There are endless possibilities when it comes to spices. But there are a few core spices that every kitchen should have. These spices can be used in so many different dishes and they add so much flavor.
Every home cook should have salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin in their spice cabinet. With these five spices, you can make almost anything taste great.
Beginner's guide to BUYING, STORING & ORGANIZING SPICES
There are a few spices that, in my opinion, every kitchen should have. These include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin. Of course, there are many other great spices out there that can be used in cooking, but these five are a great foundation.
Salt and pepper are obviously essential for adding flavor to food. I like to keep a variety of different salts on hand so I can use the right one for each dish – kosher salt for general cooking, sea salt for finishing dishes, etc. Pepper is also important – I always keep black peppercorns and a good quality pepper grinder so I can freshly grind the peppers as needed.
Garlic powder and onion powder are both great additions for giving food more depth of flavor. Garlic powder is particularly versatile – it can be used in savory dishes like roasted vegetables or pasta sauce, or sweet dishes like cookies or cake. Onion powder is also very useful – it’s great in soups, sauces, and even as a seasoning on popcorn!
Last but not least is cumin. Cumin has a warm, earthy flavor that goes well with many different cuisines. It’s often used in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking, but I also love to add it to chili or tacos for an extra boost of flavor.
Top 20 Spices Every Kitchen Needs
If you’re like most home cooks, your spice cabinet is probably a little lackluster. Sure, you’ve got the basics like salt, pepper, and garlic powder. But what about all of those other spices that can take your cooking to the next level?
Here are 20 spices that every kitchen needs:
1. Allspice – This versatile spice can be used in sweet or savory dishes. It’s perfect for baking and makes a great addition to curries and stews.
2. Anise seed – Anise has a licorice-like flavor that’s perfect for cookies, cakes, and breads. It’s also lovely in savory dishes like roast chicken or pork loin.
3. Cardamom – This Indian spice is often used in curries and rice dishes.
It has a warm, slightly sweet flavor that is also delicious in baked goods like muffins and quickbreads.
4. Cayenne pepper – A little bit of cayenne goes a long way! This spicy powder is perfect for adding heat to soups, sauces, and marinades.
Just be careful not to add too much!
5. Chili powder – chili powder is a blend of spices including chili peppers, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano. It’s perfect for giving any dish an extra boost of flavor (and heat!).
Try it in tacos, enchiladas, or on roasted vegetables.
How Many Spices Do You Really Need
If you’re new to cooking, the number of spices can be overwhelming. Do you really need all of them? The answer is no – you can get by with a few key spices.
Here’s a list of the most essential spices that every kitchen should have:
Salt: This is perhaps the most important spice of all. It’s essential for flavoring and seasoning food.
Pepper: Black pepper is another must-have spice. It goes well with salt to flavor food.
Cumin: Cumin is a key ingredient in many curries and other dishes from around the world.
It has a warm, earthy flavor.
Oregano: Oregano is commonly used in Italian and Greek cuisine. It has a strong, slightly bitter flavor.
Thyme: Thyme is another versatile herb that can be used in a variety of dishes. Its flavor is similar to oregano, but milder.
Top 50 Spices
When it comes to spices, there are so many different options to choose from. It can be hard to decide which ones to use in your cooking. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the top 50 spices that will add flavor and depth to your dishes.
1. Allspice – This spice is perfect for adding a bit of sweetness and warmth to your recipes. Try it in pies, gingerbread, or mulled wine.
2. Anise – Anise has a licorice-like flavor that works well in sweet and savory dishes alike.
Use it in cookies, cakes, breads, and even curries.
3. Basil – Basil is a versatile herb that can be used in everything from pesto to tomato sauce. It’s also great for garnishing salads and pasta dishes.
4. Bay Leaves – Bay leaves impart a subtle yet distinctive flavor to soups, stews, and braised dishes. Be sure to remove them before serving!
5 Black Pepper – Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in the world.
It goes well with just about everything, so don’t be afraid to experiment with it in your cooking.
6 Cardamom – Cardamom has a sweet yet slightly spicy flavor that works well in both sweet and savory dishes . Try it in baked goods , curries , rice dishes , and more .7 Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne pepper is perfect for adding heat to your recipes .
A little goes a long way , so use it sparingly at first until you know how much heat you want .8 Celery Seed – Celery seed has a milder flavor than celery itself , making it ideal for use as a seasoning . Add it to soups , stews , salads , dressings , or rubs for meats .9 Chili Powder – Chili powder is made up of ground chili peppers mixed with other spices like cumin , oregano , garlic powder , and salt . It’s perfect for giving food an extra kick of flavor .10 Chipotle Powder – Chipotle powder adds smoky heat and complexity to any dish .
Top 5 Spices to Have in Your Kitchen
The world of spices is vast and varied, making it hard to know which ones to keep in your kitchen. But there are a few key spices that no cook should be without. Here are the top 5 spices to have on hand:
1. Salt: This one is a no-brainer. Salt is essential for seasoning food and bringing out its flavor. It’s also versatile – you can use it for cooking, baking, or even as a garnish.
2. Pepper: Like salt, pepper is a must-have spice for flavoring food. It’s also great for adding a little bit of heat or zing to dishes.
3. Garlic: Garlic is another versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
It’s perfect for adding depth of flavor to soups, sauces, and stews. Plus, it’s believed to have health benefits like boosting immunity and lowering cholesterol levels.
4. Ginger: Ginger is often used in Asian cuisine, but it has a place in all kinds of cooking.
It’s excellent for adding warmth and spiciness to dishes, and can also help settle an upset stomach if you’re feeling queasy.
5 .Cinnamon: Cinnamon isn’t just for dessert!
