Adding “how to organize spices” to your deep cleaning routine helps keep your kitchen tidy and makes cooking more efficient. Group seasonings by how often you use them and check expiration dates to keep everything fresh and easy to access. Use simple steps to arrange your spices in a rack, drawer, or cabinet for a smoother cooking experience.
When it comes to how to organize spices in a drawer, having a system that maximizes space and keeps everything easily accessible is key. Instead of cluttered shelves, opt for spice jars with uniform labels to create a clean and cohesive look. Use a tiered insert or basket to separate frequently used seasonings from specialty spices, making meal prep effortless. If you buy in bulk, store extra spices in airtight containers and refill smaller jars as needed. By organizing spices in a drawer with a structured layout, you’ll save time in the kitchen and always have the right flavors at your fingertips!
Why Declutter Your Spice Drawer?
- Keep spices fresh & avoid waste
Knowing how to organize spices means you’ll easily track expiration dates and replace old seasonings before they lose flavor. No more digging through expired jars or making last-minute grocery runs for fresh spices! - Save space & avoid duplicates
Sorting through your collection helps you see which spices you use often and which you don’t. This prevents buying duplicate spices and frees up space in your drawer organizer, bins, or top shelf for seasonings you actually need. - Make cooking easier & More Efficient – A well-organized spice system means faster meal prep and less searching for ingredients. Use a shoebox or tiered rack for an easy spice organization idea that keeps everything within reach. Once set up, maintaining your spice drawer just once or twice a year becomes a quick and simple task!
Special Note from Renae
As a food blogger, I have about 100 different spices and seasonings in my kitchen – far too many to fit in a small spice drawer. So, I keep them in a shelving unit attached to my pantry. (I’ve shared photos of my pantry organization a number of times on my Instagram stories).
However, I realize that many people keep their spices in a drawer near their stove. So, I went to my daughter’s house, to declutter her spice drawer!
This is Heather’s collection, before organizing…
After decluttering and organizing – using metal, clear topped, food safe tins for a clean, uniform look!
How to Organize Spices in a Drawer in 5 Easy Steps
- Empty the drawer.
The best way to organize a spice cabinet or drawer is to start with a blank canvas. Go ahead and remove all of the bottles (and anything else that’s stuffed in the drawer). Toss out the contents of any bottles that are mostly empty.
So, can you use spices past the expiration date? Possibly, but consider this:
- While it’s safe to use spices past the use-by date, they don’t do their job well. Old seasonings lack flavor, and they don’t have much aroma either.
- We recommend throwing out seasonings that have been in the spice cabinet for more than 6 months.
- When we find duplicate containers of the same spice and they aren’t older than the use-by date, we condense them into one.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Keep empty containers and bottles that are in good condition. Recycle or repurpose them, or if nothing else, reuse them to store your restock of new spices.
Oh, and while you’re in there, throw out your stash of restaurant sauce packets, too! If you haven’t used them in the past few months, chances are, you won’t use them anytime soon. 😉
- Clean and disinfect, inside and out.
This step might seem unnecessary, but trust us on this. Cleaning the outside of your spice drawer will remove any bacteria that may be lingering on the handle.
Even if you’re extra careful, it is easy to cross-contaminate surfaces. For example, when you open the drawer to take out the taco seasoning recipe for chicken while you’re working with raw chicken breast.
Not only that, but over time, dust can settle on walls, and even inside of drawers. A handheld vacuum is great for larger messes but doesn’t do a very good job of cleaning up ground spices from the tiny corners of a spice drawer.
We suggest using food-safe disinfecting wipes and a microfiber cloth instead. Not only are they free of bleach and other harmful chemicals, they also slip easily into tiny nooks and crannies.
- Wash (and dry!) any empty jars or bottles.
Bottles with homemade labels, or jars with old labels that you’d like to replace, are easiest to scrape clean with a bit of Goo Gone and a plastic scraper. This dynamic duo has helped us reuse old jam and pickle jars for years!
Let the jars dry completely before refilling to keep seasonings fresh and prevent clumping.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Need a quick hack for organizing spices in a drawer? Use a hair dryer to dry the insides of your spice jars after washing—it’s faster than air drying!
- Refill and label the bottles.
Use a label maker or labels and a Sharpie to mark the date you opened the spice on the bottom of the container. This ensures optimal freshness and flavor.
A small funnel makes filling small bottles easier. Funnels are a cheap, easy investment, and you can use them for other kitchen-related tasks, too.
- Use an insert or drawer spice rack to stay organized.
