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Spice Storage Solutions

We searched for the best spice storage and organization devices on the market and found several great options for a variety of spaces.

What You Need to Know

We get tons of questions about how best to store spices, so we searched far and wide for a diverse selection of spice storage devices and put them to the test. In the end, we preferred sturdy, solid models that were easy to assemble and install; could fit a lot of spices; and positioned the containers so that we could easily find what we were looking for. For use inside a cabinet, we recommend the versatile Spicy Shelf Deluxe, which hugs the back and sides of the cabinet for maximum visibility, and the tiered mDesign 3 Tier Plastic Expandable Kitchen Spice Rack Organizer, which has a large capacity but tends to hide items on the back tiers. Our favorite drawer insert is the sturdy, expandable Lynk Professional Adjustable Expandable 4 Tier Steel Spice Drawer Organizer. And for a maximalist, over-the-door approach that holds far more than just spice jars, we recommend the Home-Complete Over the Door Storage Rack.

It’s a problem that has plagued generations of cooks: What’s the best way to store and organize spices? Despite our best efforts, most of us have a drawer or a cabinet that's cluttered with mismatched spices. All too often, a jar or tin gets shoved to the back and is never seen again. There’s no doubt that finding an efficient storage and organization system will make your life easier; it will also save you the frustration of scrutinizing your spice drawer for the right ingredients day after day. Organizing your spices may also help you get rid of expired or excess spices, freeing up space, so that you can fit more spices or other items in your drawers and cabinets.

Finding a system for organizing your spices will declutter your kitchen and make you a more efficient cook; it may also free up space in your cabinet or drawer so that you can expand your collection over time.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of spice storage devices on the market, including tiered shelves and lazy Susans for cabinets, special inserts for drawers, and even models designed to hang over cabinet or pantry doors. If you’re thinking about buying one, measure the space you’re hoping to reorganize first to make sure that the dimensions are compatible and that your spice collection will fit with room to expand—it’s the most important factor to consider.

If you’re thinking about buying one, measure the space you’re hoping to reorganize first to make sure that the dimensions are compatible and that your spice collection will fit with room to expand—it’s the most important factor to consider.

What to Look For

  • Large Capacity: Simply put, whether we placed them in cabinets or drawers or on the back of a door, we preferred the models that held more spice containers. Whether the models themselves were larger or they made more efficient use of space, we liked those that could hold at least fifty 4-fluid-ounce spice jars. A device of this size allows for a diverse selection of spices and lets home cooks expand their spice collections while still keeping things organized. We also liked models that could fit containers of multiple types and sizes, including tins and larger plastic shakers.

If you have the space, it's best to opt for a device that can hold a lot of spices. We found smaller models to be disappointingly inefficient and think it's best to choose a spice storage device that can hold 50 or more spice containers.

  • Easy Assembly and Installation: Some models required little to no assembly, but a few of our favorites did call for some setup. In those cases, we liked straightforward instructions and parts that fit together easily so that we didn’t waste time building and could get straight to organizing.
  • Sturdy Materials and Durability: Models made of thick, hardy plastic or metal were durable and strong enough to support heavy glass spice jars without toppling or collapsing.
  • Good Visibility: Having a good spice storage strategy is all about being able to easily and quickly view and access your spices from multiple angles. Models designed to hold spice containers so that the containers didn’t block one another—and could therefore fully display their labels—allowed us to find spices more efficiently.

Visibility is important; it is always frustrating to waste time digging into the depths of a cabinet or drawer looking for a spice. The best models allowed us to see our entire collection at a glance, which was an improvement over models that buried jars in their midst.

Nice to Have

  • Customizability: No two kitchens have the same layout or drawer and cabinet design, which is why it’s helpful when models expand to fit multiple spaces or offer several customizable configurations. Many of our favorite models could be configured to fit cabinets and drawers of various widths and depths, which would be great for both reorganizing a kitchen and moving to a new home.

