Reviews you can trust.
See why.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.
Published Nov. 3, 2021.
Top Picks
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.
What You Need to Know
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.
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.
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 ...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
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.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
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.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
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.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
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.
Recommended
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 2 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
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.
Recommended with reservations
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 2 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 2 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
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.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
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.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 3 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
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.
Not Recommended
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 2 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 2 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
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.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Capacity: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Accessibility: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1 stars out of 3.
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.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
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.
Chase Brightwell
Chase is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. He's an epidemiologist-turned-equipment tester and biscuit enthusiast.