Today you have almost as many choices of spice racks as you do of
spices they contain. Spice racks are wonderful kitchen home organization gadgets. And a spice rack is a wonderful gift too for a cook. In our household, my husband is chef. But I'm shopper. And we own three functional and handsome spice racks that are in use every day. Before you buy your next spice rack for yourself or as a gift consider these factors:1) WHERE WILL YOU PUT IT? Naturally, you want your spice rack in kitchen so it's handy for cooking. The only caution here is that some people advice not putting your spices too close to stove or oven for fear that heat will be harmful to some of spices' potency. So other than that spot, consider all available spaces in your kitchen. There are probably more available spaces than you think. Here are some styles of spice racks that should give you more ideas about available kitchen space:
--No counter space? Buy spice racks that are "wall mountable". These spice racks usually have single or multiple vertical shelves.
--Hard to reach counter space? Put a "carousel" spice rack in corner. Think of a carousel spice rack as one that spins on a circular-shaped Lazy Susan. You can make use of that hard-to-reach corner countertop space with such a revolving spice rack.
--Like to view your spices in one glance? By a "slanted" spice rack. Or buy a "three-tier expand-a-shelf" (like a staircase or stadium seating) that fits conveniently inside a kitchen cabinet. You'll triple that cabinet space with this type rack too.
--Got a free drawer? Some stores are now selling a "spice rack drawer liner". It lays flat in your drawer much like flatware drawer liner that holds your forks and spoons. You lay spice jars or containers on their sides in slots (lay with labels upward for quick reading).
--Not utilizing bottom of your kitchen cabinets? Buy an "under-cabinet spice rack", also called "undercounter spice rack" or "pull-down spice rack". Much like electric can-opener gadgets that attach to underside of kitchen cabinets, so does this under-cabinet spice rack. It swings down for easy viewing and picking. Otherwise, keep it folded upward underneath cabinet for its space saving attribute.
--Is inside of your pantry door empty? Use a "door-mounted spice rack". Just a few screws and you can hang a multi-shelf vertical spice rack here. Also, some stores are selling racks that have slots that individually adjust to jar size. The rack adheres to inside of door with double-sided tape.
--Lots of kitchen counter space or open shelf space? Get a "free-standing spice rack". You can buy a countertop spice rack that spins or one planted firmly on a solid base. Some of these come in tapering shapes so that they're narrower at base but flare out at top.
