when buying the drawer organizers because they have to fit perfectly or it doesn't work!
My father has a lazy Susan in his cabinet that works great for spices (I'm in a new place now and I think this is the best solution for my current apartment).
My mother in law got a little tiered rack off Amazon that she really likes!
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Our kitchen is tiny and I just have two shelves dedicated to baking. For all the herb and spice jars, I use an old cookie tin (without the lid), it's probably 10"x12" and I put all of the spice jars in there. That helps keep down the clutter and I just pull the tin out when I need to look for something.
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We have something like this sitting on our counter top since our cabinets are pretty high up.
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I have these on the side of my fridge: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/magnetic-spice-tin/1013335656
It started as an apartment space saving measure. They work ok, but let in too much moisture for some spices so they get clumpy. I've had to start keeping garlic powder and seasoned salt in other containers. The rest of my 20+ spices are fine though. Ideally I think I'd like a spice rack on the wall, but for now I like that I can see them all and they are crowding my cabinets.
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This is my situation. Maybe I just need to add an entire shelf?!
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@lamariniere: I do something similar... I put all the baking spices into a separate bin. The regular cooking spices are more accessible, but the baking stuff is out of the way for times when I need it.
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@lamariniere: I like that idea!
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@Bao: maybe start with a shoe box? It looks like a number of your smaller items could fit into a shoe box. Another thing I did was wrap a piece of cardboard in aluminum foil and I set all the oils/honey/sauces/sticky items on top of that. It keeps the cabinet cleaner. Also, I would try to put those cookbooks elsewhere if possible. I keep mine on our main bookcase in the living room.
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We use lazy suzans, but I really like the idea @tofuwad: posted for our current pantry so I think I may try that.
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@lamariniere: I don't use them a lot so maybe I'll put them in the basement food storage area, good thinking!
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@Bao: I take anything from the big containers like the chili powder and chicken/beef bouillon powder and put them into small containers (I keep all of my old glass spice containers to reuse them for this purpose). Then I keep the bulky items in an out of the way cabinet (like the one over the fridge).
I agree with taking the books out of there and finding a different home for them.
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I also like to see all of my spices at one time so I use one of these, but mine is adjustable so I can expand or shrink it as needed.
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I also have what @Alivoo01 suggested and I love them. They come with stickers so you can label where every spice is.
I would also get something like this:
That will help make better use of the top shelf. And I would also put most things into uniform containers. Maybe the Oxo push button top plastic containers that stack really well.
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I use a two level lazy Susan that works really well, as long as my husband doesn't pile random boxes of other foods on top of it (as he is want to do).
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I have the same thing that @mediagirl does (actually, the one in the picture) and it really helps me see what I have.
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When we moved in, I started using a drawer for them.
But DH didn't like that, and he uses them more often than me, so I moved them to the high cabinets over the stove so at least when he cluttered them up I wouldn't have to see them (I can't reach the cabinet without the step stool)
Every so often I go through and alphabetize them and combine ones that are getting low (he's horrible at thinking we're out of something when it's not right out in front and buying more).
But otherwise, I know if I try to organize it, he's not going to stick with it and mess it up, so I just gave up.
If anyone has a husband-proof method for organizing storage containers, let me know. Our tupperware cabinet is the one that *really* bothers me. Why can't men realize it's easier to find things if you put the lid near the container?
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I also sort my shelves. Top-baking, Middle-asian and spicy, Bottom-general everyday. That helps!
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@Ms. RV: That is awesome! Thanks! I have a turntable thing that holds my spices but I have too many spices so I have to move spices out of the way to get spices behind it.
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@MaryM: I store most of my containers with the lids on. We have some that stack inside of each other (with the lids on) which helps with space. We have just about the right amount so we use most of them in a week.
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I keep baking and cooking spices totally separate. I have one of those little ikea spice racks just set on my counter with spices we use every day. One cupboard shelf has less regularly used cooking spices, and olive oil, taco seasoning, etc. Another cupboard has mixing bowls on one shelf, and baking goods on another. All small items and spices are in an old satsuma box, so they're contained, and I can pull it out and see everything. I'll probably add another box or bin soon for chocolate chips, powdered sugar bags, etc.
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I do the same as @mediagirl: all three same jars on risers. I sort by cuisine.
Baking spices on one shelf.
Peppers and herbs on another.
Southwest next to peppers.
Asian in the back.
Etc. -
@mediagirl: where did you get those shelves?
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@Mrs. J: google "spice stairs". I think we got ours at Target but the one I posted is from Bed Bath and Beyond. Oh this is the one we have and I LOVE it because it expands - The Container Store.
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@MaryM: We put all of the lids for all of the tupperwares into a plastic basket and then put that in the cabinet. Then at least the lids don't get lost (though you do have to remember what lid goes with what container...)
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It doesn't fit in my current apartment cabinets, but in my last one I had the Spicy Shelf from BBB and really loved it.
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@mediagirl: thanks!!!
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@Ms. RV: I've tried that method. They're stored near the baking dishes so I use either 9 in square baking dish or one of the largest containers to hold all lids...DH just can't do it. I swear he opens the cabinet and just throws them in!
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@MaryM: What about something like this for your tupperwear storage?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MN9NVH0/ref=pd_luc_rh_sim_04_04_t_img_lh?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Or something like this for just lids. https://www.amazon.com/mDesign-Storage-Organizer-Kitchen-Cabinet/dp/B01CMLG4NG/ref=pd_sim_79_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XG233GQJRGHJCXGXNG4A
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@bluestriped bee: Because we keep it in a cabinet and not a drawer, I'm not convinced DH would take the time to sort things like that.
Plus we mostly use glass containers with snap on lids so they don't really store vertically well. And that makes stacking (nesting) things of the same size harder.
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@MaryM: Oh, I was going to say this picture shows it being used in a cabinet... but I see you use glass containers.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MN9NY90/ref=pd_luc_rh_sim_04_04_t_img_lh?_encoding=UTF8 -
@MaryM: Do you have the room the store them with the lids on like @brownepiano: suggested?
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@bluestriped bee: I could try...but that would still require DH to match lids to bottoms while getting them out of the dishwasher. I'm not sure anyone ever taught him that skill
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@MaryM: Haha. You could use a sharpie marker and mark each lid with a container with a letter A. As long as he can find A and match it with lid A...
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@brownepiano: this is so smart....especially since we have an extra working fridge in our kitchen! I could just put them on that!
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@MaryM: I think it is easier to find the lid after it's been washed because there are less options. We have the glass ones too and those don't stack well any way you do it. Good luck!
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about a year ago, i was fed up with the my lack of organization with the spice racks, and then i found these rack drawers at http://www.verticalspice.com/ Ok they're very pricey for spice racks, but quite worth it as I never ever have to rummage through and take out 20 things to get to that 1 bottle in the back that I need. it was my splurge purchase but no regrets.
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@kakimochi: I'm going to measure my cabinets and get these asap!!!
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@kakimochi: I want this!
I try to buy all my spices in the bags and not the jars.. that way I can shove them all into a freezer size ziplock bag
haha. Then they don't spill everywhere and I can just pull the bag out. After we move I'm totally going to find something better like the one posted above or the spice stair thing!
haha. Then they don't spill everywhere and I can just pull the bag out. After we move I'm totally going to find something better like the one posted above or the spice stair thing!
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