Season like a pro: how to store spices and herbs
Jul 2026In this article:
The ergonomic way to store spices in a cabinet (hint: an upper cabinet isn't always the best place!)
How to organize spices using the Blum spice organizer
Where to store spices for optimal use during cooking
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The problem: chaos in the spice cabinet
Oregano and rosemary, cumin and turmeric, ginger and star anise – every cuisine in the world has its own seasonings. And almost every amateur chef has a large collection of them at the ready for culinary experiments. All of these small jars of spices quickly accumulate on shelves and in drawers and cabinets.
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Herbs, spices and other seasonings are often stored in an upper cabinet or pantry, and sometimes the available storage space isn't near the main cooking or food preparation area. This means moving back and forth around the kitchen to retrieve spices.
What's more, the less frequently used seasonings shift to the back of the cabinet where they are forgotten over time. But if seasonings are instead stored on an open shelf right next to the cooktop, delicate spices run the risk of being damaged by heat and steam.
This begs the question: how can you store spices in a way that preserves the flavor while also guaranteeing efficient workflows in the kitchen?
Planning for pros
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Spice storage – the efficient way to keep seasonings right where you need them
Because seasonings play a major role in everyday cooking, they should always be easily within reach.
The ergonomics experts at Blum recommend planning a base cabinet for storing seasonings directly between the cooktop and the main work surface. After all, seasonings come into play at different stages when creating a meal: when preparing salads, vegetables and meat and during the final stage as an addition to the finished dish.
Seasonings stored in a drawer near the cooktop won't be affected by rising steam and heat, and the drawer can be closed quickly if the work surface gets wet.
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A well-planned spice cabinet can hold many essential items – even bottles and cutting boards.
How to organize the spice cabinet
The goal of having an organized spice cabinet is so that you don't lose track of what's inside. Storing herbs, spices and other seasonings in a base cabinet with drawers has a number of advantages:
Spices can be kept easily accessible in the top drawer, where they stay dry and protected from light.
The convenient view from above gives you an immediate overview of your spice collection – and everything is easily within reach.
A Blum spice organization system keeps herbs and spices organized and holds them in place in the drawer.
In addition to having spice holders in the top drawer, this cabinet solution also has plenty of space for seasoning sauces, vinegar, oil and cutting boards in the bottom drawer – everything a home chef's heart desires when creating a culinary masterpiece. In this particular example, there is even an interior roll-out drawer that has enough space for a small supply of aluminum foil or cling film.
The width of the cabinet depends on the space available in the kitchen as well as the personal needs of the end user.
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Spices are easy to reach in the top drawer. The Blum spice holder organizes the spices, ensuring that the jars don't shift or topple over. The sloping shelves make the jars easy to reach and the labels easy to see.
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The high fronted drawer provides plenty of space for things like seasoning sauces, vinegar and oil. Even cutting boards can be stored upright for easy retrieval.
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An additional interior roll-out drawer makes ideal use of the available space to store aluminum foil, beeswax food wraps and cling wrap.
A narrow spice cabinet
With SPACE TWIN, you can even turn a narrow space into a useful spice cabinet in small kitchens. The upper level is perfect for spices, while the lower level has a higher side panel that keeps vinegar and oil bottles from toppling over.
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SPACE TWIN: you'll find plenty of storage space behind this narrow front. The lower level has an extra high side panel, keeping vinegar, oil and sauce bottles securely in place. Spices are easy to reach in the top drawer.
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Storing spices in a drawer: at a glance
The ideal place for storing spice jars is in a drawer between the cooktop and the main work surface.
Here, spices stay dry and protected from light, and they are always within reach.
Use a spice holder to organize spice jars so they can't tip over and the labels are visible at a glance.
An additional interior roll-out drawer increases the usable storage space in the base cabinet and is ideal for things like foil and cling wrap.
The bottom drawer in the spice cabinet can hold taller items such as oil and sauce bottles and cutting boards.
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