| You are a busy cook - you want good tasting, | | | | tea strainer. This way, you can easily remove them |
| healthy food with minimal preparation time. The | | | | when the flavor is right. |
| outstanding variety of herbs and spices readily | | | | * Toast seeds such as sesame, cumin, and |
| available today let you enhance the flavor of many | | | | peppercorns in the oven or on top of the stove. Stir |
| types of cuisine. You can add tremendous taste to | | | | occasionally while toasting. This enhances their aroma |
| meats, fruits, and vegetables without adding | | | | and flavor. |
| unwanted calories, sugar, and fat. Since most of us | | | | * Preserve the flavor of bottled herbs and spices by |
| use dried spices in lieu of fresh, it is important to | | | | storing them in a cool, dry place away from light. |
| maximize and extract all the flavor possible from | | | | Avoid storing in cabinets around moisture or heat, |
| what we use. The purpose of this article is to show | | | | such as above the stove or dishwasher, or near a |
| six ways to maximize the flavor of herbs and spices | | | | sink or microwave oven. In general, avoid storing |
| used in your recipes. | | | | them in the refrigerator. Be sure to check your stock |
| * Ground spices quickly release their flavor in recipe, | | | | about once a year for freshness. Crush some |
| while whole spices take significantly longer. Use whole | | | | between your fingers or with a spoon - if you can |
| spices in recipes that cook for a long time, such as | | | | smell little or no aroma, discard and purchase fresh. |
| those prepared on the low setting in a crock pot. | | | | Most whole herbs and spices will retain their flavor |
| Ground spices work best in recipes that cook more | | | | for about a year, while dried and ground versions are |
| quickly, because some will turn bitter after prolonged | | | | better if used within six months. |
| cooking. | | | | Shop carefully for herbs and spices - the quality can |
| * Avoid adding spices and herbs directly from the | | | | vary greatly depending on where they were |
| bottle into a steaming pot. Moisture and heat will | | | | harvested, storage conditions prior to bottling, and |
| cause loss of flavor, and often causes the remaining | | | | the quality of the packaging. Many cheap products |
| product to cake and become essentially useless for | | | | have odd foreign matter in them that does not help |
| fine cooking. Measure them directly into a spoon or | | | | give the best flavor to foods. |
| cup and add to your recipe. | | | | Using herbs and spices in cooking helps you prepare |
| * For added flavor, buy whole spices and seeds and | | | | delicious dishes and meals, while reducing sodium, fat, |
| grind them with a tabletop coffee grinder, or a | | | | and sugar. They add zest and flavor to unsalted and |
| pepper mill. Freshly ground herbs and seeds release | | | | reduced-fat foods, and help you prepare healthy |
| an extra aroma and flavor - remember how much | | | | meals that taste great. Try substituting herbs and |
| better pepper tastes on your salad when it is ground | | | | spices called for in recipes with something different, |
| fresh at your table? | | | | such as marjoram in place of oregano, savory instead |
| * To remove whole herbs or spices during or after | | | | of thyme, or cilantro in place of parsley. Experiment, |
| cooking, tie them in cheesecloth, or place them in a | | | | have fun, and happy dining! |