The week Scott and I got married (nearly four years ago now!), my dad cut a giant hole in my kitchen wall and inserted floor-to-ceiling spice rack into a few inches of unused space. This had long been the wedding present plan, though looking back on it covering the apartment with drywall dust a few days before the big day wasn’t one of my better laid plans.
Still, I’ll never regret the mess, because I LOVE this spice shelf. Not only did it give me a bounty of additional storage space, the shelves are perfectly spaced to hold the canning jars that house my herbs and spices. Truly, it was one of the best presents I’ve ever received.
For the longest time, I thought I was the only one using slightly past their prime mason jars for this purpose, but in recent years, I’ve discovered that I’m very far from alone. And this spring, Ball finally recognized the fact that many of us use their jars in this way and released a product designed expressly for spice storage.
Meet the Dry Herbs Jars
I appreciate the slight rim on the edge of the lid, which means they stack with a sense of security. And finally (though this has nothing directly to do with their utility as a spice jar), I love the look of the smooth-sided four ounce jar. Would that they’d kick those quilted quarter-pints to the curb and sell these by the dozen!
Disclosure: Ball has provided these Dry Herb Jars at no cost to me. However, I am unswayed by this gift and my opinions remain my own.
I store my spices in mason jars, but if I had these jars I would use them for canning little dipping sauce jars like ketchup and plum sauce.
I store my spices in small plastic ziplock bags. These jars would be quite an upgrade.
Um….yeah!!! Lots of my spices are in small mason jars with the plastic screw top lids. Definitely more user friendly to have the ‘spice’ lid!! Also have various spices in various sizes of smaller jars and some just don’t ever make it out of the bag I purchased them in from bulk!
In the drawer next to my stove.
My spices are slowly invading my cabinet next to the stove. I swear, they have babies in there while the door’s shut.
Just the container they came in.
Mine are sort of mish-mash. Some in jars in a drawer, some in containers in the pantry. Those little spice jars look great!
My spices currently reside in homemade spice jars that I created from neodymium magnets and small glass jars with metal lids. I love them, but they are getting old and the magnets keep popping off, so I’m excited about these jars – something new that might work even better!
I store mine in more conventional shaped spice jars, but I also have way too many spices, so some of them are still in the little bags (or bags from bulk bins) that I bought them in… My spice collection is an eclectic mess, so I could definitely use these herb jars!
Last year was the first year I had a garden. It was my first time growing and drying herbs. After I dried them I went to several stores looking for something like these jars from Ball. I could not find what I wanted and ended up using other small jars. These will be ideal, just the right size and have the convenient shaker top!
I use a pull out drawer to store my spices. It works for all but the larger containers which I have to put in a cabinet.
I store my dried herbs in kerr/ball canning jars along with my other spices. I store everything in canning jars. I am almost plastic free
Most of my spices are in the jars they came in. Others are in little Ball jars. I would love to organize things more efficiently.
The jars as purchased and recycle spice jars for the plastic bag spice refills.
So for my go to spices I have a fabric panel that I sewed pockets into, in each pocket is a test tube full of spices with a cork in the top. I love it, it has small enough volume that I am forced to buy spices regularly and it looks snazzy.
I have an 1870 bin table (with two pull out round metal bins for onions and potatoes) that I bought at a garage sale for nothing. All of my spice jars happen to fit neatly in its drawers.
I store my herbs in canning jars, and most of my dry goods as well. In hindsight, I should have registered for canning jars as wedding gifts–they’re really that essential to me.
I have a few little Ikea jars and, sad to say, a LOT of little bulk section baggies. I need organization!
These are awesome! I use a bunch of mix and match Ikea spice jars and some just the jars or bags they came in!
I buy in bulk and reuse old spice jars so that I often have mislabeled herbs and spices. It’s pretty much a mess.
My spices and herbs are in tupperware spice containers. I like them but this ball set is a step up because they are glass. Just came home from shopping and almost bought a set of these, but decided to think about it some more. Just maybe . . . I will win this set 🙂
I bought a set of circular containers with spices already in them from TJ Maxx a few years ago, then I glued magnets on the back and stuck them to a square piece of metal I bought at Lowe’s. It came in a sheet about a foot by two feet, so I had my dad slice it in half and round the edges plus drill a couple holes to nail it to the wall.
