When we had to redo the kitchen, and saw this option, we couldn't pass it up.
this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2026
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[QUESTION] What are your favorite spices to use in soups?
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Your spice cabinet is the envy of ancient kings. Wars were fought to amass such fortunes.
Imagine Alexander getting to India and tasting curry for the first time. Conquering a quarter of the globe didn't give him access to what's in the drawer.
It's all in a pull out drawer in a 30" base cabinet - with soft close rails that my husband installed himself. The cabinet doors also have soft close hinges.
How often do you actually use things like Celery salt, Celery seeds, Freeze dried chives, Cream of tartar, Dill weed, Flax seed, Popcorn salt and Taco seasoning?
My approach has always been that something can't go into the spice drawer unless I've actually used it in a recipe. I've seen things like Cream of Tartar in a lot of spice drawers, but I have no idea what it is, or what kind of recipe might call for it.
Often enough where I go by the same rule. If it's in my drawer I use them. If it's not seen in my drawer, either I don't use it or haven't come across a recipe that calls for something I don't have. I actually make up my own taco seasoning with other seasonings pictured in my drawer + cornstarch. Cream of tartar is very new to me as well, I used it in a recipe for Chocolate Snickerdoodle Cookies.
Ah, ok. I don't do much baking, and when I do it's just bread / focaccia, so that's probably why I've never used Cream of tartar. To me it sounds like tartar sauce, which I think is used with fish... so it's strange it's something for cookies.
Cream of tartar is a type of acid, and is usually used in baking as along with baking soda as a leavener. Baking powder is generally just baking soda and cream of tartar mixed together, but some recipes call for adding them separately in different ratio then you would find in baking powder.
Oh, interesting!
Apparently Cream of Tartar is Potassium bitartrate, a potassium acid salt. And baking powder is basically an acid (Cream of Tartar for example), mixed with a base (Baking Soda, or Sodium Bicarbonate) and a desiccant like corn starch to prevent the two from reacting by getting wet.
When they do mix, an acid/base reaction occurs releasing CO2, which is why it's useful in baking because it makes pockets in the dough.
Apparently cream of tartar was a naturally occurring byproduct of wine making, and has been known for thousands of years, but was only used for baking in the last few hundred years.
The word "tartar" seems to be basically as old as wine making. The latin word "tartarum" has its roots in Byzantine Greek. But, it doesn't seem to be connected etymologically to tartar sauce.
I do lots of baking, and that was the first time I ever had to use it. I also had the same thought as you.
Once you have them organized and labeled and easy to access like this, you find tons of uses for them. During COVID I remodeled my kitchen and bought about 40 jars to make a similar battlestation, labeled them all, and bought everything in bulk. Now I order refills at 100 or so grams at a time and I go through everything pretty quickly. If you don't cook often or don't enjoy cooking, maybe disregard, but it's nice being spoiled for choice when it comes to flavor.
Celery salt: fairly often, esp. for coleslaws and similar salads, also great on sausages and bratwursts
Celery seed: tons especially in winter- great flavor enhancer for soups, stews, pickles
Cream of tartar: rarely but good for some desserts and good for polishing silverware/stainless steel
Dill weed: at least weekly for any cool yogurt or ranch-style dips, egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad. I might use it more than any other herb- I go through a 100g bulk pouch at least once every couple months.
Flax seed: weekly at least - oatmeal, smoothies, bread
Taco seasoning: at least once a week for tacos, taco rice, or wraps (but usually make my own: chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, cumin, salt & pepper, and a pinch each of MSG and sugar)
Popcorn salt: not often, but a carton of Flavacol costs pennies and will last a household literally forever
Freeze dried chives? eh. Never had those around.
Well said, better than I could've. Thank you. π
Similar approach, but mine are portable so I can cook at my partner's.
Love the portable spice briefcase. That's really thoughtful to have so you can bring your partner joy and happiness through your cooking or baking. π₯°
Kind of you to say. And yes spice makes the difference and gets appreciation. Rewarding.
π
I have pull-out spice racks, they've been a life changer
Edit: Almost forgot about the lazy Susan for the oversized stuff
I should do this. I grow a lot of my own common stuff, but for what I don't, I end up realising I have now brought home a third jar of something because the other two were just hidden behind all the other duplicates.
I too have a problem with repurchasing things I have. I keep the small stuff in the drawer and the big stuff on the pantry rack to refill my bottles when they need it. However we are taking a first try at growing some herbs with a hydroponic grow light system.
Ah, that should make things easy. I grow what works in my climate (which is fortunately Mediterranean, so a lot) and doesn't require much effort. It's nice being away from home for weeks on end and returning to thriving plants. Hydro will give you that but for whatever climate you want.
I've got a similar idea except that it is a rack that sits in a cubby above where I cook. I 3D printed a rack of a bunch of hexagons that the containers slide into and have all the lids labelled. Super nice having them right at hand, typically I just look up from what I'm doing, pick the herb or spice I need and put it right back.
Very nice. 3D printing comes so handy when it's things you need for storage around the house. Don't have to buy it because you can just print it! My husband 3D printed me a lipstick holder, the design gives it a stacked look and all the individual squares that held the lipsticks fit them like a glove.
I'm so jealous of the organization, looks great! Mine are just in a box/tray I pull out and fumble through. I dream of having the motivation to organize it like this!
How do you deal with expiration? I know spices don't really "go bad," but the ones I use less often definitely lose some flavor after a while (faster if they're ground, which is most of mine). Do you refresh them even if you have some left in the jar?
Also, I've never used freeze dried chives! Do you rehydrate them, or just use as a topping?
They are all alphabetized so I can find them faster. I usually use most of the spices before expiration so I don't have to worry too much, but the ones I buy in bulk I try to do a monthly expiry check for all things on the pantry rack or what's in the drawer. I do refresh even if I have some left in the jar. The freeze dried chives I use for homemade ranch dressing as they are, I haven't really used them in anything else yet.
Freeze dried chives also really make ramen pop, I use a bunch in my homemade ramen "flavor powder".
Ooo, I'll have to try that next time I make chicken ramen. Thanks for the idea.
Am so jealous. So well organised and all. I tried to put up a rack but failed to get it large enough so itβs a rack and a drawer and way too many oils / vinegarsβ¦
I keep all the seasonings and spices in the drawer, but we have oil bottles that spray or pour and keep those on the counter near the oven.
Oh that's a drawer 0_Β° I'm even more jealous. It looks... humongous...
25Β½ inches left to right, 18 inches top to bottom.
Nice rack.
I did mine alphabetically.
I'm so used to having a full cupboard of spices and spice mixes that I'm low key jealous that you can organize yours easily like that.
I posted the links to the drawer inserts and spice jars so you too can have a spice drawer like mine π«΅π»
If I had the space, I would absolutely think about looking into this. Small apartment kitchens are not my friend.
Links to the drawer organizers and spice jars (sold separately)
https://a.co/d/0iGUNWgy - Clear spice racks
https://a.co/d/00KARWXm - Spice jars