by Theresa Morrow

Created on: October 02, 2008   Last Updated: October 10, 2008

Spice up your life! With the current trend towards healthier, low-fat and low-sodium foods, many meals can come across as bland and tasteless. This can turn meal times from something enjoyable to just one more chore of the day. Healthy foods need not be boring.

With over one hundred spices to choose from, any plain dish can be turned into a meal worthy of being served in a gourmet restaurant. Spices range from the common to the exotic, and it takes practice to perfect their use. A good place to start experimenting is with basic spices such as oregano, basil, thyme, cinnamon, and nutmeg. These spices, along with other common spices such as ginger, rosemary, sage, and paprika can be found in basic spice kits.

All spice kits come with the same standard spices while larger ones will also contain more exotic spices, such as saffron, anise, cardamom, and savory. The rack is usually what determines which set you choose. Spice racks can be made of wood, metal, or plastic. The type of material and number of spices a set contains will determine the price, which can range from under $20 for a plastic set with five basic spices to well over $100.

While spice racks won't take the beating other household items may endure, it is still important to look for something of quality construction. One thing to consider is how well the material will hold up to moisture and heat since it will likely be located near the stove. Also, if choosing a carousel type spice rack, look for one that turns smoothly.

Basic spice racks will usually contain five to twenty containers. The spice rack jars typically come in two and four ounce sizes. However, some of the professional sets may include eight-ounce sizes for more popular spices. Spice jars are usually made from glass or plastic, but the current trend is toward stainless-steel sets, particularly magnetic containers that can be attached to a refrigerator or a piece of sheet metal attached to the wall. While a stainless-steel spice rack or a magnetic spice rack tends to be more expensive, it does offer the advantage of freeing up cabinet and counter space, is very durable, and offers a decorative touch to the kitchen.

Other available options include a wooden spice rack or a plastic rack. These are available in styles that can be attached to the wall or used as a carousel counter top set. While a wall spice rack will free up counter space, neither is better than the other and the choice will ultimately be determined by preference and how much counter space is available.

Which ever spice rack is chosen, make sure it fits into the space both decoratively and functionally. Bon appetite!

Learn more about this author, Theresa Morrow.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.