Cooking is one of the few hobbies that I still enjoy regularly. (If we didn't have to eat every day, I probably wouldn't find time for that, either.) Correspondingly, I maintain a large spice collection, and frequently hunt for new additions when I travel. Over time, my spice cabinet has become virtually unusable, owing both to the number of spices, and the various sizes/shapes/languages/etc. of the bottles, boxes, bags, and other containers.
For several years, I have been seeking a solution for organizing my spices that:
o Is uniform (for functional and aesthetic reasons)
o Fits in a drawer, rather than a cabinet or rack
o Travels well (I often cook with my own spices when visiting family)
o Is inert (e.g. glass, stainless; no plastic)
o Looks nice
I am happy to say that the Libbey Vibe spice jars meet all of the criteria above, and have been an excellent addition to my kitchen over the past few weeks.
Some additional features that I particularly like about these jars:
+ I can see through the glass lids when looking down on the spice drawer
+ The lids fit very tightly, for freshness and while traveling
+ The wide mouths accommodate standard measuring spoons
+ The wide base is very stable; I haven't tipped one yet
+ There are matching, larger jars (12, 27, 42, and 64 oz) for other dry goods storage
Also, either the jars are very strong, Amazon does a great packing job, or both. When one of my orders arrived, the outer box was so visibly crushed that the UPS driver actually asked if I wanted to open the box before he left. I said yes, assuming that I would find a box full of glass dust. Surprisingly, every jar and lid was intact. Kudos to Libbey and Amazon.
These jars are not perfect, however. They have one major flaw, and a few minor ones. Most importantly:
The jars are too small to hold a full, "standard" bottle of spices
By "standard" I mean the types of bottles that you find in a typical U.S. grocery store, such as for McCormick or Morton and Basset spices. For powders, I can whack the bottom of the Libbey jar about 20 times to compress the contents, then typically force the rest of a store-bought jar into it by carefully pouring and squashing with the lid. This is a REAL pain, and makes a real mess.
I have added a bunch of 12 oz Libbey Vibe jars to my collection (which also fit into a drawer) to handle bulk spices. Still, I should be able to buy a popular spice in the grocery store and just dump the contents into the Libbey jar without so much fuss. If the Libbey spice jars weer 33% larger, I'd give them 5 stars instead of 4.
Two more minor complaints:
As indicated by others, the plastic seals are a cheap addition to an otherwise quality product. I would pay extra for real silicone seals
The sticker on the bottom of each jar is paper, and the glue is very sticky; consequently, every single one that I tried to remove tore and I had 52 chances to perfect my technique. This is a one-time hassle, but still, it took me about 2 hours to peel, soak, and clean the jars when they first arrived.
Overall, after much searching, I can say that these are probably the best spice jars to be had, at least for my needs. With a few improvements, they'd be outstanding, but I can grudgingly live with their shortcomings. I would recommend these jars to others seeking a functional and stylish solution for organizing their spices (and the larger jars for other dry goods).
These little jars were chosen for the qualities below:
unobstructed visibility of contents from top and sides
glass construction (minimal/no scratches and odor transfer)
tight enough seal (lifting by lid only does not spill contents)
functionality (can store spices/sugar and oil/honey)
shape and size
moderate price when bought as a set
However, the modifications below would make them perfect:
stackability, or rubber-like "feet" for improved stability
true silicon seal rather than a plastic seal
availability in a darker colored glass for items sensitive to light
Buy Libbey 4-1/2-Ounce Spice Jar with Lid, Set of 12 Now
I looked for a long time for the right spice jars, I wanted something with a wide mouth, big enough for measuring spoons and I did not want a spice rack with it. These are perfect little jars, holds whole bay leaves, I plan on purchasing more sets for christmas presents.
