Cleaning out the spice cabinet/drawer

[Michael_in_TX]

I try to do this every year during winter break, but I missed last year. And as such it seems that whenever I reach into the spice cabinet, three or four bottles fall out on me!

So, time to clean this thing up!

This photo was taken after I had already thrown a decent amount of stuff away:



Pretty much anything that had a best by date of 1/2023 is gone or if I haven't touched it in two years and it is not a whole spice, it is gone. This time I'm actually organizing it by type; that is, the Italian-esque seasonings will be in one place, the chile seasonings will be next to each other, etc. Also, the spices I use the most frequently (garlic powder, paprika, etc.) will now remain out on the counter. This will keep things from falling on me as, as one might expect, the spices I use the most frequently are in the largest bottles and knock everything over.

Another thing I am doing is putting the surplus jars on their own shelf and together. For example, I go through a lot of cumin/comino. Sometimes that bottle gets hidden and at a glance I think I'm close to being out so I go buy more and before you know it, I now have three or four bottles of cumin! Now, if I think I don't have a spare bottle of something, I have a particular place I can check.

What have I thrown away the most? Oddly enough, baking powder. I had several of those things hidden away on a high shelf. Most had expired in 2021.

[Huskee]

Not unlike my kitchen spice cabinet(s).

[klflowers]

I really need to do this. I have multiple jars of some things because I don't find the first jar until right after I buy the second. And third...

[surfdog]

My mother and my GF seemingly come from the same tree. LOL And it’s not just spices…
“Mum, why do you have 5 jars of mayo?”
“I didn’t know we had any and it was on sale.” O_o

The GF is the same…
Me, “We need to put cumin on the list.”
I’ll come back from a trip and there will be mountains of cumin. Or whatever. LOL

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I just bought 2 of these, and may buy a 3rd one. Only issue is bigger things (like rub bottles) are best suited for the top shelf, also you kinda need to know what you want or you slide one out, then slide it in to slide the other out to see what's there.

Amazon.com: LYNK PROFESSIONAL® Pull Out Spice Rack Organizer for Inside Kitchen Cabinets - 4-1/4 inch Wide - Slide Out Drawer – Chrome Sliding Spice Cabinet Organization Shelf Racks - 2 Tier : Home & Kitchen

[captainlee]

That's the reason I stopped making my own rubs, buying too much one time or limited use spices. Then your cabinet is out of control. Many great commercial rubs out there. I still make one BBQ sauce but enjoy what is available at the store.

[Michael_in_TX]

Same here. I've dropped back significantly from making my own. I still like to make my own blackened seasoning, but I've really gravitated to Meat Church's for nearly everything else. (And Killer Hog's The Hot Rub for pork butt and ribs.)

[captainlee]

Fan of Killer Hogs rubs and sauces too.

[TripleB]

I'm just the opposite. Buy a commercial rub, not really like it that much and then I have that container in my cabinet. Just about all my rubs use conventional and common spices or herbs. Never have an issue with using everything since I cook so much. Now I agree with sauces. Found a couple of commercial sauces I like and use those rather than making my own sauces.

[DavidNorcross]

It seems like I just prefer to endlessly stare at my spice rack for hours on end looking for that one spice that I am sure exists somewhere in that clutter…

[TripleB]

How true. Gonna make some Andouille sausage next weekend an took about 15 minutes to find the Mace and Gr. Cloves. Took half the spices out of the cabinet.

[yakima]

Theoretically, my little spice jars are arranged alphabetically on 2 lazy susans on the lowest shelf. Bigger containers similarly arranged on 2nd shelf. Apparently, I have lost the ability to alphabetize.

[RonB]

I think you will take all the fun out of cookin' if ya find everything on the first look.

[Sweaty Paul]

Think that mine needs a good cleaning again, however, it seems like so much work.

[tamidw]

I prefer to just hunt and search for all my spices and seasonings. 🤣🤣🤣

[LA Pork Butt]

That looks like a treasure hunt to find what you are looking for. I am not the most organized person In the world, but there are things I work at. We have a spice draw inwhich each spice is able to lay on the side and can be organized visually alphabetically. It makes for an easy find, but my bulk spices are a different story. Since I don’t use those as often the search isn’t too bad.

[Mosca]

You’ve spurred me to do that this week. I have more than a few bottles I know I’ll never use.

[Kevin Fuess]

Drives my wife crazy! All my spices are in 2 oz square jars on a pull-out shelf with labels on the top and alphabetized.

[klflowers]

I wish

[Skip]

A constant "work in progress" for me.

[Dan Deter]

Yeah, we filled the entire "can cabinet" at the end of the new pantry wall with spice and flavorings, after we had tossed the stuff that was way too old or we didn't know why we even had it. But at least we can find it all again!