How to Choose a Spice Rack

There many different types of spice racks to choose from including wood, plastic, and metal. A basic spice rack is a small shelf with a bar to keep the jars of spices in place. Such a rack holds only a few jars of spices and is meant for everyday cooking that doesn't involve unusual flavor combinations. A larger spice rack will consist of several layers of shelves that can either sit on the counter top or be mounted on the wall for convenience. Another form of spice rack is a long, over the door rack that can hold a large number of varying sized spice containers. Perhaps the most popular form, however, is a revolving carousel spice rack that resembles a wheel, sits on the counter top, and holds spices on all sides. Some spice racks offer innovative designs and features, such as those that fit inside a drawer, or those that store, measure, and dispense your spices from a convenient turntable.

Once you choose which type of spice rack you prefer, you must choose what spices you want. The most common kitchen spices include dried herbs for cooking meat, such as parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, bay leaves, black pepper, and salt. Common spices for baking include nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. If you plan on preparing Indian dishes, you will want to stock up on spices like coriander, turmeric, and cumin. If you are into Italian cooking, you will want to focus on adding Italian seasoning, garlic, garlic powder, and garlic salt. Seeds, such as dill, caraway, fennel, and sesame, are also commonly found in spice rack collections.

Price is also important when considering different types of spice racks.  Spice racks vary widely in price from $4 to $200 depending on quality and holding capacity.  An average small spice rack is about $10, whereas an average household spice rack is about $35.  For the cooking enthusiast, the $200 variety will provide an amazing assortment of features and spice assortment.