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 reuse a lot of old spice containers, and any other little jars I might have saved. The little 4-oz quilted jars you mentioned are quite handy, but I agree, it would be nice to have smooth-sided jars for this purpose!
I store my bulk herbs in a wide variety of jars and some in their original bags from the store. I just love the new ball dry herb jars especially the tops and their stackability!
I’ve kept dried herbs in all sorts of cans and jars, often recycling old ones.
Old glsss jars. These new Ball jsrs with shaker tops would be great!
Wow! These shaker lids would be great for teas and coffees too- love it!
This is awesome! I totally didn’t know Ball made such a thing! My spice drawer is in desperate need of an overhaul. Pretty sure I would find a way to make these work. If not in a drawer then in a basket in my pantry!
Thus far, they’ve lived in a jumble in a cupboard I no longer have (stupid landlord, cutting up my only useful storage space!). Now that the cupboard has been sacrificed for a range hood, the fella is going to build me a spice rack that we found on Shanty 2 Chic (http://www.hometalk.com/624575/diy-pantry-door-spice-rack) except mine will hang on the wall above my fold-away kitchen table instead of on a door.
I usually use the jars they came in, but I buy a few spices in bulk and re-use some older jars to aliquot smaller quantities out for day-to-day use.
We got some great small jars at Ikea that we currently use for quick & easy access. But for larger bulk items, we use canning jars of a variety of sizes.
Really love these! I can’t wait to try these. I use old jars I find at yard sales. Since I grow most of my own herbs and spices I have discovered that going from the jar to the pot isn’t always the easiest. I actually use a flour sifter for some stuff, since I don’t have any shakers.
I use the jars and/or cans that they come in and I must admit there are a few plastic bags.
Penzey’s spices come in nice reusable glass jars with shaker lids. They also sell empty ones for you to purpose however you wish. I also save empty glass spice jars from other brands.
My spice cabinet is overstuffed and disorganized. I’m in danger of blunt force trauma from falling containers every time I open it. I need help!
Herbs and spices end up in whatever is handy: the original jar refilled, the bag from the bulk bin, reused glass jars from capers, etc.
I have a spice drawer, when we did our kitchen, we planned for drawers for pots and pans, the top drawer is very short, but perfect for keeping all my spices, had to order specific jars to fit the space, that was the tough part, half spices, half foil/bags, plastic wrap. Love it!
i reuse old mustard, peanut butter, pickle, mayo, you-name-it jars. great repurposing old objects, but it would be nice if they would stack a little more easily. plus with farmers markets in full swing now, i stock up on herbs and usually have some left to dry. those dried herbs are gonna need a new home…
I’ve been putting my dried herbs from the garden in Ball jars, and using old parmesan cheese lids for tops. Works great!
My store bought herbs and spices are in their original containers. The ones I grow and dry myself are in saved glass jars. My favorite glass jars are the small Classico Pesto ones. I like the square, small shape of them. 🙂
I use half-pint mason jars for my most used herbs & blends, McCormick jars (and some tins) from years past for smaller quantities.
I’d love to unify with Ball!
I use canning jars for my homegrown herbs, with lids from refrigerated Marie’s salad dressing–they fit perfectly.
Sadly, my kitchen has very little storage so all my spices are stuffed into a small cabinet. Whenever I need to find something that I dont use as often, I end up having to pull EVERYTHING out and restacking it all back in there. Very inconvenient! I can’t wait until one day when I have a larger kitchen!
I use old jelly jars, old canning jars, and I will snag empty spice containers from work (im a chef) and save them to put all my dried herbs, dried chilies, smoked chilies, and spice mixtures in. Ive also used old tin containers, like sucrets come in, and mini bottles (glass not plastic). Not to mention I am a colector of blue bottles, so anytime I find one small enough for herbs and spices I try to use those as well.
I would love to win these jars as I already store my bulk items in ball jars and if I don’t win I will purchasing some anyway. thanks for the chance.
I have a pretty random assortment of jars and bottles at the moment, with tons of penzey’s jars (new and used) in the mix as well, all on a lovely set of shelves my husband built.
I have been storing them in the containers they come in, but have slowly been accumulating small glass jars of all sorts for purchasing spices from the bulk sections of my grocery stores.
I currently store my spices in regular spice jars from the store, but I find that the seal on them is marginal so they dry out fast! This would be GREAT way to keep them fresh! Awesome!
I buy my spices in bulk then refill the old, small, spice jars in my spice cabinet as I need them.
