topic Re: Herb and Spice Storage in Kitchen

Herb and Spice Storage

MildredM — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:19:54 GMT

Mine are kept in a pantry on a shelf. For 30+ years they have been organized by use. The most frequently used in the front and the least used in the back. I have always been happy with this arrangement.

I opened the pantry door and found them arranged alphabetically. My husband (retired) has decided to fix the way they were organized saying he couldn't find what he was looking for under the used frequently system.

Not sure what I am going to do and was wondering if I am the only one that arranges the herb and spices this way. Would like to put them back the way they were but this will cause friction in the household.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

Mz iMac — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:29:16 GMT

I organize my spice pantry like you do, hardly use in the back, mainly use front & center.

Now when my paramour is here (he does all the cooking), he re-organizes like your husband. I don't say a word. The kitchen is his world not mine.

Once he leaves, I put the spices back the way I want.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

kaydee50 — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:33:42 GMT

Who does the most cooking? Should be up to him/her to arrange the spices. Or try a rotating table. He can put the spices alphabetically and you can just spin the table for the ones most used.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

Big Joanie — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:36:47 GMT

It's been 25 years and I still have not ajusted to my hubby being

home all day ....

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

dimin — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:57:33 GMT

@MildredM wrote:
Mine are kept in a pantry on a shelf. For 30+ years they have been organized by use. The most frequently used in the front and the least used in the back. I have always been happy with this arrangement.

I opened the pantry door and found them arranged alphabetically. My husband (retired) has decided to fix the way they were organized saying he couldn't find what he was looking for under the used frequently system.

Not sure what I am going to do and was wondering if I am the only one that arranges the herb and spices this way. Would like to put them back the way they were but this will cause friction in the household.

Hopefully as the spices get used the most frequently used will end up in front again. Mine are mostly on the counter top. Most used are easiest to get too. I have so many it would be hard to alphabetize. Since I can only see the tops of most of my spices I put a white circle label on the lid. I only put the first letter, like P for paprika. At least it's less jars we have to pick up to see what's on the label. They are in a 2 tier basket which is why we can mostly just see the lids.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

Mellyg — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:04:58 GMT

I agree with @kaydee50 ; whoever does the bulk of the cooking should have an order that is suitable to him/her. I had a similar situation when DH thought he should have input on where something went in the kitchen. I had to tell him, I appreciate his hard work and it paying off with a kitchen that I love..... but you don't get input on things you never use!

If both of you use the spices equally, is there a happy medium? You put them where you want, but he can label the tops to access easily? I need structure and organization in the kitchen. I have mine on a lazy Susan, but it's divided into 4 sections using a clear lazy Susan bin. The bins are labeled on the outside as to which is where. Each of the 4 bins is categorized by use.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

amyb — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:12:18 GMT

@MildredM wrote:
Mine are kept in a pantry on a shelf. For 30+ years they have been organized by use. The most frequently used in the front and the least used in the back. I have always been happy with this arrangement.

I opened the pantry door and found them arranged alphabetically. My husband (retired) has decided to fix the way they were organized saying he couldn't find what he was looking for under the used frequently system.

Not sure what I am going to do and was wondering if I am the only one that arranges the herb and spices this way. Would like to put them back the way they were but this will cause friction in the household.

Lol...found this a bit amusing. But I'm with you @MildredM! Mine are arranged on a couple cabinet shelves to the left of my stove...the ones I use most frequently up front, the others behind it. Cilantro, Tarragon...random uses...wayyy in the back. The alphabetical arrangement to me doesn't make as much sense...at least not in the small cabinet I have. In that case Cilantro would be in front of Garlic Powder and Parsley flakes that I use constantly!! Alphabetical...If they were all out on a linear type rack over your stove maybe, like in the grocery store...

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

Carmie — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:22:31 GMT

I recently cleaned out and organized my spice cabinet. I had so many duplicates because I couldn't find what I was looking for and bought more.

I bought small deli containers and labeled them. They take up so little room compared to the bottles and I can find what I am looking for.

