Kitchen Guides
14 Kitchen Storage Hacks for Spices & Dry Groceries
Take a look at pantry-style shelves, pullout drawers and other solutions that will put your kitchen storage woes to an end
It’s happened to the best of us – we’ve fallen prey to some ‘buy one get two free’ supermarket scheme or bought in bulk to save money – only to return home and have no idea where to put away all the shopping. If this has happened on more than a few occasions, this is just the post for you. Whether you live in a small flat or are the owner of a walk-in pantry, these options show you how to use the space in your kitchen for maximum effect and minimal wastage – of both food items and space.
2. Find succour in Susan
Trying to navigate through a maze of bottles, jars and cans to reach something at the back of your pantry or shelf is a recipe for disaster. Solve the problem by spinning your Lazy Susan to land on the item you need, without having to struggle to reach way into the back. They are especially handy in high-up shelves.
Trying to navigate through a maze of bottles, jars and cans to reach something at the back of your pantry or shelf is a recipe for disaster. Solve the problem by spinning your Lazy Susan to land on the item you need, without having to struggle to reach way into the back. They are especially handy in high-up shelves.
3. Get a swinging solution
If all your above-bench cupboards are the same depth, make maximum use of the one closest to the stovetop with a double layer of shelving to arrange your spices and condiments. A swing-out spice rack like this one means you can layer containers on both sides, and still have room behind.
If all your above-bench cupboards are the same depth, make maximum use of the one closest to the stovetop with a double layer of shelving to arrange your spices and condiments. A swing-out spice rack like this one means you can layer containers on both sides, and still have room behind.
4. Make drawers do double duty
If you don’t have the space to dedicate an entire drawer to your herb and spice collection, why not make your storage multi-functional? By maximising every inch of space, the drawer seen here has room for cutlery, a spice collection and a stash of wooden spoons.
Browse though more kitchen drawer designs
If you don’t have the space to dedicate an entire drawer to your herb and spice collection, why not make your storage multi-functional? By maximising every inch of space, the drawer seen here has room for cutlery, a spice collection and a stash of wooden spoons.
Browse though more kitchen drawer designs
5. Install a pullout pantry
Pullout pantry racks are a smart place to store canned goods, dry goods, and fruits and vegetables, while still providing great visibility and ease of access from both sides. This tall pantry with wire shelves provides an amazing amount of storage on full-extension glides.
Pullout pantry racks are a smart place to store canned goods, dry goods, and fruits and vegetables, while still providing great visibility and ease of access from both sides. This tall pantry with wire shelves provides an amazing amount of storage on full-extension glides.
Tip: Pull-outs are great for little nooks and crannies, giving your kitchen extra storage space.
Here are reasons why pullouts can be a blessing
Here are reasons why pullouts can be a blessing
6. Use cached storage
If you’re thinking of redesigning your kitchen any time soon, remember to include smart spice storage in your plans. In this scheme, the splashback slides away to reveal shelves of neatly ordered seasonings. They are just where you need them when you’re cooking and when the panel is closed, are tidily out of sight.
If you’re thinking of redesigning your kitchen any time soon, remember to include smart spice storage in your plans. In this scheme, the splashback slides away to reveal shelves of neatly ordered seasonings. They are just where you need them when you’re cooking and when the panel is closed, are tidily out of sight.
7. Dedicate a drawer to spices
Keep your spices within arm’s reach by laying them down in a drawer. Shallow spice storage allows you to quickly see what you have, rather than fumbling through a crowded maze of jars.
Storing spices in a drawer rather than a wall-mounted open rack ensures seasonings are handy for cooking, while preserving their delicate flavours by protecting them from moisture and heat.
Tip: It’s worth buying a set of containers you know will always fit. That way, if you buy a spice bottle that’s too big you can transfer the contents into your own container.
Keep your spices within arm’s reach by laying them down in a drawer. Shallow spice storage allows you to quickly see what you have, rather than fumbling through a crowded maze of jars.
Storing spices in a drawer rather than a wall-mounted open rack ensures seasonings are handy for cooking, while preserving their delicate flavours by protecting them from moisture and heat.
Tip: It’s worth buying a set of containers you know will always fit. That way, if you buy a spice bottle that’s too big you can transfer the contents into your own container.