Models that could be customized and resized to fit multiple spaces won out due to their versatility. All kitchens are different, and customizable devices allow you to adjust a model to match your sizing and layout. And if you ever move spice drawers (or kitchens), you can still use the same model.

  • Grippy Surfaces: Some models were lined with grippy silicone or soft plastic, which kept spice containers from sliding around.
  • Raised Edges: A few models with shelves or tiers had raised edges that held spice containers in place and kept them from falling.

What to Avoid

  • Flimsy Materials: Models made of flimsy materials threatened to—or did—break apart on several occasions throughout testing. It’s best to find models that are solidly constructed with sturdy, thick plastic or metal.

Some models were just too flimsy, including one lazy Susan that threatened to topple over at the slightest touch.

  • Bad Visibility: It’s frustrating to spend valuable time in the middle of cooking searching for a spice that eludes you because of bad sight lines in your spice cabinet. Some models clustered too many spices together on one level, blocking certain spice containers’ labels so completely that it took more than a minute for us to find them.

  • Time how long it takes to assemble the storage devices 
  • Determine the capacity using standard 4-fluid-ounce spice jars
  • Note the compatibility with various container types and sizes (including tins) 
  • Note the compatibility with a variety of kitchen drawers and cabinets
  • Fill the storage devices with an assortment of spice containers and have additional testers look for three specific spices, noting how long it takes
  • Spray the devices with neutral oil and sprinkle them with paprika, set them aside for 2 hours, and then wash them by hand
  • Spin, slide, open, close, or pull down on models 50 times to test their durability

FAQs

It’s best to store your spices in a cool, dark place, since exposure to heat and light will make them go bad faster. Skip the countertop storage options unless you have no other space, and choose a cabinet or drawer that isn’t near your stove or oven. You can find more information in our guide to storing and organizing spices.

We’ve found that it’s best to store spices in glass containers, both so that you can see how much of a spice you have left and because glass doesn’t react with the oils in spices or absorb flavors and odors in the way that plastic does. If you don’t want to transfer your spices to different containers, purchase spices sold in glass jars. If you do want to standardize your spice storage containers, we recommend a set of glass jars such as these containers from AOZITA.

It all depends on how you’re storing them. If you choose a storage device that allows you to see only the lids of the containers, we recommend labeling the lids with masking tape or a label maker. If you choose a tiered option for a cabinet, it may make sense to label the front of the jars, near the top, so that you can see the label over the spice jar in front of it. You can even label the jar and the lid, if you’d like, so that you don’t accidentally mix up the lids.

We recommend that most home cooks buy spices in small quantities unless it’s one that you use a lot of; if not, they could go bad before you get around to using all of them.

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America's Test KitchenSpice Storage SolutionsWatch Now

Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.
Fair 2 Stars out of 3.
Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Highly Recommended

  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Best Overall Cabinet OptionSpicy Shelf Deluxe

We loved that this U-shaped model was fully customizable; it can be expanded or collapsed to fit wide or narrow cabinets, and its platforms can be stacked or used side by side. It’s designed to hug the sides and back of cabinets’ interiors, offering significant storage space and allowing users to see clearly into each tier. It had an impressive capacity, though it did leave a gulf in the center of the cabinet. We were impressed by this model’s sturdiness, but we wish it would have taken a little less time to put together. It’s best used when you can devote a whole cabinet to spices and don’t block the view with other items.
Model Number: n/aStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 10.25 x 11 x 12 in (unextended), 10.25 x 16 x 12 in (fully extended)Number of Jars Held: 54Price at Time of Testing: $24.97
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
We loved that this U-shaped model was fully customizable; it can be expanded or collapsed to fit wide or narrow cabinets, and its platforms can be stacked or used side by side. It’s designed to hug the sides and back of cabinets’ interiors, offering significant storage space and allowing users to see clearly into each tier. It had an impressive capacity, though it did leave a gulf in the center of the cabinet. We were impressed by this model’s sturdiness, but we wish it would have taken a little less time to put together. It’s best used when you can devote a whole cabinet to spices and don’t block the view with other items.
Model Number: n/aStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 10.25 x 11 x 12 in (unextended), 10.25 x 16 x 12 in (fully extended)Number of Jars Held: 54Price at Time of Testing: $24.97
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Best Tiered Cabinet OptionmDesign 3 Tier Expandable Spice Rack Organizer

