In the commercial kitchen, you will often need spice jars of varying sizes depending on the type and amount you use. Spices need proper storage to keep them fresh and retain the flavor they have.
Tasteless spices will ruin the best entrees, appetizers, or salads you serve at your restaurant or food venue. Small glass jars are a good choice to store spices because the glass is thick and does not allow air to come in. Moisture from the air will dry out and make your spices or herbs stale.
Metal containers are another good option because they keep the air and light out. When stored properly, spices can last up to two years. Smaller containers are better for storing spices.
Spice Jars of Various Shapes and Sizes for Storing Spices
Glass containers are a popular choice in the commercial kitchen. They come in different sizes, such as 4, 6, 8, and 16 oz. Small containers are better because they retain the freshness of the spices you use. They are transparent and do not filter out light. Store the jars in a dark pantry or cupboard to overcome this problem.
With tight-fitting lids, they will stay fresh longer. Mason jars and glass containers with cork tops are good spice jar containers to use in the commercial kitchen. Some have metal or plastic lids too.
Metal containers that keep out the light and air are another choice for the commercial kitchen. A smaller container for spices is recommended. When you run out of containers, you can use a zip lock storage bag or paper bag until you order new containers.
Keep the spices in the containers airtight by making sure the lid is closed completely. Keep your spices in a dark cabinet or pantry to keep light from getting at the spices. Remember to keep your spices away from the heat and moisture. Store them in a dry, cool place and label your jars with the date.
Spices to Store in the Commercial Kitchen
Some of the spices you might find in the commercial kitchen are ground allspice and whole allspice seasoning. They are often used in baking, like cinnamon. Another spice is ground and coarse black pepper, which is often used in salads and main entrees. Caraway and celery seeds are often used in salads and dressing to impart a distinctive flavor.
Cinnamon is a common spice used in making breakfast items and baking. Cardamom is a spice used in Middle Eastern cuisine for making curry, basmati rice, and other dishes. Cloves are another spice often used in baking and sometimes in main dishes. Garlic comes in powder, minced, and granules, depending on how you want to use it.
Cumin seeds or ground cumin are used to flavor main entrees. Mustard seed or ground mustard is used to flavor salad dressing and in main recipes. Nutmeg is another spice often used to bake in the commercial kitchen. Onions come in minced, powdered, and granulated forms. Buy and store what you use most for your recipes and dishes.
Other common spices you might use in the commercial kitchen are rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, curry powder, paprika, chili powder, ginger powder, and sage. When you order these spices in large quantities, it is a good idea to store them in several smaller bottles made of glass or metal. When you repackage them using smaller bottles, they will last longer. Y
ou can package a large supply of any spice in several smaller bottles and store them in one area. Use a label and the date you bought the spice.
Drying and Packaging Your Own Herbs
Perhaps, you have an upscale restaurant that makes your own spices and bottles them. There are several ways to dry herbs to package for use. You may be growing herbs in your own garden or buying them fresh at the local market. Good herbs to dry and store are basil, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, chives, hot peppers, garlic, and ginger. You can dry most herbs in a food dehydrator.
They have a timer and temperature control that can be adjusted. Some machines have several trays for doing large batches of herbs for storage. You can dry spices in the oven at a very low temperature and process the herbs in a blender or food processor. They have to be watched closely in the oven. Some kitchens dry herbs in a sunny spot on a table or by hanging them up.
Criteria Used to Recommend Spice Jar Products
We looked at product reviews and chef recommendations for the best spice jars for the commercial kitchen. The best materials that kept air and light out were glass jars and stainless steel containers. It is recommended that you store your spices in a cool, dark location, like a drawer, cabinet, or pantry, away from heat and moisture.
A good spice container will have an airtight lid and a way of dispensing the spices. Some come with labels so that you can date and label your spices. Some companies sell the lids and labels separately. We looked at the size of the containers, the material they were made of, the design, extra features, and the price.
Recommended Glass Spice Jars For Commercial Kitchens
Tablecraft
Tablecraft sells individual spice jars or containers made of glass in various sizes for storing spices. They have different sizes with metal or cork tops that safely store your spices. The 10105 is a 1-1/2 oz. spice jar with a hinged lid with a stainless steel top that clamps shut. This jar can be ordered one at a time or in bulk. It is clear glass and should be stored in a dark, cool place like a cabinet or pantry.
They have a 2 oz. spice jar made of glass with a hinged metal top #10106. It can be ordered in small or large quantities. The 3 oz. size jar is made of glass with a hinged metal top that clamps and is #10107. These products ship in 1-3 business days and are sold on the KaTom Restaurant Supply site and Amazon.com. They are made in the United States.
