The best ways to consolidate and clean your spice cabinet: Video

It’s time to clean up your spices. A rack full of spices is a must in many kitchens, but the accumulation of spices and seasoning blends can become a cluttered mess where jars are half-used and forgotten.

Decanting and combining your spices is an easy first step to reducing clutter and eliminating duplicates. Take it one step further by creating your own spice blends that put store-bought options to shame. Get creative and make go-to blends for meats, vegetables or popcorn.

Watch this video for tips on making your own spice blend.

DIY spice blends 

You can make spice blends based on your personal taste or mixes of the spices you always reach for when cooking. The beauty of making your own is that it’s exactly how you like it.

Recreate your favorite store-bought seasonings by looking at the ingredient list and replicating it with what you have on hand.

For more easy DIY mixes, combine:

• Herbs, garlic and onion to season seafood and vegetables. 
• Paprika, pepper and other bold flavors to season steaks. 
• Crushed red pepper, herbs, thyme, garlic and a dash of dill for a multi-purpose seasoning.
• Dried chiles, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and citric acid for a homemade birria taco seasoning.  
• Cinnamon, ginger powder, nutmeg, clove and cardamom to use in baked goods.

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Tips for organizing and decanting spices 

You may want to go the distance and decant all your spices into uniform jars. It’s not just for aesthetic purposes; it can also help you manage your supply. A 5-ounce glass jar is a simple, effective and affordable way to store spices.

Start by taking inventory of the spices you have. Group multiple jars of the same spice together and set aside any expired spices. Purchase a few more jars than you think you’ll need so you have extras when you inevitably need them.

Watch this video for tips on decanting and organizing spices.

Make sure all the jars are clean and completely dry before adding the spices. If you’re combining multiple jars of the same spice, add the newer spices first and the older ones last. This helps ensure the older spices are used first.

Don’t forget the label. Make your own with a label maker or find preprinted labels online.

When a decanted spice starts to run low, consider buying a bulk refill instead of a new jar. Store the extra spices in a bin or basket in your pantry or cabinet.

As for expired spices, don’t toss them—repurpose them. Spices lose potency over time rather than spoil, making older spices ideal for uses such as:

• Simmer pots and potpourris
• Candles and soaps. 
• Plant care and pest repellant.