Seasoned Advice

Questions tagged [seasoning]

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Questions about the use of spices, herbs, salt and other flavorings to create the desired flavor in the final dish. See also [tag:salt]. For questions about seasoning cookware (e.g. cast iron) please use [tag:seasoning-pans].

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2answers
879 views

What are some ways to season that don't rely on garlic and onions?

I am looking for some alternative ways to season food. I am very familiar with currying, pesto, and chili. My difficulty is that each of these relies on onions, tomatoes and garlic. What are some ...
0
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2answers
117 views

How much salt do potatoes absorb when being boiled?

My mashed potatoes are always bland. I’ve googled recipes and a lot of them say to put a teaspoon or so of salt in the water to boil them. I’m a bit worried about using so much salt. What I’d like ...
2
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1answer
117 views

Chicken: How to prevent spices/seasoning from burning on Pan?

Newbie cook here, I use stainless steel but it seems to be a paradox on this. I am using bone-in chicken thighs and a dry lemon-pepper rub that I put on the chicken. Pat it dry/let it cool down ...
3
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4answers
157 views

How to Save Overly Salty Tapenade

I made a tapenade with the following ingredients: kalamata olives, capers, anchovy, garlic, thyme, lemon, olive oil. Although I rinsed the olives and capers (as per the recipe) the result is pretty ...
4
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1answer
186 views

Are residues from seasoning coating harmful when using carbon steel pan?

I seasoned this carbon steel pan a few months ago, but after several times I cooked, the seasoning coating started to flake. I wonder are the residues harmful? Can I remain the way it is or should I ...
0
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2answers
210 views

How could I cook industry like foie gras?

I would like to learn the industrial skills that allow them to achieve such successful commercial products like the cheap and addictive foie gras. I know that in many cases, it is required to have ...
3
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2answers
378 views

Is there a trick to getting spices to fix to raw almonds?

I am trying to make a hot / spicy almonds using raw almonds and cayenne pepper. Is there a simple non-messy way to get the cayenne pepper to stick to the almonds? I imagine I could mix the almonds ...
3
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1answer
154 views

How to make good quality onion powder at home?

I chopped some onion and put it in an old gas oven. It had 3 issues: Some pieces or parts of pieces are burned while other pieces are still not dehydrated. It sticks with the bottom of the aluminum ...
4
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3answers
1k views

What does “season it to taste” mean?

I hear chefs like Gordon Ramsay say this and many, many others. When a chef has boiled potatos or bacon or spinach... Be it my family or Betty Crocker ... What are the "seasons" they are talking ...
2
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4answers
148 views

Is it redundant to add umami to tomato-based sauces?

On the wiki page for umami, it says that tomatoes are "rich" in umami components. Does that mean it is redundant to add umami (such as monosodium glutamate) or soy based flavorings to tomato-based ...
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1answer
285 views

Season rice in Zojirushi

I have a fancy new Zojirushi cooker and am trying to figure out the best way to make rice. I didn't see anything in the manual referring to salt, or any seasoning at all (except for the 'mixed' ...
6
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5answers
382 views

Why isn't “pasta” water salted in Chinese cuisine?

I'm American-born Chinese and my parents never salt the water in which they boil noodles and there's never been an issue - at least with my palate - with seasoning or the texture of the noodles w.r.t. ...
0
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1answer
95 views

How much and what seasoning to should I use in a turkey brine?

Brining at its basic level is about opening the cell structure of the meat with salt and allowing osmotic action to take effect and allow the meat to become a bit juicier and bring a salty flavor to ...
3
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2answers
103 views

Salting meat before simmering

Recipes for beef stew generally call for salting and peppering the meat before browning, then simmering for a long time. How is that different from browning, then adding the same quantity of salt and ...
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1answer
39 views

Which herbs are cooked and which go raw, when making fish pate

I'm cooking a salmon pate. I intend to use parsley, rosemary, garlic, pepper and lemon as seasoning. I'm not sure which of these I should cook with the salmon, and which should go in the blender? ...
3
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1answer
181 views

Is there a special reason why dry rubs are meant to work with grilling over other cooking methods?

