My biggest gripe with budget cooking sites is the hidden cost of spices

They act like everyone has a full spice rack, but buying all that stuff upfront defeats the purpose of saving money lmao.

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy_adams20d ago

Ever start a recipe only to realize you're missing half the spices they list? My cupboard has like... salt, pepper, and that one jar of garlic powder from three years ago. I tried making a 'simple' curry once and had to buy five new things... spent more on spices than the actual food. Now I just stick to recipes with stuff I already have, which is basically anything that only needs salt. It's a sad state of affairs, but hey, at least I'm not broke from buying saffron.

the_sam19d ago

Do you have any ethnic grocery stores near you? I used to be in the same boat with my spice rack, just salt and pepper for ages. Then I started hitting up the Indian market for curry spices (they have everything in bulk), and it was way cheaper than the supermarket. You can get little bags of what you need for a few bucks instead of buying whole jars you might not use again. It lets you try new recipes without committing to a big expense, which is nice when you're just experimenting. Now my cupboard has actual options, and I didn't go broke filling it.

keith9432d ago

Yeah, that bulk spice thing is a total game changer. I grabbed a tiny bag of smoked paprika for like a dollar at the Mexican market and it made my usual chicken way better. @nancy_adams I feel you on the garlic powder situation, mine was from my old apartment. But hitting those ethnic spots lets you just grab a pinch of something weird, like sumac or fenugreek, without the guilt if you hate it. My kitchen smells like a real place now, not just burnt toast.