# Spice racks for real cooks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853 "2009-08-18T16:02:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/21 "2009-08-19T00:49:40Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I hung some wire shelves on the back of the pantry door. They look sort of like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Feeny-Tier-Spice-Rack-White/dp/B0006NNL8Y/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1250611740&sr=1-10), but bigger. It holds all my spices. > > We organized ours in alphabetical order. We did the same with [this one](http://www.containerstore.com/browse/big_product_pic.jhtml?PRODID=71187) we picked up at the Container Store ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/22 "2009-08-19T02:42:02Z")
I have a spice drawer, but with all this talk of lazy susans and magnetic tins, I kind of want to mount a lazy susan on the bottom of a cabinet, with magnetic tape, and have an upside-down spice carousel. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/23 "2009-08-19T02:51:18Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > I got some rectangular plastic baskets that are a little less than 3" tall. I put the names on labels on the tops of the jars. I have three of these stacked in my cupboard with the most used spices in the top basket. :::checks username::: Nope, you’re not me. But I’ve done the identical thing with my spices 😃 The hardest part is that I can never keep them organized and so I always have to look through all 4 of my baskets to find anything. The magnetic / whiteboard solution looks pretty interesting. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/24 "2009-08-19T03:26:49Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > I have this stackable, under-cabinet mountable spice rack at my house. The spices are not hidden behind any doors, and auto-measure in 1/4 teaspoon increments (an opening allows for filling and removing larger quantities). My only complaint is that the plastic builds up a good deal of static and so spices tend to stick to it a bit and require wiping it down often. > > Other than that, it’s really cool and I like it, especially because you can mount it under a cabinet so it doe snot use up counter space or in-cabinet space. > > [Amazon.com: KitchenArt Spice Rack, Select-A-Spice Auto-Measure Rotating Spice Rack, White, 12 Compartments: Spice Racks: Home & Kitchen](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004VWIP/ref=asc_df_B00004VWIP884336?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B00004VWIP) I have this exact same spice rack. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/25 "2009-08-19T06:31:28Z")
How about dividing your spices into the ones you use often and the ones you use occasionally? You can put the often used ones on that lazy Susan you already have, and the seldom used ones in a nice box (mine is an antique metal box, very nice looking) out of the way somewhere. To save space, I keep my seldom used spices not in jars, but in little plastic zip-locs, so more of them will fit in the box, and I can write the name and date (or corresponding recipy) on the ziploc bags. Besides, it is easier to keep track of the freshest spices that way. It is hard to throw out a jar with some of that almost grey dillweed, but not so hard to throw out a ziploc with soem gray dill weed when you have another ziploc with green dillweed. For some reason I never came round to emptying the jar and replacign the contents. Besides, many spices do come in packets, and ziplocs allow you to contain spillage from opened packets. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/26 "2009-08-19T07:07:41Z")
I have a dedicated spice pantry, kinda. I live in an older home and in the kitchen what is now my spice cabinet used to be one of those built in ironing boards, the kind that folded up against the wall when not in use and were hidden by a nice little door. Well, the board was gone so in went a wire rack system about 3 inches deep which is perfect for spice tins and jars and it’s about six feet high. It’s big enough to hold the large plastic shakers you get at places like Sam’s Club which is good for stuff like dried chiles and various rubs and mixes I use. Savory starts at the top, then my baking spices, then extracts and dyes with the large bulky stuff on the bottom. I really like it. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/27 "2009-08-19T15:01:03Z")
> [@runcible\_spoon](#): > > I have a spice drawer, but with all this talk of lazy susans and magnetic tins, I kind of want to mount a lazy susan on the bottom of a cabinet, with magnetic tape, and have an upside-down spice carousel. Or you could, you know, check out the link I provided to something exactly like that, only better. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/28 "2009-08-19T15:09:44Z")
I have [this one](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ninecooks.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/09/02/spicestack1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theperfectpantry.com/2008/09/curry-powder-re.html%3Fcid%3D6a00d83451fa5069e20115716022f0970b&usg=__hA5xWsAq5ivUxXAHYfMX9xe81aU=&h=418&w=460&sz=86&hl=en&start=37&sig2=tE2msqAasqjfEu_QiEgVPA&um=1&tbnid=eT3OuuYXzK2cPM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpull-down%2Bspice%2Brack%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D21%26um%3D1&ei=hQSMSrDGDJDisQO1gMnFCQ) and I love it! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/29 "2009-08-19T15:09:48Z")
> [@runcible\_spoon](#): > > I have a spice drawer, but with all this talk of lazy susans and magnetic tins, I kind of want to mount a lazy susan on the bottom of a cabinet, with magnetic tape, and have an upside-down spice carousel. > [@crazyjoe](#): > > [Amazon.com: KitchenArt Spice Rack, Select-A-Spice Auto-Measure Rotating Spice Rack, White, 12 Compartments: Spice Racks: Home & Kitchen](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004VWIP/ref=asc_df_B00004VWIP884336?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B00004VWIP) This one, as \*\*crazyjoe \*\*linked to above, is great. It can sit on the counter or mount under the cabinet. I have it mounted under the cabinet and it’s really handy and accessible, but it’s up and out of the way. There’s a little dial on each jar that dispenses 1/4 teaspoon or you can open the lid on top for larger amounts. It comes with pre-printed labels and a few blanks. I use it for the spices I use the most. The lesser-used spices are on a lazy susan inside the cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/30 "2009-08-19T21:47:43Z")
