| Today you have almost as many choices of spice | | | | consider....2) HOW MANY SPICES DO YOU USE? If |
| racks as you do of the spices they contain. Spice | | | | you use a lot of different spices, would you like one |
| racks are wonderful kitchen cooking accessories and | | | | large single-level or multi-tiered shelf spice rack that |
| home organization gadgets. And a spice rack is a | | | | holds all of them? Or like me, would you like a few |
| wonderful gift too for a cook. In our household, my | | | | different spice racks clustered in one area of the |
| husband is the chef. But I'm the shopper. And we own | | | | kitchen? If you only keep a few spice jars, then |
| three functional and handsome spice racks that are in | | | | perhaps a spice rack that holds six to eight spice |
| use every day. Before you buy your next spice rack | | | | containers is sufficient (especially if your space is |
| for yourself or as a gift consider these factors about | | | | limited to a small area of the kitchen). And if it's a gift |
| how to choose a spice rack:1) WHERE WILL YOU | | | | for someone else, visualize the available space they |
| PUT IT? Naturally, you want your spice rack in the | | | | have in their kitchen. You don't want to give someone |
| kitchen so it's handy for cooking. The only caution here | | | | a gorgeous spice rack that they have to stuff in a |
| is that some people advise not putting your spices too | | | | closet for lack of a place to put it.3) CAN YOU |
| close to the stove or oven for fear that the heat will | | | | CONVENIENTLY ACCESS THE SPICES? For |
| be harmful to some of the spices' potency. So other | | | | instance, if you hang a vertical double-shelf spice rack |
| than that spot, consider all the available spaces in your | | | | on a wall underneath a kitchen cabinet, you need |
| kitchen. There are probably more available spaces | | | | enough room between the spice containers on the top |
| than you think. Here are some styles of spice racks | | | | shelf and the underside of the kitchen cabinet to be |
| that should give you more ideas about available kitchen | | | | able to easily remove and replace the spice containers. |
| space:--No counter space? Buy spice racks that are | | | | You don't want to keep scraping your knuckles against |
| "wall mountable". These spice racks usually have single | | | | the wood on the underside of the cabinet. Wherever |
| or multiple vertical shelves.--Hard to reach counter | | | | you plan to put the spice rack, it's probably a good idea |
| space? Put a "carousel" spice rack in the corner. Think | | | | to measure the intended space for it and then |
| of a carousel spice rack as one that spins on a | | | | compare that to the dimensions of the product listed |
| circular-shaped Lazy Susan. You can make use of | | | | on its sales box before you purchase it.4) ARE YOU |
| that hard-to-reach corner countertop space with such | | | | BUYING A SPICE RACK WITH OR WITHOUT |
| a revolving spice rack.--Like to view your spices in one | | | | SPICES? Some spice racks come complete with full |
| glance? By a "slanted" spice rack. Or buy a "three-tier | | | | containers of spices and others come without jars or |
| expand-a-shelf" (like a staircase or stadium seating) | | | | containers of spices. Some spice racks don't even use |
| that fits conveniently inside a kitchen cabinet. You'll triple | | | | typical container or jars; instead you fill them and then |
| that cabinet space with this type rack too.--Got a free | | | | turn a dial for the measured spice amount to filter |
| drawer? Some stores are now selling a "spice rack | | | | through a dispenser, which is removable from the |
| drawer liner". It lays flat in your drawer much like the | | | | spice rack.Remember that you're trying to save space |
| flatware drawer liner that holds your forks and spoons. | | | | when buying home organization gadgets. So if you buy |
| You lay the spice jars or containers on their sides in | | | | a spice rack complete with new spices, you'll just have |
| slots (lay with labels upward for quick reading).--Not | | | | to store the new or existing set of spice jars in the |
| utilizing the bottom of your kitchen cabinets? Buy an | | | | pantry until the spice jars in use need a refill.And if you |
| "under-cabinet spice rack", also called "undercounter | | | | buy a spice rack with containers, make sure they're |
| spice rack" or "pull-down spice rack". Much like electric | | | | what you want. Some are glass jars; others aren't. |
| can-opener gadgets that attach to the underside of | | | | Some have corks as lids; others have screw tops. |
| kitchen cabinets, so does this under-cabinet spice rack. | | | | Some come with snap on sifters or shaker ports. Also |
| It swings down for easy viewing and picking. | | | | check to see if the jars come pre-labeled or with an |
| Otherwise, keep it folded upward underneath the | | | | extra set of blank labels.5) WHAT MATERIAL |
| cabinet for its space saving attribute.--Is the inside of | | | | COMPRISES THE SPICE RACK? You can find spice |
| your pantry door empty? Use a "door-mounted spice | | | | racks or spice shelving in many types of material: |
| rack". Just a few screws and you can hang a | | | | wood, acrylic, metal/stainless steel/wire, plastic or |
| multi-shelf vertical spice rack here. Also, some stores | | | | chrome. What matches the style of or colors of your |
| are selling racks that have slots that individually adjust | | | | kitchen? Or if the spice rack isn't going to be clearly on |
| to the jar size. The rack adheres to the inside of the | | | | view, maybe you're just interested in a durable material |
| door with double-sided tape.--Lots of kitchen counter | | | | or one that wipes clean easily.6) DO YOU LOVE. IT? |
| space or open shelf space? Get a "free-standing | | | | Spice racks are very durable products. You'll be seeing |
| spice rack". You can buy a countertop spice rack that | | | | your spice rack choice in your kitchen for a long |
| spins or one planted firmly on a solid base. Some of | | | | time.Karen Fritscher-Porter writes about kitchen |
| these come in tapering shapes so that they're | | | | organization solutions at |
| narrower at the base but flare out at the top.Also | | | | You can shop for spice racks here too. |