Using spice tins with labels and an organizer, like a spice rack insert, will keep each bottle firmly in its place. After all, there’s almost no point in going through all the effort to declutter a spice drawer if everything’s just going to roll around the second you close it!
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
If spice tins don’t fit well in your space, consider these alternative containers! We love them because they have a dual-purpose design—one side features a wide opening for measuring spoons, while the other side has a shaker top for easy sprinkling. This makes them a great option when figuring out how to organize spices in a drawer while keeping everything accessible and mess-free.
How you choose to organize your spices is entirely up to you—whether it’s by cuisine, type of seasoning, expiration date, or convenience. Some prefer grouping by whole spices like cumin, allspice, and cinnamon, while others arrange frequently used staples such as black pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt in easy-to-reach spots. Storing seasonings in glass spice jars not only keeps them fresh but also makes it easier to see what you have before making a new purchase. Over time, you’ll naturally find the organization method that works best for your cooking routine!
Tips on Organizing Spices in a Drawer
- Keep them dry by using silica gel packets, a small container of baking soda, or another natural moisture absorber inside the cabinet.
- Stick to a spring cleaning schedule so that each time you need to declutter a spice drawer, it’s quick and painless! Sort through your spices every 6 months to toss expired ones and make room for fresh seasonings. Keep a shoebox or bin nearby for storing extra spices or refills.
- Don’t replace the seasonings you hardly use. Did you toss two almost-full bottles of nutmeg? Don’t replace them — instead look for substitutions among your more commonly used seasonings.
- Keeping uniform spice jars prevents a messy, disorganized drawer. If you buy in bulk, transfer spices to matching jars for a streamlined look.
- A non-slip drawer liner keeps your spices from rolling around and helps maintain an organized, tidy space.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. Whole peppercorns, mustard seed, saffron, and spices in pods, like cardamom, last longer than ground seasonings such as paprika, chili powder, and garlic powder.
Dried herbs and similar spices expire quicker than whole ones, but not as quickly as ground ones. This includes your dried rosemary and oregano.
Organizing a spice cabinet or wall rack system is similar to organizing a spice drawer! Empty it, clean and refill the bottles, then order them in a logical way that matches your kitchen needs.
Racks can be great for easy access, and they don’t accumulate the same dust and odors. However, they take up a good bit of counter space. Ultimately, it’s all about preference and what works best for your available space.
The best method depends on your cooking habits and available space. Many people use a drawer organizer, tiered insert, or spice jars with labels to keep things neat. You can also organize by cuisine, type of seasoning, or how frequently you use them for added convenience.
Glass spice jars are preferred because they help maintain freshness longer and prevent flavor absorption. Plastic jars can degrade over time, especially when exposed to heat and light, affecting the quality of whole spices like cumin, allspice, and cinnamon.
Yes! If you buy in bulk, transfer smaller portions into labeled spice jars for daily use and store the rest in an airtight container in a cool, dark pantry.
For convenience, place commonly used spices like salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and paprika at the front of your drawer. Less frequently used spices can be stored toward the back or on the top shelf of a cabinet.
If a spice has lost its flavor, you can repurpose it for DIY potpourri, homemade cleaning scrubs, or garden pest repellents instead of throwing it away.
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Valarie says
All of my spices except salt and pepper are kept in my freezer as they tend to get bugs because of our muggy climate. I’ve put them on the door in the racks but as I’ve learned to use different spices I am running out of room. Would you have any suggestions?
I also keep my ginger(cut in slices) and garlic(peeled and separated)in the freezer.
Gianne - TFN Team Member says
Oh gosh, I have so many spices I can’t imagine having to keep them in my freezer! And let me commend your forethought in keeping your fresh ginger and garlic ready in the freezer. How about coming up with frequently used blends so that you can combine spices? I think you could probably pare things down to 5-10 of your favorite blends and avoid having to buy new spices? – Renae
Anthony says
wow this was so helpful and packed full of useful tips. My spice drawer needed this love!
Bec - TFN Team Member says
So happy to know the article was helpful for you, Anthony! It’s easy to lose track of what spices are on hand, isn’t it? 😉
Lima Ekram says
Lot of great tips here – just in time – I was just thinking about organizing my spice cabinet!
Janie says
I am definitely a spice and seasonings collector. I have so many that I have to buy more containers. These are such good tips. I always wondered if spices expired and learned something.
Bec - TFN Team Member says
SO happy to know that these tips were helpful for you, Janie!
Andrea says
This is such a great idea. I’m really liking the idea of putting dates on the bottles. That will definitely help me.
Bec - TFN Team Member says
Thank you for your comment, Andrea! We’re so happy this article was helpful. 🙂