# Cooking Help: Spices/Seasonings
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 16, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571 "2011-02-16T12:28:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/41 "2011-02-16T22:18:32Z")
> [@Johnny Angel](#):
>
> Really, I’d have paid the same money for just the rack.
Me, too! And I thought "Hey, as an extra added bonus, I get to try some spices I’m not familiar with-practically for free! I mean, even if you disregard the cost of the rack and the tubes (which I’m sure I’ll get years of use out of), I paid _$1.00 per spice_. A bargain, right?
And I really like the idea mentioned upthread of using out-dated spices/herbs as natural pest repellents!
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/42 "2011-02-16T22:25:52Z")
I assume this was the guy.
> **[Woot's Blog](https://wine.woot.com/blog/all)**
>
> Videos, contests, weird links, jokes, and more. In the form of a blog!
No comments to help but I’ll just say I’m bummed I missed the deal, I could really use one of those.
---
### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/43 "2011-02-16T22:27:44Z")
Here’s my favorite curry recipe that will help with at least 3 of your spices: 5-spice powder, ginger, and curry.
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4933858&postcount=2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4933858&postcount=2)
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/44 "2011-02-16T22:38:25Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> I assume this was the guy.
>
> [http://wine.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=15864](http://wine.woot.com/Blog/ViewEntry.aspx?Id=15864)
>
> No comments to help but I’ll just say I’m bummed I missed the deal, I could really use one of those.
Yeah, that’s the one. It’s pretty awesome. Apparently, from the comments in the online community, they run it from time to time, so keep an eye out for a re-do.
> [@Musicat](#):
>
> Here’s my favorite curry recipe that will help with at least 3 of your spices: 5-spice powder, ginger, and curry.
>
> [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4933858&postcount=2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4933858&postcount=2)
That sounds pretty awesome, and not too difficult at all (especially if I use frozen stir-fry veggies); also, it doesn’t sound too spicy. I like spicy food, but no one else in my house does. ☹
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/45 "2011-02-16T22:52:18Z")
> [@norinew](#):
>
> That sounds pretty awesome, and not too difficult at all (especially if I use frozen stir-fry veggies); also, it doesn’t sound too spicy. I like spicy food, but no one else in my house does. ☹
I like spicy, and I’d call my recipie kinda spicy, so be cautious! You could cut down on the cayenne & black pepper if it’s too much, but the ginger and curry (if it’s mild curry) should be OK. The coconut milk makes a nice sauce with just a little sweetness.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/46 "2011-02-16T23:40:09Z")
> [@norinew](#):
>
> Me, too! And I thought "Hey, as an extra added bonus, I get to try some spices I’m not familiar with-practically for free! I mean, even if you disregard the cost of the rack and the tubes (which I’m sure I’ll get years of use out of), I paid _$1.00 per spice_. A bargain, right?
>
> And I really like the idea mentioned upthread of using out-dated spices/herbs as natural pest repellents!
[This is the one I got.](http://www.amazon.com/Kamenstein-Jar-Revolving-Spice-Tower/dp/B00008WQ3L/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1297899378&sr=8-11) Actually, I got the 16-slot version. Now I feel I got screwed. In any case, I’ve ordered a set of bottles to use because, due to my particular madness, I can’t stand to dump most of the spices I don’t expect to use just to make room for the ones I will. So, I’m just replacing the jars and putting the bottles aside until a couple of years after I would actually be afraid to use them.
But, I am having fun throwing sea salt and dried chives into everything I cook.
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/47 "2011-02-17T00:53:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#):
>
> [This is the one I got.](http://www.amazon.com/Kamenstein-Jar-Revolving-Spice-Tower/dp/B00008WQ3L/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1297899378&sr=8-11) Actually, I got the 16-slot version. Now I feel I got screwed. In any case, I’ve ordered a set of bottles to use because, due to my particular madness, I can’t stand to dump most of the spices I don’t expect to use just to make room for the ones I will. So, I’m just replacing the jars and putting the bottles aside until a couple of years after I would actually be afraid to use them.
>
> But, I am having fun throwing sea salt and dried chives into everything I cook.
Hey, there are very few foods that would not benefit from the addition of some sea salt or dried chives! (Kinda like cheese, sour cream and butter!) 🙂
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/48 "2011-02-17T02:38:53Z")
> [@bump](#):
>
> Well… if you want to make your own Ranch dressing, you pretty much have to use powdered garlic and onion or it doesn’t taste right.
>
> I’d say none of them are necessarily evil, just best used in limited situations.
>
> Sichuan peppercorns aren’t hot, but they produce this weird sensation that feels like the love child of Orajel and sticking your tongue on a 9-volt battery. Sort of like numbed, but with a zap at first. If they have flavor at all, it’s a sort of citrusy flavor.
>
> Some of the spices (dried ginger) work well for baking also, even though for cooking, it wouldn’t be so great.
Powdered onion and garlic certainly have their uses (Chex mix!), but those freeze-dried bits really suck. Hey, at least she didn’t get dried cilantro, which is Satan’s toejams.
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/49 "2011-02-17T03:02:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Powdered onion and garlic certainly have their uses (Chex mix!), but those freeze-dried bits really suck. Hey, at least she didn’t get dried cilantro, which is Satan’s toejams.
Ahhh! So _that’s_ what’s in the BONUS ‘Satan’s Toe Jams’ tube! 😃 I thought it was ‘Satan’s Dish Soap’!
😛
I’ll save that for a night when I’m only making something the _rest_ of the family likes, not something _I_ like! 😉
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/50 "2011-02-17T03:36:47Z")
In case it wasn’t mentioned, I’d lightly cook the curry powder and/or garam masala in a bit of oil before adding too many other ingredients - onion can go in first, but not too much more. You want to bring out the true flavors of the spices and infuse the oil with that flavor. Adding it at the end won’t do the spice mix justice and won’t properly flavor the food.
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### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/51 "2011-02-17T13:47:03Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#):
>
> I use Garam Masala to make Chai tea.
How is “chai” properly pronounced?
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### Author:  [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-help-spices-seasonings/571571/52 "2011-02-17T15:29:48Z")
Cha-eye, but run it all together as one syllable.
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