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