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