We have a magnetic sheet on the inside of the door of one of our cupboards and have metal tins with herbs. Of course those don’t hold much so we have a hodge podge of different sized containers on the lazy susan and in the pantry. These jars would be a great addition and would clean up how we store some of ours.
I keep my dry herbs in the little plastic “jewel” bags that I buy them in bulk at my local food coop. They are a mess. I need something like this.
Either the jar they come in or some are in plastic bags. I am going to look for these now!
Whatever I do not grow and dry myself is purchased from a local shop. Unfortunately, all the bulk items come in plastic bags. Since I do not have any extra canning jars(yet!) I just stick the bulk bags into a small box in the pantry, otherwise they’ll slip through my wire shelving. I definitely need some of these, whether I win the giveaway or not. It’s a perfect solution for my needs!!
Spice jars my mom got me. But the holes are too small unless it is a powdered spice. These look great!
I store them in any recycled jar that I have in my cupboard. Having jars with shaker holes would be awesome!
I store my herbs and spices in ball jars with the white plastic ball tops. I’m really excited to see these!!!!!
I do like (and refill) the jars that Penzey products come in, alas, I tend to go for economy, often, and buy the spices in their plastic sacks. Plastic sacks (mostly) also for the bulk bin purchases (where I never seem to get exactly the 2 tsp or whatever it is I need). The plastic sacks no longer congregate in the paper sack from Penzey’s. They have moved into IKEA metal boxes that take up too much space. I know, I know shelf life is limited and I need to edit severely…
Some are in the jars they came in. Some are in saved jars. They aren’t even all in the same place. A real mess!
I use the jars from a spice set and then just refill them or re-label for a new spice. It is ok, but these jars look awesome!
I store in both glass and plastic bottles, but the herbs i buy in bulk i put in ball jars and sometimes dry seal them with theFoodsaver attachment for Ball jars.
Wish they sold just the lids so I could put them on all my pint & quart jars of summer-grown and dried herbs!
Mostly I reuse old spice jars, the most heavily used of which go in a spice rack near the stove and the lesser used jars go in a lovely spice chest my brother made me.
I keep most of my spices in small Weck jars, but while pretty, something with a shaker would be much more convenient for some.
I use any jar that is too sturdy to throw away.
I store them in original jars in 3 baskets in my cupboard (ones I use everyday, ones I sometimes use, and ones I hardly ever use).
My spice storage is whatever container is empty, clean and approximately the correct size when I bring home spices. So unorganized and it drives me nuts!
Happy Anniversary. My 4th year is today. 🙂
I store my herbs in a very haphazard way…they are usually dried on plates and then never officially transferred to anything permanent…which leaves me wasting herbs and making quite a mess in the kitchen.
I use a combination of the original jars, and various cute little jars that I have accumulated. The single serving ketchup bottles from hotels work beautifully for this!
I grow and dry most of my own herbs and seasonings and I reuse old containers and I would love to have more organization and especially stackable jars!!!
I have devoted the entire bottom shelf of a large cabinet to my spices and herbs. I bought those little step shelves to line the cabinet, giving me five tiers from front to back. It’s still not enough room, but perhaps it’s time for a little spring cleaning in there. I buy most of my spices and herbs in bulk, so empty jars are always needed!
I store mine in the jars they came in, mostly, though that ranges from 8″ high bulk spices I buy to the dinky little McCormick’s small jars. I know I need a better solution, but haven’t found one yet that I’m happy with.
I store them in all sorts of little jars that I’ve collected, and I just redid my kitchen so they have their own pull-out drawer in a cabinet. And they’re alphabetized.
I have a RANDOM assortment of things, some glass, some in their original containers, a few bags. I would like to get organized and simplify by having stacking jars! Those are so cute!
I store most of my spices in small glass spice jars which I keep organized (alphabetically) in stacking bamboo boxes in my pantry. It works but isn’t ideal – the mouth of the jars is too small for a tablespoon. I’d love to get my hands on these new jars, I think they would work much better for me.
Some are in the jars they came in, others are in miscellaneous jars I saved from other stuff, and some are in plastic bags. It’s a mess.
I usually buy my spices in an Indian store. They come in small plastic bags. When I get home I transfer them to plastic spice jars. These will surely come in handy
My spices shelf is a mess. This is a great way to get organized.