I notice that dry rubs are meant to work best with grilling. Why is this the case, why can't they work well with something like frying?
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1answer
344 views

Failed griddle seasoning

I have a viking stove in a house I recently purchased. It has a griddle, I cleaned it with a grill stone using oil while it was cold (the griddle). It cleaned well. Next, I used flax oil to season ...
0
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1answer
2k views

Why did rust appear after my first layer of seasoning?

I have a brand new, unseasoned, cast iron dutch oven and an older cast iron skillet. I wanted to prep both for some upcoming camping trips. I found online that flaxseed oil seemed to be the best ...
1
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1answer
157 views

How do you make cheap asian instant noodles without noodles?

So, I have been falling in loving with the yum yum instant noodles. And the reason might seem a little odd. I usually add a lot of extra water when making them, because I enjoy them as "a soup". that ...
7
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1answer
2k views

What does Jiro brush on his sushi?

I recently watched the movie "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," and noticed that Jiro was always brushing some sort of liquid onto the sushi, but I can't figure it out. My hypothesis is that it's either some ...
2
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1answer
1k views

How is “Oelek” pronounced?

Sambal Oelek is an Asian chili paste made and marketed by a Chinese American producer in California (Huy Fong Foods, with a rooster on the jar). I've been using it as an ingredient in mie goreng, the ...
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2answers
888 views

Is hummus a condiment

Is hummus a condiment? What makes a condiment a condiment? What makes something not a condiment? What makes something a condiment vs a sauce/seasoning/spread/ingredient?
3
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1answer
4k views

Substitutes for Italian sausage

I have a recipe for an Italian sausage, sweet potato and kale soup and I don't have the sausage. Can I use chicken and turkey meat or are there seasonings I can to replace the flavor? How much of the ...
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1answer
182 views

Help with seasoning cast iron wok [duplicate]

I recently bought a cast iron wok and attempted to season twice. The first time i seasoned it i think i overheated the wok and it started to smoke when i added oil and some shiny black stains which ...
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2answers
1k views

Does Tomato Damage a Wok's Seasoning?

I have been using a wok since some years, it is nicely seasoned and I was quite happy with it and the results. Recently, I have started cooking some Indian dishes, and because I like my wok, I just ...
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4answers
283 views

Is it possible to season chicken breast with BBQ sauce before baking it in the oven?

I always put BBQ sauce on my chicken after it is done baking, but I was wondering if I can do the same while seasoning it to save time?
0
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1answer
239 views

Spices become wet and clumpy once I start cooking

Lately, whenever I've been cooking food like chicken breasts or hamburgers, after I'm done seasoning them and set them on the pan, once I flip the food over I notice the seasoning gets really wet and ...
5
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1answer
819 views

What ingredient(s) available in the UK would make a passable alternative to epazote?

I'm following a recipe for Sopa Azteca de Tortilla that calls for Epazote, which I haven't heard of before, let alone tasted (to my knowledge!). Wikipedia mentions: Raw, it has a resinous, ...
2
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1answer
694 views

Newly seasoned carbon steel pan sticks when cooking

After doing reasearch I decided to try a less expensive pan when buying a 12". Bought a Paderno and did a mix of seasoning with organic flax seed oil. I did about 5 coats on the stove top per ...
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0answers
117 views

What seasoning can be used to replace msg? [duplicate]

If you can't use msg, (due to Migraines), what other seasoning can be used to make korean yaki mandu?
3
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1answer
202 views

How can I improve the baking of frozen cod and rice with carrots,?

This is a dish that I'm trying to figure out. Out of laziness I want to cook a whole meal that includes some veggies, protein and carbs in a single baking. I don't thaw the cod before because it's ...
3
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1answer
1k views

Can I season a stainless steel frying pan?

After the advice I gave about seasoning a cast iron pan, one would think I knew. I don't though. I have 2 large cast iron pans I use regularly but I'd love my good quality small stainless steel pan ...
0
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1answer
195 views

How can I improve a dish with badly cooked spices without recooking? [closed]

I am living in a place where the food (namely curries) served is so bad I lose my appetite by just smelling it. I've tried making it taste better by adding some chilli powder, salt, and onions but it ...
3
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2answers
1k views

Is there a low tyramine substitute for tamari?