Another do it yourself option adapted from my Dad’s garage-- He stored his bolts and nails in little screw top airtight biological specimen cups which had their lids bolted to a strip of wood mounted on his workbench, whereby he simply had to unscrew the container from its mount to access the bolts. Here is a [picture that illustrates](http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/creative-reuse/crafty-uses-for-baby-food-jars-066154) what I am talking about, most people use babyfood jars, but we had access to the specimen cups which were larger. You could use a similar arrangement for your spices just as easily. Get a piece of 1X4 wood (pine is fine) and finish, paint, or decorate it to your specs. Either glue or screw the babyjar lids to the board and then mount it under your cupboards or wherever you’d like. Label the jars, add your spices, and screw them in place… ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/31 "2009-08-20T00:33:17Z")
If you genuinely want a spice rack for real cooks, then there is no question that you need this foot wide, 72 inch long, 2 tier [stainless steel overshelf](http://www.etundra.com/72__Stainless_Steel_Overshelf-P11515.html?token=6173%7C%7C%7C0%7C10%7C7%7C1%7C0), that’s where you might find the spices in a real kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/32 "2009-08-20T01:36:11Z")
Every type of [Spice rack](http://www.shopwiki.com/Spice+Rack?sb=1), from every corner of the internet. There’s even an Elvis spice rack in there. There’s also a cool chrome ferris wheel type rack that looks interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/33 "2009-08-20T01:51:07Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > A few years ago I got some of [these](http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=25) little tins and some of [this](http://www.mcmaster.com/#5769k92/=38srg4) flexible magnetic strip which I then screwed to the back of the cabinet door. > > Kind of like Alton’s velcro method, but I don’t have any velcro on the bottom of my canisters to get gunky. I use those same tins, put the label on the top and put them in a drawer with the label facing up (in alphabetical order of course). I can’t stick them inside my cabinet doors because I have containers in the cabinets that come flush with the door, so there’s no room. Oh yeah, I know you dont’ have enough drawer space, but that’s how I do mine. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/34 "2009-08-20T02:32:30Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > magnetic strips glued to little Dollar Store tins + side of refrigerator. That sounds cool… but then again, I can only imagine the kids pulling _those_ off the fridge. Pictures, fine. Magnets, fine… but cumin and cayenne all over the floor… that’s another story. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/35 "2009-08-20T12:10:01Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > I > > [Amazon.com: KitchenArt Spice Rack, Select-A-Spice Auto-Measure Rotating Spice Rack, White, 12 Compartments: Spice Racks: Home & Kitchen](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004VWIP/ref=asc_df_B00004VWIP884336?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B00004VWIP) How much volume does each canister hold? A typical supermarket spice bottle size, one of the bigger supermarket containers? Really big bulk sizes? It’s hard for me to judge from the photo, but it looks cool. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/36 "2009-08-20T12:31:42Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > I got some rectangular plastic baskets that are a little less than 3" tall. I put the names on labels on the tops of the jars. I have three of these stacked in my cupboard with the most used spices in the top basket. Thirded 🙂 Very easy solution, infinitely expandable (at least until you run out of cupboards!) and does not rely on always buying the same brand of spice. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/37 "2009-08-20T13:09:07Z")
I keep mine in little plastic boxes designed for carrying fishing flies. Each box holds about 2 tablespoons of 5 spices. I just group them in similar groups, so one box has 2 lots of dried chilies, paprika, sezchuan pepper and dried ginger, another has Indian spices another has desert stuff etc. I keep the large packets in a sealed container in the cupboard and refill the little boxes as required. I came up with the idea after I started using a fly box for my medications so that I didn’t either have them out all the time or go searching for them every day. They hole enough stuff to not have to go looking for things and don’t waste a chunk of space like most other solutions did. Just one small stack of boxes that can be put away in 5 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/38 "2009-08-20T13:41:18Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I keep mine in little plastic boxes designed for carrying fishing flies. Each box holds about 2 tablespoons of 5 spices. I just group them in similar groups, so one box has 2 lots of dried chilies, paprika, sezchuan pepper and dried ginger, another has Indian spices another has desert stuff etc. I keep the large packets in a sealed container in the cupboard and refill the little boxes as required. > > I came up with the idea after I started using a fly box for my medications so that I didn’t either have them out all the time or go searching for them every day. They hole enough stuff to not have to go looking for things and don’t waste a chunk of space like most other solutions did. Just one small stack of boxes that can be put away in 5 seconds. Neat idea, though it wouldn’t work for me. I do recipes that would require 2 tablespoons of a spice for the one batch I’m making. I’d be irked at constantly refilling them. I’m moving to a new flat in October/November and I’m gonna get the magnetic jars. Hopefully we can store 'em on the fridge or there’ll be space in the built-in cabinet to put a magnetic hanging (Ikea has 'em for $13. Can’t write on them but you can’t beat the price!). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/39 "2009-08-20T14:04:32Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > We did the same with [this one](http://www.containerstore.com/browse/big_product_pic.jhtml?PRODID=71187) we picked up at the Container Store With all the great ideas I’ve seen, this is the one I think I might do some day. It won’t require attempting to screw something to the pantry door (they’re cheap hollow things and I suspect anything we tried would rip right through the “wood”). A lot of the other solutions sound like either too much work (I don’t want to have to transfer all my spices to the magnetic jars, as cool as that sounds), or won’t hold all the jars (I’ve got 4 bins - I’ll have to do a jar count but I’d bet it’s at least 60 different jars). The details on how to put that together, for interested parties: [http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=22279941&itemIndex=2&CATID=74107&PRODID=71187](http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=22279941&itemIndex=2&CATID=74107&PRODID=71187) Maybe I’ll let Typo Knig know about this for Christmastime planning. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853/40 "2009-08-20T14:31:13Z")
**zweisamkeit** - I think what Alton has are plain cookie sheets attached to the cupboard doors, with the magnetic boxes sticking to that. It would be cheaper than the metal boards from Ikea. StG [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spice-racks-for-real-cooks/506853.md?page=3)