Pros
- Made of glass with secure hinged tops
- Keep the air out of the jar
- They come in small sizes
- Some are sold individually or in sets of six
- Made in the United States
Cons
- It can be pricey if ordered in large quantities
- Returns are accepted under specific conditions
- Most items are not sold in large quantities
Aozita
Aozita sells glass containers with metal lids in varying sizes. There is a collection of 24 jars with metal lids. They are 4 oz. with a squared shape and come with 24 bottles, lids, and labels to store your spices. The set comes with a silicone funnel to refill your spices. It is made of durable lead-free glass. It has a shift and pour top with airtight metal lids to keep your spice fresh.
They have a 12-piece glass set with 4 oz. square glass lids, tops, and printed spice labels, and blank labels. They have a 38-container set and a 48-glass container set. These products are made in China and sold on Amazon.com and the Azoita websites. Customers say they are good quality for commercial kitchens and can be stored in a cabinet or a dry, cool area.
When you order the set, you will have plenty of jars to fill. It is practical to fill spices that you use often and want to have an adequate supply. This is a smaller set and geared to smaller restaurants and foodservice venues.
Pros
- Sold in sets, they come with lids and labels
- Durable glass
- Priced reasonably
- Fast shipping.
Cons
- Jars need to be washed before use.
- Made in China.
- Some customers complained that the jar size was smaller than advertised.
Berlin Packaging
Berlin Packaging makes a variety of different sizes of glass containers for storing spices and herbs. They sell the jars in different sizes, 3, 4, 8, and 16 oz., with different types of lids. It is recommended to order the jars with the lids instead of separately. The flip and shift caps are easy to use and keep air out of the spice jar.
These jars have wide openings, making them easy to fill with spices or herbs. When cooking, the tops allow you to sprinkle just the right amount of spices. These caps are made of polypropylene.
The cap shapes come in square, round, and triangular. They can be ordered in cases of 12 or more on the Berlin Company website. Some spice jars come with caps, and other jars’ caps must be ordered separately. They are made in the United States. These spice jars are suited to restaurants and food service venues that use large amounts of spices and herbs.
They sell round glass jars with a flip and shift cap or spoon and shift cap. They sell a variety of different shaped glass spice containers and several plastic containers too. They provide labeling services for businesses too. Their products are sold on the Berlin Packaging website. They can be bought individually or ordered in larger amounts. Some spice jars are sold in cases.
Pros
- Glass jars come in square, round, and triangular shapes
- Sold in large quantities to the food service industry
- Good prices for large quantities
- Made in the United States
Cons
- Sometimes orders take longer when jars are out of stock
- Many spice jars do not come with lids and must be ordered separately
Talented Kitchen
Talented Kitchen sells spice container sets with glass jars in varying sizes, with racks and organizing trays for the drawer. They can be used in the commercial kitchen. They have 24 glass jars with a spice rack, and each jar holds 4 oz. of spices. They come with liners, 24 pour and shift tops, and pre-printed and blank spice labels.
They are ideal for restaurants and smaller venues. It comes with 4 stainless steel wall racks to place spices on the counter or in the pantry. It has a silicone funnel to refill spice jars. They sell an 18-glass jar set with a two-drawer organizer that has bottles in the French square design.
They come with 18 metal caps with liners, 18 shift and pour caps, preprinted labels, and blank labels. These sets can be ordered on the Talented Kitchen website or Amazon.com. On Amazon, they have free shipping and fast delivery. They are made in China and have received good ratings from consumers.
Pros
- Glass jar sets with racks, lids, and printed labels
- Fast delivery
- Sets designed for small restaurants
- It saves space and looks attractive
Cons
- Made in China.
- Some items come damaged or with missing parts
- Rather pricy
Recommended Metal Containers For Spices
Burch Bottle and Packaging
Burch Bottle and Packaging makes metal tins that are designed to be used for spices. These metal tins come in 4, 8, and 12 oz. sizes. The 4 ounce square slip tin can is ideal for storing spices with its clear metal top cover so you can see what you have stored. This PK432 can be ordered individually or in bulk.
They are ideal for restaurants that want to store spices in a drawer or large pantry. The 8 ounce size is PK300 and is easy to store and use. They are sold on the Birch Bottle and Packaging website, and you should call before ordering to see what sizes are in stock.
You can order other sizes by talking with the staff at the company. They have a toll-free number to call at 1-800-903-2830 for more information. These metal tins are made in the United States. The clear metal tops let you see the spices in the container and keep the air out.
Pros
- Metal is a long-lasting material
- You can order in bulk
- Tins come with covers
- Manufactured in the United States
Cons
- Designed for large orders
- To order, you must call or fill out the online form
- Items are sometimes not available immediately
Conclusion
Spice jars made of glass or metal are the best type to use in the commercial kitchen. Be sure to choose tight-fitting lids and smaller containers to keep spices fresh longer. Label your spices with a date, so you know when you purchased or filled them. Some jars can be used on the dinner table or buffet.
Large orders are best placed through the packaging companies that make the different types of jars for the food industry. We recommend glass or metal containers to maintain the freshness of the spices and herbs you use. Our favorite is Aozita glass containers.