Help replacing miso and tamari for health reasons I am a non-junk-food-vegan for health reasons. Technically I'm "whole foods plant based" (WFPB). It basically means I stay away from animal ...
1
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1answer
544 views

What is the reason behind seasoning “from a distance”?

I've seen some top chefs like Gordon Ramsay seasoning their food in the "air" or "from a distance". Please take a look on the following example, where Chef Ramsay is seasoning a scallop: https://...
3
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1answer
2k views

Add spices/herbs early or late to a chili or stew in a crockpot slow-cooker?

Should spices and herbs be added early to a chili/stew in a crockpot slow-cooker to maximize their flavors? Or do the spices/herbs cook-out over a long time, effectively disappearing, and should ...
1
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1answer
75 views

Optimize use of seasoning in salty food

How can i optimize the use of seasonings in salty food? When i cook, for ex, chicken breasts, i always put way more pepper and paprika than the original recipe (however, i put the same or an smaller ...
1
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4answers
6k views

What foods to cook in a new cast iron skillet that will help improve the seasoning?

I've never cooked with cast iron before and just picked up a couple Lodge cast iron skillets (6" and 12"). They come preseasoned, but I imagine some additional seasoning is desired. I tried bacon, ...
4
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3answers
2k views

Is it different to add seasoning at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of cooking?

I think the question doesn't need more explanation, just if you have to add any seasoning, from pepper to any other kind, specially if you have a variety of them, do you decide an order for them?
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5answers
4k views

Tomato Products containing Citric Acid

I read that tomatoes are often not picked in the optimal ripeness for canning and because of this, citric acid is added to promote further ripening within the can. I purchase bottled pasta sauce and ...
1
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1answer
118 views

African palm oil locusts seasoning & preparation?

In Africa, frying locusts in palm oil is common. What kind of stores might sell them? What's the basic technique for frying them, and how would I add seasoning?
3
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4answers
865 views

Physical method to season steaks

When seasoning steaks I use many different dry spices etc. What is the best method to apply spices to the meat without having to flip the steaks many times or have to wash my hands many times?
0
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3answers
429 views

How do I impart the flavor of mint to a tomato sauce? [duplicate]

I have dumped 2 tbsp of dried mint and 2 handfuls of crushed mint leaves into a reduced 28 oz tomato sauce but it only made a dent of mint taste in the sauce. I don't get it - a little dry or fresh ...
3
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3answers
2k views

To salt or not salt broth for use in recipes?

Many recipes call broth, but broth recipes often omit salt and pepper or in some instances require only a small amount. My question is this: when a recipe, let's say risotto for example, calls for ...
6
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2answers
2k views

When should you season sauce that needs to be reduced?

I just thought about how seasoning a sauce is not a wise decision because if it needs to through reduction like marinara then the flavors would get too concentrated. But I always see people put salt ...
4
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2answers
19k views

Will storing salted steak overnight ruin the meat?

I've salted the steaks, but I can't get the grill going. If I store them in the fridge and cook them tomorrow, will the fact they are salted already ruin the meat?
3
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3answers
8k views

How do you know how much garlic to add to a dish and in what form?

I always shy away from using garlic because it is such a wild card. It burns easily, and how you chop, dice or grate it has a MAJOR effect on flavor so there is not much reference experience from ...
6
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2answers
5k views

Why can't I get a seasoning layer on my carbon steel pan using an induction hob?

I recently purchased a carbon steel pan (DeBuyer Mineral B Element), and have attempted to perform pre-seasoning on it. I checked out a bunch of videos on the process, and ended up doing the following ...
1
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2answers
3k views

My food doesn't have too much taste / taste allways the same? [closed]

I "cook" everyday for myself and my girlfriend and I enjoy doing so. So this year I decided to really learn how to cook. I am doing at least a new dish every month in order to try new things, but I ...
3
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0answers
607 views

How to make plain white rice less boring? [closed]

I'm a college student. I'm poor. Rice is cheap. Therefore, I eat a lot of plain white rice (medium grain). I was wondering if there are any specifically tasty seasonings I could pick up that would ...

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