PrintSpices!
I am cleaning out my spice cabinet and since my mom and I shared, I'm not sure how old the spices are that she bought. So I'm tossing everything and starting from scratch. Any suggestions on what spices are must -haves? Also, what is the normal shelf life for spices? And are they're any brands or types that are better that others?
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18 Comments:
Check out the Penzey's online site for some of their basic sets of spices. I'd also recommend them for ordering as well.
What you stock will depend on what you like to cook/bake - do you do a lot of Italian cooking? Mexican? Do you bake a lot...?
As for shelf life, my understanding is that if properly stored away from a heat source (upper cabinets above a stove = bad idea) and in airtight containers, you generally want to ditch them after a year or so and restock with fresh spices. Again, Penzey's is a good resource for spice info.
moibec at 10:16PM on 05/16/08
I say Penzey's too. I've been very happy ordering from them.
NanaJoie at 7:37AM on 05/17/08
Penzey's is indeed a great place to start. Pendery's is also wonderful, especially for chiles and chili powder blends. Also chili sauces.
Whatever you do, buy in small quantities. I can't stress this enough. Ground or dry spices and herbs have a clock ticking and it's only a short time until maximum flavor is lost. Whichever spices you choose, step one upon delivery is to take a sharpie and write the date somewhere on the label. This way you will not have to guess at the age of the jar.
I tend to keep:
Basil
Oregano
Red Pepper Flakes
Thyme
Chili Powder
Cayenne Pepper
Cumin
Allspice berries (whole)
Cardamom (whole)
Cloves (whole)
For baking:
Cream of Tartar
Cinnamon
Nutmeg (in whole nuts - use a grater)
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Ground Mace
I really love Penzey's Bavarian herb blend. I try to stay away from "pre mixed" spice blends because they tend to contain salt. If you get curious about spice blends, just make sure they don't contain salt. (Let that be your choice - how much salt to add.)
chiff0nade at 7:41AM on 05/17/08
Can't say enough good things about Penzey's. If you're lucky enough to be near one of their stores make the trip. Where else can you get a high for $1.79? You can purchase herbs and spices in a variety of sizes...a good idea if you're not certain you're gonna love something.
I always have on hand:
Tarragon
Rosemary
Basil
Thyme
Turkish Oregano
Smoked Paprika
Tellicherry Pepper
Chipotle Ground Red
BBQ 3000 (new)
Chicago Steak Seasoning
Red Pepper Flakes
Salt Free Mural of Flavor (super on fish)
Cinnamon
Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
And my all time favorite (that I now buy in super large container):
FREEZE DRIED SHALLOTS
I could drink that stuff!
bessfour at 9:13AM on 05/17/08
I'll tell you what I can remember from mine. Stars denote things I can't live without.
*Oregano
Basil
Paprika
*Cinnamon
*Nutmeg
Amchoor
Sumac
*Cumin
*Panch phoron
*Garam masala
* Curry Powder
Fenugreek
*Chili Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Thyme
Sage
Red Pepper Flakes
Allspice
Ginger - mostly for baking
Mace
Cloves
*Cardamom
Mustard
Marjarom
Chinese 5 Spice
*Coriander
Saffron
*Tumeric
Wasabi Powder
Lemongrass
Garlic Powder
Garlic Salt
Onion Powder
I know I'm forgetting some ....
Of course I also keep flavored oils and syrups and condiments around, too ....
KarynMC at 9:32AM on 05/17/08
Don't forget dry mustard and bay leaves. If you don't have a kitchen garden, you'll need the basics - dried parsley, rosemary, dill, basil, chervil, oregano, chives, and my most used fresh and dried - thyme.
PerkyMac at 9:41AM on 05/17/08
......and tarragon, sage, mint
Oh dear, I'd better stop now. My name is PerkyMac and I'm a spiceaholic.
PerkyMac at 9:44AM on 05/17/08
Oh yes, I forgot that I have bay leaves.
And because I'm ghetto, veggie stock powder.
And mint and spearmint and chamomile and rosehips ... but those are for tea.
Maybe I have a problem?
KarynMC at 9:56AM on 05/17/08
Regarding shelf life - we discussed this once before and I related that I was told 3 months. Others thought much longer. There was an "expert" on a PBS cooking show who said 5 years. That's more like it!
