Repurposed PO BOX Spice Cabinet

I'm a huge fan of antiques, so you can imagine how I almost fainted when I came across this vintage retired postal unit. I knew right away that I wanted to turn it into a spice cabinet. I've been waiting for my sons to get older to complete this project because they kept taking the keys out. Fingers crossed...

If you do a lot of cooking and or baking, it's important to keep a well stocked spice collection so you don't have to run to the store every time you need a new spice. Spices are best when used within the first 6 months of purchase. This ensures that you will get the most flavor out of the spice. Although it won't hurt you to use a spice that has been sitting in your cabinet for years, you won't be getting the intense flavor that can be achieved with fresh spices. When buying spices, don't buy them in bulk or in big packages unless you cook a lot with that spice. Most of the time, you only need a small amount of each spice, so in this case, the smaller the quantity the better. Dump out your old spices after six months and restock them for maximum freshness. I didn't add certain dried herbs like dill, thyme, basil, parsley & cilantro. I always use fresh when I can. 

Although it might be hard to find one of these antique postal unit's, I've seen plenty similar vintage pieces with separate storage units. I've also seen PO boxes sold individually. You could purchase them separately and store 5 or 10 of your favorite spices. 

What you need:

Vintage Postal Unit or similar cabinet

Label Maker

Jars 

Spices

Funnel's

List of favorite spices

Make a list of the spices you use the most or that you have in your current spice collection. I went through an herb and spice book to get the names of spices I have used before, but couldn't think of off hand. Print out the names of the spices on your label maker and place them in alphabetical order. 

Remove the backing from the labels and place them onto the spice cabinet in alphabetical order. I had a couple rows left over that I'm going to use for artisan salts and peppercorns. 

Fill your jars with spices and place them into the labeled po boxes. 

Here's a list of my spices: 

Allspice
Aleppo
Ancho
Bay Leaf
Berbere
Cardamom
Cinnamon 
Celery Seed
Clove
Curry Powder
Cream of Tartar
Fennel
Fenugreek
Garlic
Garam Masala
Grains of Paradise 
Ginger
Juniper
Lavender
Licorice Root
Mace
Marjoram
Mustard Seed
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Pink Peppercorn
Poppy Seeds
Ras El Hanout
Rose Petals 
Saffron
Sesame Seeds 
Black Sesame
Star Anise
Sichuan Pepper
Sumac
Turmeric
Vanilla Bean
Wasabi

Enjoy!