This simple and durable model expanded to hold an impressive number of spice containers. We especially liked that each tier had raised edges to keep the spices contained and organized. It was easy to find the spices we were looking for most of the time, though it did require a bit of lifting and tilting of spice jars to read the labels in the back. This is a great option if your cabinet height is limited; what you lose in visibility, you gain in capacity.
Model Number: 9833MDKEUStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 9 x 16.5 x 4 in (unextended), 9 x 32 x 4 in (fully extended) Number of Jars Held: 54Price at Time of Testing: $24.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
This simple and durable model expanded to hold an impressive number of spice containers. We especially liked that each tier had raised edges to keep the spices contained and organized. It was easy to find the spices we were looking for most of the time, though it did require a bit of lifting and tilting of spice jars to read the labels in the back. This is a great option if your cabinet height is limited; what you lose in visibility, you gain in capacity.
Model Number: 9833MDKEUStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 9 x 16.5 x 4 in (unextended), 9 x 32 x 4 in (fully extended) Number of Jars Held: 54Price at Time of Testing: $24.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Best for DrawersLynk Professional 4 Tier Steel Spice Drawer Organizer

This pair of large metal panels interlocked for an expandable design that offered an impressively large capacity of 64 jars across four rows. It was easy to see all our spice containers in one glance, which made locating spices a cinch. We liked how durable and stable the unit was, which kept it from sliding around in the drawer, but we wish it had a no-slip coating on its surfaces so that individual jars didn’t move around. It was also too tall to hold extra-large spice jars without blocking the drawer from closing.
Model Number: 430414Style: DrawerMaterial: SteelDimensions: 16.5 x 13 x 1.25 in (unextended), 16.5 x 26 x 1.25 in (fully extended)Number of Jars Held: 64Price at Time of Testing: $44.63
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
This pair of large metal panels interlocked for an expandable design that offered an impressively large capacity of 64 jars across four rows. It was easy to see all our spice containers in one glance, which made locating spices a cinch. We liked how durable and stable the unit was, which kept it from sliding around in the drawer, but we wish it had a no-slip coating on its surfaces so that individual jars didn’t move around. It was also too tall to hold extra-large spice jars without blocking the drawer from closing.
Model Number: 430414Style: DrawerMaterial: SteelDimensions: 16.5 x 13 x 1.25 in (unextended), 16.5 x 26 x 1.25 in (fully extended)Number of Jars Held: 64Price at Time of Testing: $44.63
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Best Over-the-Door OptionHome-Complete Over the Door Storage Rack

This storage rack hangs over the back of a door and is perfect for maximizing pantry space. It comes with eight spacious shelves that each hold 27 standard 4-fluid-ounce spice jars, for an impressive total of 216 jars. That’s far more space than most people need for spices, but the shelves are large enough to hold 28-ounce cans, boxes or bags of grains, and other pantry staples such as oils and vinegars. We recommend labeling the lids of the spice jars and storing the jars below eye level for maximum visibility. The rack performed well when simply hanging over a door, but it can also be bolted in for extra security. Our only qualm: This rack was a bit difficult to put together, and its assembly did require a screwdriver and a wrench.
Model Number: n/aStyle: Over-the-door rackMaterial: MetalDimensions: 5.25 x 17.5 x 74 inNumber of Jars Held: 216Price at Time of Testing: $59.31
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
This storage rack hangs over the back of a door and is perfect for maximizing pantry space. It comes with eight spacious shelves that each hold 27 standard 4-fluid-ounce spice jars, for an impressive total of 216 jars. That’s far more space than most people need for spices, but the shelves are large enough to hold 28-ounce cans, boxes or bags of grains, and other pantry staples such as oils and vinegars. We recommend labeling the lids of the spice jars and storing the jars below eye level for maximum visibility. The rack performed well when simply hanging over a door, but it can also be bolted in for extra security. Our only qualm: This rack was a bit difficult to put together, and its assembly did require a screwdriver and a wrench.
Model Number: n/aStyle: Over-the-door rackMaterial: MetalDimensions: 5.25 x 17.5 x 74 inNumber of Jars Held: 216Price at Time of Testing: $59.31

