# What is your favorite commercially made seasoned salt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498 "2019-03-03T20:07:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/1 "2019-03-03T20:07:14Z")
Just curious, I must have a dozen bottles of every kind, some are better than others, some are disappointing. I’ve even tried making my own blend, and that didn’t quite work. I like good old Lawry’s, but it’s mostly just paprika and salt. I’ve tried various McCormick’s, can’t find ‘the one’. Buck’s seasoning? Jane’s Krazy salt? Mrs. Dash? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/2 "2019-03-03T20:17:08Z")
Lawry’s Garlic Salt ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/3 "2019-03-03T20:36:23Z")
Old Bay ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/4 "2019-03-03T20:42:11Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Just curious, I must have a dozen bottles of every kind, some are better than others, some are disappointing. I’ve even tried making my own blend, and that didn’t quite work. I like good old Lawry’s, but it’s mostly just paprika and salt. I’ve tried various McCormick’s, can’t find ‘the one’. Buck’s seasoning? Jane’s Krazy salt? Mrs. Dash? Have you tried the “Montreal Steak Seasoning” of McCormick’s? It’s not the be all end all of steak seasonings (for that, you pretty much need to mix it yourself), but it is the best one, IMHO, that fits your criteria of “commercially made.” ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/5 "2019-03-03T20:57:58Z")
Many from Penzeys. I’d like to try the [Smoky 4/S Special Seasoned Sea Salt](https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/smoky-4s-special-seasoned-sea-salt/c-24/p-649/pd-s). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/6 "2019-03-03T21:27:10Z")
If you look at the ingredients list for many salt blends, they seem to list much of the same ingredients (active, plus preservatives). Major active items seem to be salt, pepper, MSG, sugar, onion, tomato, garlic, corn starch, not necessarily in that order. Alas, the percentages may be the important difference. Nevertheless, my favorite is [Chi-chi’s restaurant seasoning.](https://www.amazon.com/Chi-Chis-Restaurante-Seasoning-0-78-Ounce-Packages/dp/B000MBN5TK/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=243348018613&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019116&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15609168630850243109&hvtargid=kwd-408978797006&keywords=chi-chi%27s+seasoning&qid=1551647256&s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20) Just the right mixture for my taste, so I buy a case at a time, just in case my local supermarket decides to discontinue it (it happens all too often). OTOH, when I recently cleaned out my cupboard recently, finding a few dozen half-used packets of various seasonings, on a whim, I emptied all of these into a single container, stirred it up, and that is now my go-to seasoning for many dishes. Just because you asked, my all-purpose mixture now has the following, although the exact amounts of each are unknown: [ul][_]Spicy Wings Seasoned Coating Mix (Williams Foods)[_]McCormick Seasoning mix for Buffalo Wings[_]Mrs. Wages Roasted Bell Pepper & Garlic Taco Seasoning Mix “Bold Flavor!”[_]Nash Finch Co. Onion Soup Mix[_]McCormick Grill Mates Smokin’ Texas BBQ (naturally flavored) Rub[_]Sun-Bird Stir-Fry Seasoning Mix (Authentic Asian Taste)[_]Kikkoman Fried Rice Seasoning Mix[_]Sun-Bird General Tsos Chicken Seasoning Mix (Authentic Asian Taste)[_]Williams Foods Hot & Spicy Szechwan (Authentic Oriental Seasoning Mix)[_]Lawry’s Mediterranean Sundried Tomato & Garlic Chicken Spices & Seasonings Mix[_]McCormick Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix[_]Mc Cormick Beef Stew Seasoning Mix[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/7 "2019-03-03T22:05:49Z")
on Steak we like Montreal Steak Seasoning. On chicken we like Penzey’s Ruth Ann Muskego Ave seasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/8 "2019-03-03T22:21:03Z")
Montreal Steak Seasoning is great on Kraft Dinner. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/9 "2019-03-04T00:42:02Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Old Bay Seconded. For garlic taste in a sprinkle I prefer McCormick’s Garlic Pepper over any of the garlic salts. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/10 "2019-03-04T01:31:57Z")
[Susie Q](https://susieqbrand.com/santa-maria-seasonings/santa-maria-seasoning/) is the best meat seasoning there is I also like to add it to my garlic bread and it does well in beans too. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/11 "2019-03-04T04:50:52Z")
Lawry’s is good. It has sugar, which helps promote browning … or can burn, depending on application details. Morton’s (the salt brand) has a blend called Nature’s Seasons. Don’t see MSG on the label. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/12 "2019-03-04T11:39:24Z")
Vulcan Salt from The Spice House in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/13 "2019-03-04T13:53:28Z")
Lawry’s is my go-to seasoning salt. Just bought some more this weekend! Others have mentioned the Montreal Steak seasoning, which I have but don’t use very often. But I do use the Montreal Chicken quite a bit. It goes well with chicken, pork, and fish. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/14 "2019-03-04T15:00:38Z")
My most used seasoned salts (though they may not be branded as such) are [Slap Ya Mama](https://www.target.com/p/slap-ya-mama-cajun-seasoning-8-oz/-/A-47091845?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Grocery%2BEssentials%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Grocery&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9021736&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1247077&ds_rl=1246978&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtvPjBRDPARIsAJfZz0oezlc2_HiXg9B9_0NpUR3TXXaVgcmIR8RBOUiEvge_kcO3EniNLEUaAvjqEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) (salt, red pepper, black pepper, garlic–although there is a white pepper version, too), Lawry’s, Old Bay, and [Goya Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning with pepper](https://www.amazon.com/Goya-Adobo-Pepper-Purpose-Seasoning/dp/B07DHQS6JR/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3C9NMQHBG6BJD&keywords=goya+all+purpose+seasoning&qid=1551711687&s=gateway&sprefix=goya+all+%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-5). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/15 "2019-03-04T15:07:06Z")
We use the Zatarain’s Creole seasoning so much, our kids joked that if we ever opened a restaurant we’d have to call it Mom’s Zatarain’s Cafe. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/16 "2019-03-04T15:22:51Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Old Bay > [@kopek](#): > > Seconded. For garlic taste in a sprinkle I prefer McCormick’s Garlic Pepper over any of the garlic salts. Every time we have moved to a new area, Old Bay is one of the first things I look for when looking for a grocery store. Seafood, poultry, meat, potatoes, whatever. (I’ve been told it’s good for popcorn, but I don’t eat popcorn.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/17 "2019-03-04T15:35:40Z")
Another vote for Lowry’s. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/18 "2019-03-04T16:26:30Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Many from Penzeys. I’d like to try the [Smoky 4/S Special Seasoned Sea Salt](https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/smoky-4s-special-seasoned-sea-salt/c-24/p-649/pd-s). This is my house seasoning; I put it on damn near everything. I also have the Spicy 4/S, which is not quite as versatile but also great to have around. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/19 "2019-03-04T16:40:36Z")
Thanks for all the answers. I think I’m going to check out Penzey’s, I bought from them years ago and don’t know why I haven’t since then. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498/20 "2019-03-04T16:46:59Z")
It addition to Old Bay, I like Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-commercially-made-seasoned-salt/830498.md?page=2)