Spice Rack Inventory

Who this is for

What is actually in the spice rack. Each jar, packet and tube gets a line with its form, how full it is and the dates on it, so the next shopping list is written from the shelf rather than from memory. A short staples list at the foot covers the ones you never want to run out of.

Cooks with a crowded spice drawer, households where three people buy the same jar of cumin, and anyone clearing out a cupboard of half-used packets.

What this helps you track

• Every spice, herb and seasoning you have, in one list
• Whether it is whole, ground, dried or a paste
• How full each container is
• When it was opened and the best-before date on the pack
• What to buy next time, and the staples to keep in stock

How to use it

1. Write where the spices are kept and the date you checked them.
2. Take everything out of the rack or drawer and give each container a line as it goes back in.
3. Note the form and container size, and set the level to full, half or low.
4. Copy the best-before date from the pack and write the date opened if you know it.
5. Tick Reorder for anything low or past its date, and copy those onto your shopping list.
6. Fill in the staples list with the ones you always want on hand; the browser version saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How long do spices keep?

The sheet does not say, because it depends on the spice and the pack. Use the best-before date printed on it, and your own nose: a spice that has lost its smell has usually lost its flavour too.

Should I list spice blends separately?

Yes. Give each blend its own line and use the note column for what is in it if it is home-made, so you know what it can stand in for.

Why a staples list as well?

The main table records what you have today. The staples list records what you always want to have, so it is quick to spot a gap even when the jar has already gone in the bin.

Can I use this for dried herbs from the garden?

Yes. Set the form to dried, write the date you dried them in the opened column, and use the note column for where they came from.