Recommended

  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

mDesign Expandable Kitchen Spice Rack Drawer Organizer

This expandable drawer organizer requires no assembly and slides easily into most drawers. It consists of three plastic rows, each set at an angle so that labels are easy to read from above. It stayed steady and stable as we opened and closed the drawer, and we liked that we could see all the spices laid out with one glance, which made finding specific jars easy. With a 24-jar capacity, this is a great option for those who usually keep a limited number of spices.
Model Number: 1880MDKEUStyle: DrawerMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 16.5 x 8 x 1.5 in (unextended), 16.5 x 15 x 1.5 in (fully extended)Number of Jars Held: 24Price at Time of Testing: $14.88
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
This expandable drawer organizer requires no assembly and slides easily into most drawers. It consists of three plastic rows, each set at an angle so that labels are easy to read from above. It stayed steady and stable as we opened and closed the drawer, and we liked that we could see all the spices laid out with one glance, which made finding specific jars easy. With a 24-jar capacity, this is a great option for those who usually keep a limited number of spices.
Model Number: 1880MDKEUStyle: DrawerMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 16.5 x 8 x 1.5 in (unextended), 16.5 x 15 x 1.5 in (fully extended)Number of Jars Held: 24Price at Time of Testing: $14.88

Recommended with reservations

  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Copco Non-Skid 3-Tier Spice Pantry Kitchen Cabinet Organizer

This tiered model popped right into our cabinet, no assembly or setup required. We liked its deep tiers, which fit spice containers of many sizes, and its grippy plastic surfaces, which kept spice jars from sliding around. Still, it was a bit difficult to see the spices on the middle and highest tiers because they were partially blocked by jars on the previous tier.
Model Number: 5240539Style: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 9 x 15 x 3.5 inNumber of Jars Held: 24Price at Time of Testing: $11.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
This tiered model popped right into our cabinet, no assembly or setup required. We liked its deep tiers, which fit spice containers of many sizes, and its grippy plastic surfaces, which kept spice jars from sliding around. Still, it was a bit difficult to see the spices on the middle and highest tiers because they were partially blocked by jars on the previous tier.
Model Number: 5240539Style: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 9 x 15 x 3.5 inNumber of Jars Held: 24Price at Time of Testing: $11.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Copco 12 In. 2-Tier Non-Skid Turntable

This lazy Susan was easy to assemble, structurally sound, and durable. We liked its large capacity and its grippy plastic surfaces that kept spice jars from sliding around. Unfortunately, it was difficult to see into the center of each tier, which made locating spices tricky, and the model was too large to fit into some of our cabinets.
Model Number: 2555-0187Style: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 12 x 12 x 7.25 inNumber of Jars Held: 48Price at Time of Testing: $12.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
This lazy Susan was easy to assemble, structurally sound, and durable. We liked its large capacity and its grippy plastic surfaces that kept spice jars from sliding around. Unfortunately, it was difficult to see into the center of each tier, which made locating spices tricky, and the model was too large to fit into some of our cabinets.
Model Number: 2555-0187Style: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 12 x 12 x 7.25 inNumber of Jars Held: 48Price at Time of Testing: $12.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Simple Trending Stackable 2-Tier Vertical Under Sink Cabinet Organizer

