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.
My spices look similar to your cupboard. I have bought some of the new jars and LOVE them. So …gradually…I am changing over.
I store my herbs and spices in mason jars (big surprise!). I use the white plastic lids as well as other lids I find that fit. I love the new jars, they will come in very handy!
Awesome!!! I have Tupperware spice jars but I think I may switch over to these jars!!!
I use mostly “recycled” (read that reused) jars of all sorts, 4 oz quilted canning jars (I agree these smooth ones are much cooler) and a few nice purchased oval spice jars. I would love to switch over to these new jars.
My spices generally just stay in the bottles they came in (ie the bottles McCormick put them in), though I do have the occasional spice that I bought in bulk that needs a new home once it gets back from the supermarket. But I do have they on a spice rack that I got from a flea market years ago that has made several moves with me to various grad schools and back. It’s a wooden corner rack that’s hanging next to the back door over the recycling bin, so it has old timey charm and takes advantage of space that would otherwise have to go unused (rather a plus in my very small kitchen).
I’ve got a lot of old Bonne Maman jam jars that house spices we use a lot of (like cumin and Aleppo pepper for my Middle-Eastern husband). Otherwise it’s a mishmash! Love your pantry storage.
I use big cliptop jars.
I’ve got a mishmash of small jars going for spices (and agree about the quilting on the Ball 4ozs, ugh!) and would LOVE to switch over to these! The shaker lids alone make me swoon…
I will reuse spice jars or sauce jars if it is a particularly big batch of herbs.
I store my spices primarily in old store-bought jelly jars. I have them in a deep drawer and I label the top with the name of the spice. What a cute idea Ball has for spice containers!
in regular mason jars – these would be AWESOME!!!!
A mix of jars and bags. It is kind of a mess.
I have these little magnetic spice jars that stick to the side of my fridge. Although, we only have enough for about half our spices, so the rest are just stacked in the cupboard in the original store packaging (be that bottles or bags).
Mine are currently a mess. Some are in the original containers, some in mason jars (without shaker tops) and some are in lovely labeled glass spice bottles (given to me filled as a wedding gift from my parents)–all crammed into a cupboard with no organization whatsoever.
I keep them in old glass jars that once held spices and herbs, after I’ve given them a thorough cleaning to avoid cross-contamination.
Ooooo! I love them! My random jars and spice bottles would look good as these instead!
I basically have a bunch of plastic containers corralled in the ice cube maker bin from the freezer. Although, several of the commonly used ones don’t quite make it back into the bin and keep trying to leap onto me when I open the cabinet. Although, the garlic powder lives on the counter next to the salt and pepper because I use it so much.
I store mine in a variety of jars and containers. I’ve got a massala tin, old jars from Dean and Deluca in NY and a few other view top tins of the Indian persuasion. The Ball jar solution is a nifty one.
I’ve been using jars of all kinds from pre-packaged spice jars to mason jars – all of which reside in two re-purposed clementine “cuties” boxes used as bins in my cupboard!
My spice cabinet is a wreck! Help!
I buy most of my dry herbs and spices online in bags, since it’s much cheaper than buying them in jars. I currently store them in mason jars with the traditional two-piece canning lids, where they fall over in my pantry when I slide the tray out. These new lids would be perfect!
I use a bunch of the tall and skinny mismatched spice jars, or whatever bag they came in from the bulk store.
I use empty canning jars. Depending on the herb or spice and how often I use it depends on my jar size. Most are in a 8 oz jar.
I currently keep my spices in their original jars/cans and stash them in a drawer or lazy susan in a cupboard. Not too exciting. Those little jars are adorable!!!
I just store them in the containers they come in and just refill with bulk spices. The jars look pretty awesome though. Way easier to refill!
Ooh, neat! I just store mine in their little plastic baggies they arrived in but these jars look MUCH better.
I usually just have them in the jars they came in. If they’re dried from outside I put them in old tea tins.
I am super jealous of your spice shelves! I personally store my spices all crammed into a single cabinet shelf, with an organization system no one but me understands. Since I buy them in bulk, I reuse a mishmash of old jars. (I actually brought home a couple empty spice jars this week after helping a moving friend unpack her kitchen…er. Yes.) These jars look perfect for spice storage–thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I’m spices are currently in a mis-mash variety of glass jars. These would be great!
These are great. I love that they are stackable. Maybe my spice cupboard would finally be organized!
Why, in JARS, of course! All kinds of jars, but frequently the ones which are slightly chipped. Or the antique jars. And some strange but pretty ones.
Spice and herbs are in many different kinds of jars—not pretty and definitely not organized!
I found two old magazine racks and I use them to store my spice jars. I have other spices I bought in plastic baggies which are hanging off of magnetic hooks on the side of my fridge.
in regular mason jars – these would be AWESOM!!!!
I have some glass spice jars but I would love to give these a try, too!
I have a magnetic panel backsplash behind my stove and magnetic spice jars stuck up there. So easy to grab and use while cooking. The lids are clear so I can see what’s inside, and my sweet hubby even labeled them and alphabetized them. It’s visually attractive as well. Most people that see it think its the coolest feature. I will try to share a picture.
I couldn’t figure out how to attach picture here, so I put it on my twitter feed @cindybracey.
I have a fairly large pantry that needs remodeling (dry wall, unstained shelving) so right now my herbs and spices are in random jars and little baggies in a shallow cardboard box. I’m hoping to get a wall-mounted spice rack and some more jars soon.
I store some of mine in the freezer and the rest in spice jars in a cabinet. I hate it, though…they don’t stack! These look great 🙂
I use a random assortment of jars with tops that I like and have accumulated over the years. I wish they matched! I just have them in a drawer in the pantry.
Been storing my herbs & spices in Ball canning jars for about 30 years.. and my mom did before me & her mom before her… its a family tradition!
Mine are store in whatever jar is available.
I too use canning jars for a lot of mine. I also save those cool corked wide mouth bottles from fancy salt and use them for spices.
I saw these jars at the store and wondered if they were worth purchasing. I appreciate your thoughtful review! Now I need to buy several packages!
My herb and spice storage is very random and unorganized. I use recycled store bought spice containers, small and large mason jars, plastic baggies only if I must and any small odd shaped glass jars from mustard, jams and esp. glass tiny gourmet food jars.
These sound like a dream, and ditto on the tiny smooth sided jars!
i store my spices in old jars – they work fine, but these look amazing!
I have a tendency to reuse my old spice jars (the plastic ones) especially if I am doing my own mixes.
*most* of my spices are on an elfa rack on my door in jars (would love an invite to the pinterest board to share a photo)
the rest are in bags, jars and freezer baggies….
love the organization of the elfa but i have too many spices to fit them all…(because, as some of you can probably relate—i get excited when i am at Penzeys and buy too much, lol)
I use them for everything! Spices are stored in the small jars and I reuse the tops to shaker pram cheese
Our spices are in the jars we bought them in, sorted into CD/DVD crates by how often we use them. I can fit 4 crates on a shelf, and it’s much easier to find what I need than when we just kind of threw them in the cabinet.
Fantastic product!!! My current storage is a mess – bags from the cash & carry mixed with jars from the store. One minor quake and my house is going to smell very different!