8. Use the door
If you have a walk-in pantry, consider utilising the back of the door as here. This clever rack manages to accommodate all manner of spices, condiments and bottles. It also means you’ll know exactly when you run out of essentials.
If you have a walk-in pantry, consider utilising the back of the door as here. This clever rack manages to accommodate all manner of spices, condiments and bottles. It also means you’ll know exactly when you run out of essentials.
9. Separate out your storage space
The key to kitchen storage is having a designated home for everything, from your cereal to your dals to spices.The depth of the average kitchen cupboard is 60 centimetres – which means items at the back are often difficult to retrieve and get forgotten about. Creating a separate storage area allows easier access and keeps everything neater. Here, the door is exclusively used for spices and the rest of the goods go onto the shelves.
The key to kitchen storage is having a designated home for everything, from your cereal to your dals to spices.The depth of the average kitchen cupboard is 60 centimetres – which means items at the back are often difficult to retrieve and get forgotten about. Creating a separate storage area allows easier access and keeps everything neater. Here, the door is exclusively used for spices and the rest of the goods go onto the shelves.
10. Rack ’em up…
For cost-effective storage, you can fix racks to a wall for storing all your tins, jars and spices. Because the shelves are shallow in this well-ordered pantry, all the items are easily visible.
Tip: When you can see what you have, you’re a lot less likely to buy duplicates — and having fewer duplicates means less clutter.
For cost-effective storage, you can fix racks to a wall for storing all your tins, jars and spices. Because the shelves are shallow in this well-ordered pantry, all the items are easily visible.
Tip: When you can see what you have, you’re a lot less likely to buy duplicates — and having fewer duplicates means less clutter.
Tip: Whether you store spices in a drawer or on wall-mounted shelves, aim to keep those little jars one deep so that you can see what’s where at a glance. Small spice jars, especially, tend to get lost in a swamp of other food stuffs.
11. Invest in special hardware accessories
They are great for the complete utilisation of a space. Spinning, rotating, moving, sliding – you’ll find a mechanism for them all. This seemingly complicated storage system uses nearly every square inch of this space for storage. Racks on the doors are perfect for spice containers. The other shelves hold larger items. By using this type of system, you can create a deep pantry and still get to the items right at the back.
They are great for the complete utilisation of a space. Spinning, rotating, moving, sliding – you’ll find a mechanism for them all. This seemingly complicated storage system uses nearly every square inch of this space for storage. Racks on the doors are perfect for spice containers. The other shelves hold larger items. By using this type of system, you can create a deep pantry and still get to the items right at the back.
12. Turn a cupboard into a larder
In the absence of a modular kitchen or a walk-in pantry, what does one do? Create one out of an armoire. This cupboard combines shelves, drawers and door-hung racks to pack in a generous storage for dry stores.
In the absence of a modular kitchen or a walk-in pantry, what does one do? Create one out of an armoire. This cupboard combines shelves, drawers and door-hung racks to pack in a generous storage for dry stores.
14. Slide ‘em out
Slide-out shelves, like in this pantry, pull out towards you, displaying all their contents – no more bending down and rummaging in the far back. Pullout shelves allow for well-organised, plentiful storage where you to pull out only the one you need, without having to go through numerous shelves.
Slide-out shelves, like in this pantry, pull out towards you, displaying all their contents – no more bending down and rummaging in the far back. Pullout shelves allow for well-organised, plentiful storage where you to pull out only the one you need, without having to go through numerous shelves.
A final word to wind up: do edit your condiments and groceries. Whilst it’s great to have a spare packet of pasta or baking powder, draw the line at stocking up for the next six months. Not only is this good for your storage needs, it avoids wastage (how often have we chucked out food for having gone beyond the expiry date?).
Read more:
How to Arrange Storage in Your Kitchen
15 Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas
How to Plan Kitchen Storage for Maximum Efficiency
Tell us:
How do you manage your kitchen storage? Any tricks we’ve missed out? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
Read more:
How to Arrange Storage in Your Kitchen
15 Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas
How to Plan Kitchen Storage for Maximum Efficiency
Tell us:
How do you manage your kitchen storage? Any tricks we’ve missed out? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
If you don’t have the space for one large pantry, consider a ‘broken up’ solution instead. This below-the-counter built-in hack is ingeniously concealed within a kitchen cabinet. The movable shelving units cleverly pack in more storage and display all the larder contents at the same time.