My Spice Drawer

Yup, I keep my spices in a drawer.

Since learning about spices, I now keep my spices in small, short mason jars (the ones normally used for jellies). I have experimented with lots of other spice holders but have settled on this solution because:

It is much easier to scoop spice out with teaspoons or tablespoons.
They are easier to fill.
They are easy to stack two deep in a drawer (I put them in alphabetical order so they are easy to find).
They are kept out of direct sunlight and heat.
Best of all, no more hunting for spices!

I have found that learning about spices has completely changed how I cook and I use a lot more spices now. They are not nearly as intimidating as they once seemed and they no longer languish in the cupboard until stale and tasteless.

I love to buy spices in bulk and bring them home to fill the jars. In fact, a lot of my jars are filled with my own spice blends (find out why I create my own spice blends). This is a great way to save time and money while creating flavourful dishes.

If you find you use a lot of spices, you may want to try the mason jar method. If you decide to put them in a drawer, here are some tips:

Label each jar on top and the sides (only labeling the tops can lead to problems if the tops get mixed up)
Use these jars for spices or blends you use a lot.
Decide on a way to organize them (I put them in alphabetical order).
Line the drawer with a no slip rubber mat to prevent the jars from sliding around.
Some bulk spice stores will let you bring in your jars so that you can fill them up right there. No guesswork required.