Tips for Using Spices in Your Food
If you want to make your cooking more interesting, using spices is a great way to do it. They can transform the most ordinary of dishes into something that has so much flavor, ensuring that you’ll not only enjoy the food you’re eating more but that you enjoy the process of cooking more, too.
Some people feel a little intimidated when it comes to cooking with spices because they’re not sure how to use them properly. They might steer clear of them altogether because of this, and that’s a shame because, as we’ve said, they can do so much. If you’re someone who would like to use more spices but isn’t sure what to do, keep reading, as we’ve got some tips that will make it a lot more accessible.
Experiment
We can’t say there are no bad ideas when it comes to using spices, as sometimes various flavor combinations just won’t work, and sometimes using too much or too little spice can make a difference to a dish in a way you don’t enjoy. However, the fact is that experimentation is a good thing, and you should try it.
Get all your spices together (buy a basic set to begin with, and you can add to your collection over time; they will last for a long time, so they can be great value for money) and a few bowls. Put on your apron from www.aprons.com (spices can stain clothes), and set about creating some interesting flavors. Add just a little of each spice at a time until you have something that smells wonderful. You can then store that unique mix of spices and use it when you need to add a little extra something to a dish. Of course, it’s a good idea to write down how you make it, as it will be hard to reproduce if you don’t note down not just what spices you used but how much.
Use Spices inthe Right Order
Although you can mix spices as we mentioned above (and this can be a really fun way to start enjoying the different types of spices you can get), if you are using them as separate elements, you must add them to your dish in the right order. Don’t worry if you think that this sounds complicated; it’s not as difficult as it might seem at first. In fact, once you learn the rules (or just write them down), you can make some wonderful dishes.
An example of what this means is that you should always add mustard seeds and cumin (and similar spices) into hot oil before anything else because this releases their flavor. Other spices, like chili powder and paprika, should be added later as they just enhance the dish.
Store Your Spices Properly
Although spices will last for a long time, and you don’t have to do much in terms of storage to keep them usable, it’s still important to know what you need to do – if you store the spices correctly, they’ll keep their flavor for longer.
The best thing to do is to store them in airtight containers. This way, they will keep their flavor, and you can continue using them for a long time. If any air gets into the spices, they will become weaker, and their impact on your food will be minimal.