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I can chart my progress as a cook by the growth of my spice collection. I started out with just a couple of spices, like granulated garlic and ground cinnamon, but then slowly added others like cumin, coriander, chili powder, curry powder, two kinds of paprika, everything bagel spice, Aleppo chili pepper, garam masala, and turmeric (plus whole spices like cloves, nutmeg, and star anise).
Suffice it to say, my spice drawer has exploded. I know that showing my spices the proper appreciation means storing them away from heat and light, which can degrade them and make them lose potency. So I was delighted when my newest kitchen had a roll-out spice rack, and more thrilled when my spice containers — these chic, round stainless steel capsules — fit inside perfectly.
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But I grew less thrilled as time went on and I actually tried cooking with them. Although I had spent years searching for a spice storage solution that was just the right combination of functional and aesthetically pleasing, and genuinely thought I had found it, the powdery rainbow mess in the bottom of my spice cabinet told me otherwise. No matter how careful I was to line up the stainless steel lids to cover the holes on the side of the containers after I was done using them, I couldn’t seem to avoid inadvertently dumping spices everywhere. And wasting perfectly good spices was worse than the mess. (If you’re wondering why I don’t just use the jars the spices come in, I usually bulk-buy my spices, which means they come in bags and need to be re-homed!)
Begrudgingly, I started the search again. I admit I’m pretty particular. Screw caps and tins aren’t easy to open in the heat of the moment. Kilner glass jars are cute, but too narrow to fit my fingers in for a pinch of what was inside — plus, breakable, a likely possibility in my kitchen. I wanted something minimal, and needed something that fit my spice rack.
I finally found it almost unexpectedly, while looking at the organizational wares of a Japanese company called Yamazaki Home. The bottles are sleek and square, but with rounded edges. Outside of the metal rack they come in, they fit perfectly two-by-two in my spice drawer. Which means I can finally get my entire spice collection in the upper rack — no more kneeling to hunt for cayenne. If you don’t have built-in spice storage and want to display your collection in the included rack, it’s a striking countertop display. Even if you don’t have the same sort of drawer that I have, what is key to know here is that the jars line up perfectly, without wasting any space at all.
These containers are also see-through, which helps with spice identification until I get labels on, and made of resin, so they’re not breakable. But the key is really the lid. It toggles one way to reveal holes for sprinkling, and the other way for a slot you can use to measure larger amounts of spices. I can literally do this one handed using only my thumb.
The only downside of this spice rack that I can see is the price. Forty bucks is steep for six jars, and I need about four times that amount. But it’s a price I’m willing to pay for the convenience and finally having a spill-free spice rack. And these were clearly built to last, so I can make the investment now and enjoy the containers for years to come.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Refrigerators are naturally well-suited to being centerpieces. They usually hold the most precious and delicious things in your kitchen, and they’re one of the most-used appliances in your home. Unfortunately, like it or not, they take up a serious amount of space. That’s all the more reason to put your fridge to even greater use as a multi-purpose storage area (on the outside, of course). The easiest and most affordable way to do that is with magnetic organizers that take advantage of your fridge’s metal exterior. Yamazaki Home is our go-to brand for this specific kind of organizer, since they focus on using minimalist designs that blend in with any decor scheme. They also have options for every possible storage scenario — trust us. Whether you want extra shelf space to hold ingredients, bins to keep household clutter at bay, or a combination that also miraculously has ladle hooks, you’ll find it here.
Check out our favorite magnetic organizers — they’re all on sale right now!
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It’s fair to say I’m partial to under-the-radar organization. Hacks like these under-cabinet mounts for my myriad of stand mixer attachments satisfy my need to have a place for everything. Yamazaki Home tends to come through with functional and minimally beautiful solutions, and this under-shelf paper towel holder is a prime example. It simply hooks over the edge of a shelf, be it exposed or stored away in a cabinet or pantry, and comes with a screw-in anchor to hold it securely in place. And, since the anchors have undetectably thin rubber padding, there’s no damage made to your wood, metal, or other shelf materials (and they don’t look bulky or unattractive either). The holder simply slips vertically over an inch or less of shelf thickness and hangs in a space that would otherwise go unused, so it takes up significantly less room than a stand-up paper towel holder that hangs out on your countertop or one that lays on hooks horizontally.
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Personally, I prefer how much less visible the paper towels are with Yamazaki’s solution — especially if it’s used in a cabinet shelf. For any shelf that’s less than an inch thick, this paper towel holder is a sustainable solution that’s out of the way, easy to empty out, and a cinch to reload as rolls need to be replaced. And, unlike so many other mounted or hung paper towel holders that I’ve used in the past, Yamazaki’s actually fits XL-sized rolls so you don’t need to buy more than you have storage space for, or than you even need to use. Plus, the brand is offering 180-day free returns through Dec. 31 if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase — though we doubt that’ll be the case. I could go on, but I’ve got a basket that’s long overdue for a fill at Yamazaki.
Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)
