Whether you cook as a hobby or do it professionally, learning to cook with new ingredients is always an exciting challenge. If you’re a chef, you have probably mastered some basic cooking skills that are fundamental to helping you understand new ingredients better.

However, if you’re just a home cook who likes to do it occasionally or just for fun, worry not; we are here to give you some tips that you may follow while learning how to cook with new ingredients, especially spices.

Curious much? Read down below to learn more about the ultimate six tips for cooking with spices you should know!

What is a Spice?

Spices are natural ingredients that usually originate from the aromatic part of a tropical plant, such as the bark, root, buds, seeds, or berry. This type of ingredient is often confused with herbs.

Differs from spices, herbs are plants that don’t have a woody stem and die at each growing season. Examples of herbs are parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, and chives. They are the ‘leafy part’ of the plant.

6 Tips for Cooking with Spices

1. Buy spices in bulk.

The first tip is to buy spices in bulk. This tip can help you save a lot of household money which you can use to purchase other cooking tools or ingredients that you may need. However, make sure that you have learned what spices you regularly use before making a bulky purchase.

2. Check expiration dates ruthlessly.

Regularly checking your spices’ expiration dates is one of the essential things in cooking with spices. As spices lose their flavor and color if kept too long, you must spend extra time checking on your favorite spices’ expiration dates to ensure they still have a pleasing aroma and color.

3. Salt lightly and early.

As spices already have a distinctive aroma and flavor, ensure that you always salt your dishes lightly and early. This tip will help you avoid having overly salty food.

4. Use common spices as substitutes.

When you are out of stock, opt for common spices as substitutes for your spices. This tip will help you waste too much money experimenting with new spices, flavors, and ingredients that you are not familiar with.

5. Store spices correctly.

Storing your spices correctly will keep them looking and tasting as they have just been picked out from the store. To properly store your spices, place them in a cool, dark location away from the oven, stove, dishwasher, or anything else that gives off heat.

6. Choose a reputable seller.

Last but not least, make sure that you choose a reputable seller to get your spices. Check whether their spices are fresh, have expiration dates, and have a good reputation for selling spices. This tip will not save you a lot of money but also guarantee good quality spices for a flavorful and healthy dish.

Conclusion

Cooking with new ingredients, especially spices, may not be easy, especially if you’re still a beginner at cooking. However, as long as you have enough curiosity and willingness to learn and try all of our tips, who knows that spices can be your new favorite ingredients to use in the kitchen?

References:

1. https://www.mygreekdish.com/cooking-tips-and-advice/spice-it-up-a-short-guide-to-using-herbs-and-spices-for-cooking/

2. https://www.yellowpages.ca/tips/tips-and-tricks-for-cooking-with-spices/