I put the spices I use most often on top. If my DH rearranged my cabinets, he would find himself upgraded to chief cook and bottle washer. If he wants to head up my kitchen, he is free to do so and I will take a seat.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

PA Mom-mom — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:34:12 GMT

@MildredM Mine are arranged from short to tall on risers in the cupboard. That way I can see all of the labels. I also have them on racks attached to the inside of the cupboard door. When I'm in a cooking frenzy, I am not bothered if they are in any particular order., but I have a pretty good idea of where everything is. Oh, and DH would never mess with my herbs and spices.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

I am still oxox — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:35:28 GMT

I keep what I use often at hand and the rest sits on a three tired shelf

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

mizree — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:39:37 GMT

@MildredM i enjoy reading about your husband's help in the kitchen. Bless their hearts!. I assigned a lazy susan in the cupboard for spices he uses and a larger lazy susan on countertop to corral vinegars and sauces. i keep spices i use as most of you ladies do according to frequency of use. Recently my husband asked why the red pepper flakes (in my spices) did not have shaker top. I told him I have to measure. It took too long to remove/replace so i discarded. Then i reminded him where his pepper flakes were. I guess it's best to pick and chose your issues. Best to you.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

jannabelle1 — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 22:16:06 GMT

My spices are in the cabinet to the left of my stove, with the most frequently used always in the front, and I try to keep baking spices kept together. For that reason I would not want them all arranged alphabetically. Unless your hubby does most of the cooking, I'd change them back to the way you had them, and nicely tell him that it just creates more work/time for you to find spices you use all the time in the back of the cabinet. If there are a few that he likes to use, just put them on a different shelf in alpha order!

I don't tell my hubby how to organize the garage.....or his tools. Enough said! Good luck to you!

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

noodleann — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 22:22:06 GMT

I arrange my shelves alphabetically and always have. I have things I use frequently like pepper and garlic powder on the counter next to the stove, but single notes are otherwise in a dark cupboard, in rows, alpha order.

The exception is unusual blends. Things like Cajun, Italian, and Greek blends are in with the singles, but Global Fusion blends are with other specialty seasonings on their own lazy susan. Then there are the small bottles that need a home--Tabasco, liquid smoke, etc.--and wind up in a basket in the fridge. Plus there are always the oddballs, like Bell's Seasoning in the little yellow box, which usually gets stuck in a little rack on the inside of the spice cupboard door along with an ancient box of food coloring, so I'd always forget I have it. I make my own now--it's just a blend of rosemary, oregano, sage, singer, marjoram, thyme and pepper.

No one else uses my kitchen, so I don't have experience with someone messing up my system. But I will say that only the cook who orders seasonings idiosyncratically will know where to find what very easily, but anyone, including that cook, can find things (most things) easily if they're labeled and alphabetized.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

froggy — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 22:45:33 GMT

I used to use the risers but still could not quickly find what I wanted easily. I changed to the one below many years ago (except mine has 3 tiers) and it's much easier and more accessible. I have two of them - they fit perfectly in the narrow cupboard next to the stovetop. It comes with lables to paste on the front so you can read them when the shelf is closed.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

take a hike — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 01:23:09 GMT

froggy - I have the same Spice Stack you do, with three drawers. I admit it, mine are arranged alphabetically.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

ECBG — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 03:08:24 GMT

I buy large bottles of spice at Sam's. I keep them in the freezer. Small, often used bottles are kept in a spice cabinet I painted when I taught tole painting.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

Free2be — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 03:16:57 GMT

This thread encourages me to weed out my spices and blends which are mostly organized alphabetically but there are so many they are all over the place. I had big ideas for a few I've never used, seemed like a good idea at the time and some have no doubt reached their pull date. Some I refilled with fresh because I use so often. If he puts anything in a wrong place, I move it back where it is supposed to be but he never reorganizes my stuff.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

dimin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 03:18:31 GMT

@froggy wrote:
I used to use the risers but still could not quickly find what I wanted easily. I changed to the one below many years ago (except mine has 3 tiers) and it's much easier and more accessible. I have two of them - they fit perfectly in the narrow cupboard next to the stovetop. It comes with lables to paste on the front so you can read them when the shelf is closed.

I think those are good spice holders of all I've seen.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

beach-mom — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 03:22:53 GMT

Mine are arranged alphabetically too. It's the one thing in my life that, when everything seems like it's spinning out of control, makes me feel good! They are in a cabinet we got as a wedding present hanging on the wall. DH's crushed red pepper flakes and my sea salt, peppercorns, and dry minced onions are in a cabinet next to the stove.

Re: Herb and Spice Storage

Sooner — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 03:30:46 GMT

My guy now cooks more than I do because we are retired and are at home. So he gets more say about how things are arranged and what goes where. I'm just happy to have him here and having fun cooking.

I don't care how spices are arranged as long as they are arranged in some method and kept that way.