Read Best Reviews of Libbey 4-1/2-Ounce Spice Jar with Lid, Set of 12 Here
For several years I have been buying spices in bulk and reusing the jars the spices came in originally, which meant I had an assortment of brands, sizes, and shapes. After moving to a new place with a smaller kitchen, we decided it was time to organize the spices to take up less space. I didn't want jars that came with a spice rack, I just wanted nice looking jars. After reading reviews about many different products I found the Libby jars which had outstanding reviews overall and we decided to start with one set of 12. After buying the second set of 12 I am now ready to review them.
Things I like:
They arrive well packaged -almost wastefully packaged -so there is no chance of breakage during shipping. The jars are a nice weight and the lids seal tightly. The size is great and holds a nice amount of spice (or whatever you're storing), and with the wide mouth I can measure straight from the jar with measuring spoons. With a labeler (I bought Epson LabelWorks LW-400 Label Maker (C51CB70010)) they just plain look great -I can label both the spice and the tare weight so I can easily refill it with bulk spices. The wide base means I won't accidentally knock over the jar (though it might mean it won't fit on your spice rack).
Things other reviews have mentioned as cons that I disagree with:
The lid seal being too tight. -It's great to grab a jar by the lid and know it's not going to come off and the jar fall and break. Also, it's great knowing that my spices are sealed away from other scents. If you're having trouble opening a jar, try pulling the lid at an angle.
They don't hold a "full-size" spice bottle. -Another review mentioned this, but it depends on what you think is a "full-size" spice bottle. During my conversion I easily dumped many "full-size" McCormick spice bottles into the jars with no problem. Another consideration: spices lose their flavor quickly so try buying in bulk so you can pay less and have smaller quantities on hand.
The labels on the bottom don't come off. -As other reviewers have mentioned this can easily be solved with rubbing alcohol or, my fave, baking soda. For the baking soda method, soak all the jars in water mixed with baking soda. After a few minutes the labels will just slide off.
Overall, these are 5 star jars. I will be buying a third set of 12 to round out the spice collection, and maybe even some of the larger ones because I like their look.
Want Libbey 4-1/2-Ounce Spice Jar with Lid, Set of 12 Discount?
I bought these to organize a spice cupboard that was out of control. I can't cook worth a darn, but I keep trying and trying, and trying, and trying. And all those recipes require spices. So, in an effort to produce something edible, I buy those spices and end up never using them again. I vowed to toss old (some as much as 10 years!) and rarely-if-ever-used spices, and get down to the essentials. I bought 24 of these jars from Crate & Barrel. After receiving them, I stood in my kitchen and ruthlessly threw spices into the garbage. Ground Galangal Root? NO MERCY! Spanish Anise Seeds? HIT THE ROAD! Chinese Five Spice? I HATED THE TASTE OF YOU FROM THE GET-GO!
I then filled these little jars with the spices I actually use, placing stickers on the bottoms indicating which spice was which. Alas! 24 bottles weren't enough! Luckily, Amazon came to the rescue with an additional 24. Cheaper than Crate & Barrel, free shipping, and no tax! End result? A spice cupboard that's a delight to look into. Added bonus: that skinny little cupboard is now so organized that I can prep my various slumgullions and culinary disasters more quickly than ever.
Cautions:
1. There are no perforated inner lids allowing you to daintily sprinkle spices. Personally, I don't care, but it may be a deal breaker for some of you;
2. As noted in other reviews, the bottles don't hold an entire "supermarket" bottle of spice. Again, I don't care because I won't use up an entire bottle of most spices before they need to be tossed anyway. For those spices I use a lot, I bought six of the 12-1/2 oz. Libbey bottles; and,
3. The price stickers on the bottom are the devil to get off.
I am very happy with the purchase. And, final comment, they're MADE IN AMERICA.
It had been awhile since we had cleaned the grill. I avoid the job since it's messy and you worry about the chemicals you're inhaling from some of the other products. You do have to let this product soak in and sit for a few minutes but it works. I've used it in the oven and was pleased.
