Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Spice rack ideas?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Cooking & Baking Group Donate to DU
 
eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:10 PM
Original message
Spice rack ideas?
In my last two places, I've had a pantry, and I've been able to install plain white wire spice racks (room for probably 50 bottles, plus pouches and wider jars...criminy) -- in my house, I installed them on the inside of the pantry door, and in my current apartment, I installed them right on the inner pantry wall.

I'm moving to a place that lacks a pantry, but has pretty good cabinet/counter/drawer space to make up for it. It looks like I won't be able to install wire racks on any inner cabinet doors (I'm renting and don't want to damage the cabinet doors). I'm wary of counter or wall-mounted racks (the kitchen is sunny, and I want to keep spices out of the light), but am open to suggestion.

Anyone have any space-saving ideas?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:23 PM
Response to Original message
1. I have a small oak cabinet with 4 shelves and oak doors
bolted to a spare bit of wall. I have no idea what the cabinet was supposed to have been used for, but it's made an ideal spice cabinet for many years, keeping the spices cool and dark.

My spice jars are a motley collection of baby food jars and (sterile) urine sample bottles (hey, I've been a nurse for 25 years) because I buy my herbs and spices in bulk and change them out frequently. I avoid those overpriced bottles in the supermarket---the contents are usually ancient.

My advice to anyone without a pantry is to go thrift shopping with an open mind. Actually, that's pretty good advice, period.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. I do a lot of thrift shopping, so I'll definitely look there
Penzey's is based in WI so I go there -- they have high product turnover and everything's a lot better than the crap in the supermarket.

At least we won't have to consolidate lots of stuff into the kitchen...we're combining two households into one, but my SO doesn't have a lot of kitchen gear. It's pretty much mine to do with as I see fit.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
politicat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:32 PM
Response to Original message
3. Metal cans and either magnet tape or velcro.
Sorry, battery's dead on the camera; I'll get a pic for you in a little while.

I bought metal cans (here) http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/SearchIndexMetal.html (or perhaps somewhere else) and magnet tape and velcro at the local hardware store, and china markers at the art supply store.

I buy my spices in bulk, put them in the containers or take the containers to the spice shop with me and fill them there.

Then I stick them on the inside of the kitchen cupboard doors.

I just tried to peel off a corner of both the magnet tape and the velcro; both came off without too much effort.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:46 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. Hm...not a bad idea.
I'll also take a look at the nearby restaurant supply store. They're not very nice in there, but they have just about anything under the sun.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jeanarrett Donating Member (813 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:38 PM
Response to Original message
4. Get one of these. . . cool!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 03:45 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. They're cool, but I'd need at least 4 of them.
:o

(I really have too many spices.)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 04:51 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. Light will really affect the flavor of some spices
so I'd probably turn that particular arrangement down unless I had a huge closet to stick about five of them in
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
eleny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 06:04 PM
Response to Original message
8. I finally found these
I got two of these and have them side by side and nested a bit. This tiered method holds a lot.
http://stacksandstacks.com/html/10361_spice-rack-expand-a-shelf-spice-bottle-organizer-expandable-multi-tiered-display-system.htm

Something like these tiered jobs might help if you have to use your cabinets. In fact, you could probably fashion something yourself by stacking and gluing some pieces of lightweight wood together. Custom size it to your space. These plastic ones fit my shelf exactly, so I just bought a pair.

Good luck in your new place with whatever finally works!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Wordie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 06:43 PM
Response to Original message
9. I have two carousel-type spice holders...
Edited on Wed Feb-22-06 06:46 PM by Wordie
I have a kitchen with not enough counter space, but a fair amount of cabinet space. So my carousel-type spice holders (they revolve like a lazy susan) work great for me. I have two: one has two tiers, the other has one, and I can get lots of spices stored by using them; access is pretty easy too. They are white plastic (not attractive, really, but that's not a concern since they are hidden away in the cabinet), about 11 inches in diameter each (just the right size to fit into the upper cabinets), and revolve on ball bearings (from what I can tell - the motion is very smooth). I got them at a garage sale, so I don't really know the brand and I couldn't locate any pictures on the net when I looked just now.

I tried to look for a brand name on one, but couldn't find it (and I was afraid I was going to inadvertently dump all the spice bottles down on the countertop!). Something like Rubbermaid would be a good guess. I don't even know if they are made anymore, but since they really are very handy, I bet someone is still producing them. There may be higher-end models, too, if you want something a little nicer than white plastic.

Did I make it clear how they work, since I don't have a picture?

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lugnut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-23-06 01:13 AM
Response to Reply #9
13. That's what I use
Three lazy susan's fit in my oddly configured corner cabinet. They work perfectly for my spices.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 06:56 PM
Response to Original message
10. OMG! not the spice storage.............
Edited on Wed Feb-22-06 06:56 PM by AZDemDist6
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yellowdogintexas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 09:56 PM
Response to Original message
11. the Bed/bath/linen stores and Container Store have these nice
little stairstep things you can put your spices or other small stuff on
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
spindrifter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-22-06 10:09 PM
Response to Original message
12. I found some plastic
stair step-like things that hold lots of spice bottles in a three-tier arrangement. But then, I also have a bunch of plastic bags with spices I buy in bulk that are in a bowl.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-23-06 01:56 AM
Response to Original message
14. My husband built me one that "creeps" up the side of a shallow cabinet
Shelves are just deep enough for two spices and have a slightly raised front bottom edge..(earthquake country)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-23-06 09:05 AM
Response to Original message
15. Since you have drawer space, which keeps light out....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mandyky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-23-06 01:35 PM
Response to Original message
16. I recently inherited a "lazy Susan" type spice rack
It is a square/rectangle 16 or 20 hole swivel thingy that stands a little over a foot high.
4 to 5 spices up and down, and 4 sides of those...

Not sure where the people I inheritted it from got it from....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Oct 31st 2024, 05:50 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Cooking & Baking Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC