Spice up Your Kitchen
They say variety is the spice of life, but where would we be without spices? Even a little table salt and pepper makes our food more palatable and tasty. Garlic is another common seasoning that adds a lot of oomph to our dishes. Without spices, food tastes bland and uninteresting. Add a little spice, and it becomes delectable.
With more opportunities to try the foods of other cultures, we are getting more familiar with new spices or spice combinations. Today, it is almost common to eat Chinese on one night and Italian the next. You may try Indian food for lunch and then have Japanese for dinner. Regional spices can be found on the supermarket shelves more than they were ten years ago. As we become more familiar with them, we begin to use them in our own cooking.
The Care and Storage of Spices
When was the last time you bought spices? That bottle of cayenne from 1998 is not good anymore, no matter how full the bottle is. Spices fade over time, in both color and flavor. To preserve your spices as long as possible, keep them in a place away from moisture, bright light, heat, and oxygen. While it is convenient to reach into the cupboard and sprinkle some on your food while cooking, try to store them away from your kitchen appliances. Steam can cause dampness and deterioration. Airtight containers such as glass or tin work best to keep moisture at bay and preserve the flavorful oils in the spices.
Each spice has its own shelf life. Go through your cupboards routinely to weed out old bottles. Look for color and aroma. Has either one faded? Whole spices have a longer shelf life than those that are ground to a powder. Different parts of the plant may make a difference in shelf life, also.
Whole spices like peppercorns or cinnamon sticks belong to the following guidelines: Flowers and leaves are good for a year. Barks, roots and seeds can remain in your cupboard for two years or more. For spices that have been, ground, leaves, seeds and barks last about six months. Roots will hold out for a year.
Using Ethnic Spices
There are many ethnic recipes that require special spices to give them their unique flavor. For example, if you want to make chicken enchiladas, you may need cumin, chilies, cilantro and garlic to create an authentic Mexican flavor.
If you decide to try an Afghani dish, you may need spices like savory, sumac, and sesame. For Indian food, you may need coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Japanese recipes may require furikake, chilies, ginger, and miso.
Have fun exploring the vast world of spices. You are sure to find something new that you really like. Keep an open mind when trying spices. For example, you may find that Afghani food is really good, while maybe; Thai food is not your favorite. Unless you give them a try, you will never know.