Organize the Kitchen: Label your Storage Jars

4 Apr

Kitchen Storage Jars with Labels in Cupboard

Once upon a time, when I couldn’t tell the most basic cooking ingredients apart, I decided to cook myself some khichdi. The end result was a slimy mess. It dawned on me after downing a few spoonfuls that I had cooked the khichdi with dhuli urad dal instead of yellow moong dal. The two looked so alike to my untrained eye that, unless I was squinting to detect the right shade of pale yellow, I could swear they are one and the same.

My early struggles in the kitchen were peppered with many such quandaries. Is this coriander powder or garam masala? Is that besan or sattu? Nigella seed or mustard, cumin seed or saunf?

If only I had thought of labeling my storage jars then…

Moong Dal and Urad Dal

…it is never too late! While urad and moong confuse me no longer, labeling still helps to quickly reach out for the right bottle when I have a number of homemade spice blends stashed away in the cupboard.

Kitchen Storage Jars with Labels

Storage jar labels are also helpful for “guest cooks” i.e. those visiting who (thoughtfully :) ) take over kitchen duties temporarily.

Here are a few ideas for labeling jars the smart way.

What kind of storage jar labels should you choose?

Scout for labels that:

are moisture-resitant
do not bleed color (or toxic substances!) if you touch them
have firm adhesive, at the same time…
peel off easily when removed

Some labels come with pre-written text, which can be very convenient, but then they might not suit all your needs. I far prefer labels that allow me to write on them.

Label Sticker Writing

A word of caution about transparent labels with black text: if you use them on transparent jars filled with dark material, the label’s text won’t show up.

A selection of jar stickers for you to buy from:

Before you start labeling…

…prepare and plan.

Clean your jars and bottles well and make sure they are completely dry before you stick labels on them.
Pick the labels according to the sizes of containers you own.
If you have more jars on hand than labels, prioritize first: which jars *must* you label, which can you skip?

Cumin Seed, Fenugreek Seed Jars

Text to label – write it right!

Factors to keep in mind when writing on the storage jar labels…

Kitchen Jar Labels Text

Text spread: Remember that the label has finite space: don’t start writing with wide spacing if you want to fit in “vermicelli” on a 3-cm strip.
Text placement: Decide ahead if you want to write multi-word names on a single line or split over two lines – abide by that when positioning the letters vertically.
Legibility over perfection: You might not have print-perfect handwriting, which is a good thing really – it brings in a nice wabi-sabi element to your text. Don’t worry about making it all symmetrical. Do care about readability though – the point is to bring clarity after all.
Choice of writing material: Regular pens might not work on many kitchen labels. My tool of choice is chalk pen markers.

Jar Labels Chalk Marker

A few labeling pen options that might work for you:

The links above are amazon.com affiliate links. The Steaming Pot will earn a small commission if you buy via the links, at no additional cost to you.

Label to jar – get the sticking stickler-perfect

You’ve got the labels written out, and now you’re at the final step of sticking them. How do you get that right?

Make sure your hands as well as the bottle’s surface are clean and dry.
Peel each label off carefully from its base, hold the label’s ends with your fingertips at both ends – avoid touching its adhesive side as much as you can.
Position the label a tiny distance away from the bottle’s surface to balance its X,Y coordinates and angle – don’t start sticking first and then struggle to adjust it later!
Paste the label in one swift, firm motion. This will prevent bubbles and crinkles.

Fenugreek Seeds, Cumin Seeds

Closing thoughts…

This is a longish article for a fairly simple task :) One happy corollary of this exercise is the forgotten jars one finds resting the back of the cupboard. Some of these jars would get honorably retired from further use, some lovingly reclaimed. Organizing the kitchen is so much more than a ho-hum chore…

Kitchen Jar Labels