Things to Know Before Keeping Mixed Herbs and Spices in Your Kitchen Cupboard

Food becomes better when it’s properly seasoned with the best herbs and spices. Using dried mixed herbs makes a lot of difference to your cooking. So, here’s all you need to keep them in your pantry. 

The myriad flavours added by spices and herbs make every recipe unique. Whether you want to make your favourite chicken stew or looking to try the best Indian Dahl recipe, you have to master the basics of herbs and spices. Remember the food will taste good and smell better with these flavours boosters. Sprinkle dry herbs on salads, curries, rice, sautéed vegetables, or pasta. They add an instant zing to any food. 

When you’re looking for a convenient and cost-effective alternative to the fresh herbs, you can go for the best mixed herbs. They are cleaned and dried under the sun before an airlock packaging. Here, also consider the fact that the flavour of an herb or spice alters after drying. They have a more concentrated flavour when compared to their fresh counterparts. For instance, one tablespoon of chopped fresh rosemary is equivalent to one teaspoon of dried rosemary. 

The traditional herb mix includes marjoram, sage, and thyme though you can also find rosemary and basil to the modern blends. This mix is perfect for Mediterranean cooking and dishes like West African Satay taste much better with the best mixed herbs.

You can choose mixed spices depending on the recipes you want to cook. For example, if you want to cook the best Indian Dahl recipe, you need the perfect blend of spices used in authentic recipes. Mostly, it includes local Indian spices like turmeric, salt, pepper, chilli, coriander, mustard, garlic, and cumin. 

When you need to give a boost of flavour to your cooking, get the best mixed herbs and spices in your kitchen cupboard. 

Dried herbs, particularly, have many culinary uses apart from cooking. They can be used for:

Garnishing the vegetables like tomatoes, aubergines, and peppers

Mixing with the pizza toppings

Flavouring the cheese recipes

On the other hand, here are some innovative and interesting culinary uses of mixed spices:

Stir them in a cup of creamy lentil soup or Indian lentil stew

Use harissa mix as a dressing for basic vinaigrette or sprinkle mixed curry

powder to baked potatoes

Sprinkle any spice mix on your salmon or fish fillets

Make roasted vegetables with a blend of Indian or Middle Eastern spice blend

When buying the best type of mixed and dried herbs or spices, pay attention to the quality of packaging and freshness of the products. Prefer buying whole dried herbs as they have a stronger flavour. 

If you’re choosing dried leaves and ground spices, make sure to check the seal of package and date of packaging. Never buy stale spices or herbs because they lose their original flavours over time. Always choose a reliable and well-known brand that offers spices and herbs full of health benefits.

The products should be preservative-free, filler-free, and additive-free to deliver unadulterated flavours.

How to Store Dried Herbs and Spices Safely?

Buying the best spices and herbs isn’t all. You also need to store them properly for longer shelf life and to retain their natural flavours. Store them safely in the airtight containers away from moisture and direct sunlight.

Typically, dried herbs and spices are perfect for use within a year from the date of their drying and packaging. After storage, consider checking the freshness of spices at regular intervals. The best way is to smell them. If they lose their aroma, it’s time to replace the herbs and spices in your drawer.

These are the basics to know before you buy and store mixed herbs and spices for your kitchen.

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