Although it’s marketed for use under sinks, this model is popular online for storing spices. We were impressed by its large capacity, and we think it would perform well if placed in a lower cabinet, with spice jars that have labeled lids. In high cabinets it was nearly impossible to see into the middle of the rack’s drawers to find spices. We also found it a bit tedious to put together, and it was too long to fit in a few of our standard cabinets.
Model Number: ST58159Style: CabinetMaterial: AluminumDimensions: 14.25 x 10.5 x 12 inNumber of Jars Held: 75Price at Time of Testing: $29.97
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
Although it’s marketed for use under sinks, this model is popular online for storing spices. We were impressed by its large capacity, and we think it would perform well if placed in a lower cabinet, with spice jars that have labeled lids. In high cabinets it was nearly impossible to see into the middle of the rack’s drawers to find spices. We also found it a bit tedious to put together, and it was too long to fit in a few of our standard cabinets.
Model Number: ST58159Style: CabinetMaterial: AluminumDimensions: 14.25 x 10.5 x 12 inNumber of Jars Held: 75Price at Time of Testing: $29.97

Not Recommended

  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

YouCopia SpiceStack Spice Rack Organizer

We liked this model’s ability to keep spices tidily corralled, and we were pleased that it didn’t require any assembly. Its compact size would make it a good option for smaller kitchens. But we didn’t feel confident in its structural integrity as we slid out and tilted its flimsy drawers, and we were afraid that spice jars would fall out over the cabinet’s edge if we made one false move.
Model Number: n/aStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 11 x 10.25 x 8 inNumber of Jars Held: 24Price at Time of Testing: $49.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
We liked this model’s ability to keep spices tidily corralled, and we were pleased that it didn’t require any assembly. Its compact size would make it a good option for smaller kitchens. But we didn’t feel confident in its structural integrity as we slid out and tilted its flimsy drawers, and we were afraid that spice jars would fall out over the cabinet’s edge if we made one false move.
Model Number: n/aStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 11 x 10.25 x 8 inNumber of Jars Held: 24Price at Time of Testing: $49.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability

Allstar Innovations Three-Tier Spice Spinner

We had issues with this model from the start: We found it confusing and difficult to put together, with pieces that didn’t fit together well and a structural design that wasn’t intuitive. It would frequently come apart when we tried to adjust it, and we broke off a small piece of plastic at one point during testing. Though we liked that we were able to see most of the spice jars with a simple spin, we were constantly concerned that this flimsy lazy Susan would collapse under the weight of all those spices because it kept bending and wobbling.
Model Number: n/aStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 10 x 12.5 x 12.5 inNumber of Jars Held: 42Price at Time of Testing: $29.99
  • Ease of Use
  • Capacity
  • Accessibility
  • Durability
We had issues with this model from the start: We found it confusing and difficult to put together, with pieces that didn’t fit together well and a structural design that wasn’t intuitive. It would frequently come apart when we tried to adjust it, and we broke off a small piece of plastic at one point during testing. Though we liked that we were able to see most of the spice jars with a simple spin, we were constantly concerned that this flimsy lazy Susan would collapse under the weight of all those spices because it kept bending and wobbling.
Model Number: n/aStyle: CabinetMaterial: PlasticDimensions: 10 x 12.5 x 12.5 inNumber of Jars Held: 42Price at Time of Testing: $29.99

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!

The Expert

Author: Chase Brightwell

byChase Brightwell

Associate Editor, ATK Reviews

Chase is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. He's an epidemiologist-turned-equipment tester and biscuit enthusiast. 

Chase Brightwell is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. He left a career in infectious disease research to answer fascinating food questions full-time. He loves combining his culinary passions with analytical methods to evaluate equipment and ingredients—from grill gloves, fire pits, and cleaning supplies to heirloom beans and puff pastry. He lives in Maine with his husband, daughter, and black lab and has never met a biscuit he didn't like.

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