I’m probably doing the same as so many of you-buying bulk herbs and spices and storing in old, reused spice jars.
I’m a horrible herb & spice keeper. I keep a lot of my self dried herbs in plastic baggies. I also try to reuse spice jars from empty spice jars. I have a hodge podge collection of old spice jars, spice jars from thrift stores/yard sales, and plastic baggies. It makes for very odd organization.
I don’t use any special jars usually whatever is handy.
I use the jars that the spices come in unless I buy bulk and then just leave it in the bag – but that totally messes up my drawer – so these jars would help tremendously!
I buy my spices from Penzey’s and just keep them in the jars they come in. But I also reuse those jars when they’re empty. I’ve dropped a couple of spices and broken the lids. I love these Ball herb jars.
We’ve started buying our spices from either the bulk section of our local co-op, or bagged from the grocery store. This is great because then we can just refill old spice containers. For other stuff, I’ve been trying to acquire small jars. But the ones I have don’t stack well and are a pain to (re)label. These Ball jars look cute!
I have all of my spices and herbs in a tall kitchen cupboard devoted strictly to them. My family thinks I am nuts because I have so many, but I use them! I think these Ball jars are fabulous. I often buy spices in bulk and put them in regular canning jars. The lids on these are so much more convenient!
I buy a can/jar of spices, then refill it from Sprouts or Winco. I have some containers that are 35 years old, although the contents are fresh!
I store them in little leftover glass jars with non-fancy lids!
My spices are currently in a box awaiting our move. I would love to have new jars and start a better way to organize rather than stacking them in the cabinet.
I store my herbs in spices in 4-oz mason jars. They’re all shoved in my pantry. I’m currently looking for a new way to display them – I’m really proud of my spice collection! 🙂
Finally! Love the shaker tops. Store in my basement pantry.
Mostly, the spices are in their storebought containers. But things that I’ve dried myself, or bought in bulk at the ethnic market or from Penzeys? Those are in either Ball jars or small recycled jars from mustard and such. These would be a GREAT addition!
I store my herbs and spices in quarter pint canning jars.
I save the lids from the parmesan containers, they fit ball jars. These would be better though as they are smaller and take up less room!
These look cool! Right now I just have a mix of things all shoved in a tiny cabinet…
Love these. I too use alot of old mason jars for spice storage. I have a tiny kitchen though, so I also have a whole bunch of round magnetic tins that I use, they stick right on the fridge next to the stove and are very handy. I like the stacking aspect of these new dry herb jars too.
Whatever I can find to fit them in, such a hodgepodge of various shapes, sizes and material. I love my spices!
My husband made me a shelf system on the wall in my pantry that holds the 4 oz. canning jars. I love my herb & spice shelf. However, I really like the lids on the Ball Dry Herb Jars. They would work much better than the regular canning lids.
My herbs and spices are in a wide variety of containers, some on a turntable and the rest just stuck in around the turntable. Some are in the plastic or glass bottles they come in. For the stuff I buy in bulk I use recycled glass jars. For my home grown herbs they are stored in jelly jars. I would love to have some lovely jars such as these Ball herb jars!
I buy my herbs in bulk and usually leave them in the plastic bags that they come in. I like jars better though, but the one ounce jars you can get for this purpose don’t hold enough. These new Ball jars look perfect.
These jars ROCK! Who knew!! I’ve used ball jars for my spices but have NEVER seen these. (will admit most of my jars are vintage as am I..lol) I use them for storing food leftovers. Jars for my ginger mint tea (and yes I use my jars to store my ginger root AND mint after I’ve dried it) Cotton balls in the bathroom, rubber-bands in the cupboard, Even corks and ‘saved’ nic nacs in my craft room. A great way to see the color of your left over paints…store them in large ball jars!Sewing room has jars of buttons and left over rick rack. I make my own mayo and mustard and of course they are in ball jars. I even have many old lids with glass inserts (don’t use those for storing any food stuff except dry-goods). I can my own food. I have Crohn’s and ANYthing from a box or can, or processed food can send me into a tailspin…so instead of suffer and starve, I can my own food.
My dog developed allergies and YES, I can their food now too (she feels SO much better). I am on a fixed income and at Christmas I make food in a jar for gifts and my family all knows to SAVE AUNT DEBBIES JARS!!
Glass doesn’t stain, or seep plastic man made chemicals into your food…And best of all when if one breaks, you can recycle the glass. Why add more plastic bags to land fill?
Glass jars rule!!!
I use the jars they come in primarily and then if I buy bulk or loose have odds and ends jars I’ve collected over the years.