When I've had more therapy (and a trip to Penzey's), I might be able to purge. I have a spice rack and two (count 'em TWO) spice cabinets, in addition to a huge array of fresh spices growing very well. I do need help, people!
PerkyMac at 10:10AM on 05/17/08
I will be the 20th person to recommend Penzey's, all the above suggestions are great, and Penzey's has some great blends too. I love their Sandwich Sprinkle for making croutons, their Pumpkin Pie Spice is awesome, dressing mixes, I need to stop too or I'll drone on.
I basically walk in their with a list of 3 things and walk out with $60 well spent on a plethora of spices every 3 months (They are 90 min. drive from me).They are great about answering questions, always ask if you aren't sure if something should be frozen or not.
Lastly about storing, ever since changing from a spice rack to a spice drawer we've had a longer shelf life.
bobcatsteph3 at 10:44AM on 05/17/08
Everybody here has already answered your question very astutely and fully. I couldn't agree more. I am replying to second the recommendation of Penzey's. Their spices are wonderful, as are their prices.
I happen to be lucky enough to have a Penzey's within driving distance from my house, but their online service is excellent as well.
Brownie at 10:49AM on 05/17/08
yep, penzey's for me, too. i use thyme, nutmeg, bay, chili flakes, penzey's four peppercorn mix, grains of paradise, and smoked paprika most often in my cooking, vanilla, ginger, and almond extract most often in my baking, and i like to throw a whole cardamon pod into the coffee pot while it's brewing. i have other things things too, but those are the ones i really couldn't live without.
cybercita at 11:32AM on 05/17/08
I have bought from Penzey's too - Beware their mixtures/combinations - they often have a lot of salt.
I buy my spices from World Spice in Seattle - you can order on the web and their products are ultra fresh and your order gets personal attention.
suegsf at 12:12PM on 05/17/08
My faves are from Alden Mill House up in Alden, MI. Miracle Blend is what I put on everything (especially eggs), but their Salad Seasoning and Pork & Poultry Seasonings are also good standbys in a pinch.
LunaPierCook at 12:58PM on 05/17/08
chiff0nade: what a spectacular list. Thanks! I'll add bay leaves, but otherwise, I literally just copied and pasted your list into a file for stocking my new kitchen when my wife and I move next month.
ccbweb at 2:12PM on 05/17/08
i'd heard that dried basil is worth about as much as confetti. or something like that. or maybe it was dried parsley? i forget. but i bought my first basil plant today, yay!
billyburgwife at 12:19AM on 05/18/08
@Perky, I' heard people say 3 or 6 months as well, and it just doesn't make sense. We're talking about crops that are harvested and packaged probably once a year, so if you buy a bottle again in 3 months, it's probably from the same harvest. 11 months later, it still could be the same harvest if you have bad timing, so it's nearly a year old when you buy it.
For spices that are ground, it would make sense that they'd lose potency as they age, but when you buy that bottle you don't really know how long ago it was ground any more than you know how long ago it was harvested. If you bought from a place that ground their spices "on demand" then you'd have a better chance of getting fresh product, but I suspect that most spice companies do all the grinding at the same time. I could be wrong, but it's probably true for at least some of them. The best bet is to buy whole spices and grind them yourself.
Some people would say that you should buy from a place with a good turnover of product, which makes some sense because when the fresh crop comes in, you want that to appear on the shelves quickly. But in between, it doesn't really matter if the bottle is at the store or in the warehouse, if it's from the same crop. Neither is fresher.
I figure that most of my spices are good for a couple years, but many of them don't last that long, anyway. Otherwise, I taste everything I cook, and if the spice has begun to lose potency, I just end up adding more to get the same flavor. Which isn't a big deal. And if it seems that I need to add too much, I know it's time to buy more.
And I'm also a big fan of Penzey's. I used to buy from them online, then a store opened in this area. Not close, but close enough to go once or twice a year. Getting to smell all the spices and blends ahead of time is really a treat. And it prompted me to buy a lot of things I'd never have thought of buying.
dbcurrie at 2:15PM on 05/18/08
Penzey's is great, as is Spice House. I'm a bit partial to the latter just because their home base was in my hometown. The people are just wonderful and their spices are fantastic.
orangemiles at 5:40PM on 05/21/08