A well-stocked spice rack is essential to any kitchen. But, finding that one bottle of oregano can be a challenge when your cabinets are full of spices. Keep your bottles and jars organized and easy to find with this simple shelving hack. This organizer also extends to fit your cabinet for a custom look.
1. Turn It into a Planter
Whether you’re cooking for yourself or for a large crowd, a masala box is an essential item in any Indian kitchen. These ingenious storage units streamline spice management and enhance convenience while preserving flavour and aroma. They also add a touch of tradition to modern kitchens.
There are many different types of masala boxes on the market, but the best one for you depends on your preferences and needs. Look for a model with plenty of compartments that can accommodate your spices and herbs. A revolving design is helpful to ensure that the most frequently used spices are easy to access. And a lid seal is important to prevent moisture and air from spoiling your spice collection.
The Mumma’s Life masala dabba is made of durable and food-safe stainless steel, which makes it a great option for anyone who wants to keep their spices fresh. It can store up to seven different varieties of spices, and it comes with a spoon for ease of use. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable masala boxes available online.
You’ll find that most Indian recipes call for a combination of at least five basic spices. These are asafoetida, chana masala (chickpea powder), garam masala, cumin seeds and fennel. Fennel is a popular ingredient in Indian cuisine because it aids digestion and is a natural mouth freshener. It’s also high in dietary fibre, which means it can help improve your overall health.
Aside from the basics, you may also want to include some unique ingredients in your masala dabba. For example, kala namak is an essential part of Indian curry and biryani. It’s a little like salt and pepper, but it has an earthy, licorice-like flavor that is quite distinctive.
2. Paint It
A spice box is a kitchen essential, so why not repurpose it as an eye-catching decorative item? Paint it with your favorite colors to make a statement in any room. This is a fun DIY project for kids and adults alike. Just be sure to thoroughly clean the container and use food-safe paints.
Aside from being a great storage option for spices, a masala dabba is also a great container for holding twist ties. So, next time you have a bunch of twist ties left over from bread and bakery bags, removing them from new appliance cords, or simply collecting in the bottom of your junk drawer, use this hack to keep them organized.
If you’re a stamping or scrapbooking fan, then you probably have a collection of microbeads that you use to embellish paper. These tiny beads are sold in small flat jars and vials that can be hard to organize neatly. The wide opening of a masala dabba is ideal for storing microbeads, especially since it allows you to pour the beads in and out easily.
For those who have a bit of extra space, a masala dabba can also be used to hold your most frequently used spices. Just be sure to label each container with the name of a specific meal (Chicken Paprikash, for example), so that you can skip the hassle of searching through all your spice bottles when cooking.
This is a particularly good idea for those who cook in a smaller kitchen, as it makes the most of limited cabinet and worktop space. If you don’t have a masala dabba, baby-food jars can also be used to store spices and other items like flour and rice. Just be sure to always fill the jars only up to 3/4 of the way, as you don’t want to overfill them and end up with a powdery mess.
3. Turn It into a Crafting Rack
When we think of a spice rack, we usually imagine it hanging on a wall or set in a cabinet. But if yours isn’t doing the trick, try turning it into a handy craft organizer. You can use it to store anything from paints to ribbons and twines, depending on your crafting needs. Just make sure to add a handle so you can easily transport your new craft caddy.
If you’re looking for an even more creative way to hang your spices, try wrapping them in a bit of metal wire or twine for a rustic, custom-look spice storage solution. Alternatively, you can build your own spice rack with a couple of wooden dowels. This can be a fun afternoon project for the family or an easy DIY that can add some interest to your kitchen.
Spice racks aren’t typically too deep, which means they can fit nicely in closets and pantries where extra shelving is needed. You can also install a cabinet caddy, which is a rotating, modular pull-out organizer that makes it easier to access items in the back of deep cabinets.
Traditionally, the masala dabba (also known as a spice box) was an impressive work of art, often boasting regional artistry and craftsmanship. It was often an heirloom passed down from generation to generation, but these days you’re more likely to find them in living rooms or gracing Instagram feeds.
You can still use a traditional spice rack to organize your spices, but if you want to give it a modern makeover, you can paint it and add labels for an added pop of color. Or if you’d rather skip the labelling, simply opt for a minimalist design that uses clean-looking jars instead.
4. Turn It into a Toilet Paper Holder
Whether it's a sprinkle of cinnamon or a spoonful of cumin that brings a dish to life, every cook knows that kitchen spices are key. But finding a good way to keep them organized isn't easy. Luckily, there are plenty of clever spice storage ideas — from DIY and upcycled creations to tried-and-true options that can save you time and frustration.
Popular in Indian kitchens, a masala dabba is essentially a circular steel box that stores the spices most used for cooking. The contents differ from region to region, but a typical masala dabba includes whole spices like turmeric and red chilli powder and ground spices, such as coriander and cumin seeds.
The dabba's popularity stems from its practicality. When cooking, spices need to be quickly sprinkled onto the food as it's being stirred or cooked. The dabba allows a chef to reach the spice she needs without rummaging through multiple jars of spice and losing valuable cooking time.
If you don't have a masala dabba, the easiest way to make use of a small drawer is to install a spice rack, as seen in this example. Using a wide-spaced birch shelf, you can hang a set of spice containers and keep them visible yet out of the way. Just be sure to use a narrow pullout pantry and alphabetize the jars so you can find what you need easily.
Another spice rack idea is to suspend your jars in a cabinet door using magnets. This DIY hack enables you to hang up to 36 spice containers and keeps them at your fingertips. Just be sure to use a rounded drawer insert to prevent your round jars from rolling, and add labels so you can identify the spices by their name.
5. Turn It into a Flower Vase
You’ve carved out a drawer for small gadgets and a spot in your pantry for color-coded bins, but you still don’t have an efficient way to organize spices. Luckily, there are lots of clever spice racks ideas that can make it happen, whether you have a little space to spare or a spacious pantry. Here are some of our favorites — from store-bought organizers to DIYs you can whip up in no time at all.
A masala dabba is an essential, very functional component of almost every Indian kitchen and is a treasured possession passed down from one generation to the next. It’s a home for the seven primaries Indian seasoning items – turmeric, red chilli, green coriander, fennel, ginger and cumin – and it is a reminder of family, tradition, and history.
This clever DIY repurposes an old mason jar as a magnetic spice holder. The jars are held together by magnets glued to the lids, making it easy for cooks to read and reach for their seasonings. Plus, it looks cute and makes a great gift for any cook.
You can turn a wide drawer into a spice cabinet with this smart solution. The dividers keep spices upright so they don’t roll around in the jars, and the criss-cross pattern lets you easily see each label without opening the door.
This organizer mounts on the back of a cabinet door for an in-plain-sight presentation, making it simple to grab what you need without digging through a cupboard or searching for the right jar. The shelf can accommodate up to 36 spice jars, and it has non-skid pads on each level so the bottles don’t fall over.