This warming spice can be used in all sorts of sweet and savory recipes alike – from cinnamon rolls and apple pie to curries and chili con carne . Not only does it taste great , but it’s also been shown to have some impressive health benefits like reducing inflammation and regulating blood sugar levels .
40 Most Common Spices
If you’re a home cook, then you know that having a well-stocked spice cabinet is essential. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know which spices to buy. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 40 most common spices, along with their flavor profiles and uses.
So whether you’re looking to add some flavor to your cooking or trying something new, this list has you covered.
Allspice: Allspice is a dried fruit that tastes like a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s often used in baking and is a key ingredient in Jamaican jerk seasoning.
Anise: Anise has a sweet, licorice-like flavor and is used in both sweet and savory dishes. It’s commonly used in baking as well as in soups and stews.
Basil: Basil has a sweet, peppery flavor and is commonly used in Italian cuisine.
It’s often used fresh in pesto or added to tomato sauce.
Bay Leaf: Bay leaves have a slightly bitter, herbaceous flavor and are typically used dried. They’re often added to soups, stews, and braises to add depth of flavor.
Be sure to remove them before serving!
Cardamom: Cardamom has a warm, spicy-sweet flavor and is most commonly used in Indian cuisine. It’s often used ground in curries or added whole to rice dishes.
Chili Powder: Chili powder is made from ground chili peppers and other spices like cumin, garlic powder, and oregano. It adds both heat and depth of flavor to dishes like enchiladas or chili con carne . Cinnamon : Cinnamon has a warm , sweet taste , making it perfect for baked goods like cinnamon rolls or apple pie .
Cloves : Cloves have strong , pungent taste that can also be sweet . Cloves are often used in baking , as well as Indian curries . Cumin : Cumin has an earthy , nutty taste with hints of lemon . This spice is popular in Mexican cuisine , where it’s often used in tacos or enchiladas . Curry Powder : Curry powder gets its unique flavor from combining several different spices including turmeric , coriander , cumin , fenugreek , ginger , pepper , cloves ,and cardamom .
What are the Top 20 Spices Every Kitchen Needs?
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone’s tastes are different. However, there are some spices that are used more commonly than others and tend to be found in most kitchens. These 20 spices can be considered the essentials for any home cook:
1. Salt – Used to enhance the flavor of food and as a preservative.
2. Pepper – A common seasoning that adds spice and heat to dishes.
3. Garlic – A versatile ingredient used in many savory recipes for its pungent flavor.
4. Onion – Another basic flavoring agent that is often used alongside garlic in cooking.
5. Basil – A sweet-smelling herb with a slightly peppery taste, often used in Italian cuisine.
6. Oregano – A strong-flavored herb with a slightly bitter taste, commonly used in Mediterranean cooking.
7. Thyme – A delicate herb with a minty flavor, frequently used as a garnish or to season poultry dishes.
8 . Rosemary – An aromatic herb with a woodsy flavor, perfect for flavoring meats and vegetables alike .
9 . Cilantro- Also known as coriander, this zesty herb is widely used in Hispanic and Asian cuisine . 10 .
Curry powder- A blend of several spices including turmeric, cumin , and chili peppers , curry powder imparts a distinct flavor to Indian curries and other dishes . 11 . Cinnamon- Used both sweet and savory dishes , cinnamon adds warmth and sweetness with its characteristic spicy fragrance .
12 . Nutmeg- Sweet and warming , nutmeg is often added to desserts or baked goods but can also be used in savory dishes like creamy soups or sauces 13 . Chili powder- Made from ground dried chili peppers , this fiery spice is commonly used in Tex Mex cuisine 14 Saffron- One of the world’s most expensive spices due to its labor intensive harvesting process , saffron has a unique floral aroma and imparts a golden color when added to dishes 15 Cardamom- Both sweet and spicy , cardamom pods are often crushed or ground before being added to curries , rice dishes , desserts , or tea 16 Paprika- This mild red pepper spice comes in smoked ( paprika ) or non smoked varieties (sweet paprika) 17 Allspice- As its name suggests allspice combines the flavors of several other spices including cloves nutmeg!
What are the 12 Most Popular Spices?
The 12 most popular spices are:
1. Cinnamon
2. Nutmeg
3. Allspice
4. Cloves
5. Ginger
6. Pepper (black, white and green)
7. Cardamom
8. Cumin
9. Fenugreek
10. Coriander seeds
11. Mustard seeds
What are the Top 25 Spices?
There are a variety of spices that can be used to flavor food. The top 25 spices include:
1. Allspice
2. Anise seed
3. Basil
4. Bay leaves
5. Cardamom
6. Cayenne pepper
7. Celery seed
8. Chervil
9. Chili powder
10. Cilantro (coriander) leaves
11. Cinnamon
12. Cloves
What are 10 Different Spices?
There are countless spices to choose from when cooking, but these 10 are some of the most common and versatile.
1. Salt: This basic seasoning enhances the flavor of just about everything.
2. Pepper: Another essential spice, pepper can be used to add heat, or simply for flavor.
3. Garlic: A staple in many cuisines, garlic imparts a savory, pungent flavor to dishes.
4. Onion: Like garlic, onions are often used as a base for other flavors. They can be cooked to mellow their sharpness, or used raw for a more assertive taste.
5. Paprika: This bright red powder is made from ground peppers and adds both color and flavor to food. It ranges in spiciness from mild to hot.
6. Curry powder: A blend of several different spices, curry powders vary widely in their ingredients and intensity of flavor.
They’re commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine.
Conclusion
There are countless spices out there, but which ones should every kitchen have? This blog post lists 10 essential spices that every home cook should have on hand. These include salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and cinnamon.
Each spice has a unique flavor that can enhance the taste of many different dishes. By having these spices on hand, you’ll be able to make a variety of delicious meals without having to run to the store every time you need a new spice.
