A magnetic spice rack allows you to organize your spices as you please. It's a great way to keep things in one place in the kitchen when it comes to your essentials―herbs and spices. When putting together a spice rack, there are certain things that come into play, like their shelf life. Also, the best way to store spices and herbs is to place them in stainless-steel containers with clear lids to keep them fresh. You don't have to hire a professional to do the job; you are your own handyman (or woman!). Shelf-Life of Herbs and Spices It is important to know which spices last longer than others, and which ones will spoil quickly over time. So, before we get into how to build a rack, we first take a look at how you can differentiate between your core ingredients' shelf lives. Dried Herbs Any kind of herb that's been dried and then packed, can last for about a year. The time can be prolonged, but with no exact idea of how long they'll last. So, approximately taking into consideration their shelf lives, let's say, a year. If you go with freshly-packed herbs that you've personally picked out and stored, then yes, you could be replacing these often, knowing that they'd not be as fresh after a certain point. Whole Spices Spices like cardamom, whole nutmeg, cloves, star anise, and the like, will last for about 2-4 years. Ground Spices Powdered spices in any form have a short lifespan and need to be changed every six months, or even two years, depending on how long they can withstand storage conditions. There are ways of knowing this, like checking to see if they still have their aromas intact, or taking note of mold growth or clumping. Buying the spices whole and powdering them yourself is a better alternative, since you can frequently replace them after a while. Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated Foods Some ground spices like onions, ginger, and garlic come in dried form and can last for about six months depending on how they've been dried. Garlic if granulated, can be stored for up to a year, whereas how to store other dried foods should be discussed with store owners who know these details well. Custom-Made Magnetic Spice Rack

• Toothpicks
• 4 oz. round clear-top tins
• Paper for mixing epoxy
• 1/4"x1/6" neodymium magnets (three magnets for each tin will do)
• Pocket-knife tweezers
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Cold weld
• Damp paper towel

Steps Involved	What to Do
Step 1	Use the sandpaper to slightly roughen up the bottom of the first tin container, to allow the cold weld to stick properly.
Step 2	Using the damp paper towel, wipe away any dust left behind post sanding the tins.
Step 4	Leave them aside to dry. Using cold weld steel and hardener in black and gray, respectively, mix two equal parts of both.
Step 5	Using a toothpick, mix the epoxy and then add three small blotches of this to the back of each tin, with the help of the toothpick.
Step 6	If you add too much of it to the cold weld, just wipe away the excess to avoid it from creeping up the sides of the magnet. Place the magnet to the epoxy, carefully. Do the same thing again for each tin, depending on how many spice tins you want to put up. You can always add more of these later if you plan on expanding your spice rack collection.
Step 7	Allow the cold weld to cure for 24 hours.
Step 8	After your epoxy dries, you can then place your magnetic tins to a steel surface. You can place them against a wall on a frame.
Step 9	Label your spices and herbs using a label maker, and place it neatly on the lid. That way you can easily identify which spice/herb it is, without being left confused.

Be sure to place the rack in dry area in the kitchen, since moisture can ruin them sooner. Airtight containers work well for such a project, so take a look at what options you have when you plan to put a spice rack up.