MagnetJar

I get all kinds of interesting items for review. MagnetJar qualified as interesting - a spice jar you could hang somewhere with a magnet.

I really didn't think it through before I said yes. Because there's one tiny problem with any spice solution that has the spices hanging on the fridge. Herbs and spices should be stored in a dark place. Out in the open hanging on the fridge isn't a good spot.

The company also suggests you can hang the jars on the stove hood, which is worse because you have both light and heat.

But then I thought, gee, if these jars are that spectacular, maybe it would be worth hanging a sheet of metal inside a cabinet door to hang the jars.

When the MagnetJars arrived, I had to clarify ... are these the final versions, or are they a prototype? Sometimes I get prototypes and test models, so I had to find out.

Functionally, they work fine. They're a spice jar with a magnet glued to one side. They hold spices and they stick to metal surfaces. Job done.

But they're not particularly decorative or elegant. They're not ugly. But no one is going to look at them and say, "Oh, those are pretty!" Looking at them from the front with spices in them, they'll look fine. But from the side, that magnet is bulky and not particularly attractive. Depending on where you hang them, you might not see the side. But you might, right?

I have absolutely nothing against things that are function over form. Function is actually more important to me. So ... these work. Pretty much like any other spice jar I own. My original thought was actually pretty good. If you hung a big metal sheet inside a pantry door, these would be nice stuck to the inside of the door. As for leaving them out in the open ... you're really better off having your herbs and spices safely inside a cabinet.

These would also be useful in a garage or craft room to stick on metal shelving to hold small screws, washers, nuts, and other small parts.

Who's it for: People who need more spice jars and who want to hang them up.

Pros: They're functional.

Cons: They're not particularly attractive.

Wishes: Opaque jars would make so much more sense, like maybe opaque white with a chalkboard-painted circle to write on.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.