Add a little spice to your life with homemade seasoned salt. You’ll save money by buying spices in bulk and save time by having a multi-purpose seasoning at the ready.
Pictured: Sausage Packets
It’s so easy to spend a lot of money on groceries. You don’t have to be extravagant to watch those pennies slip through your fingers.
A few bags of coffee here. A couple pounds of turkey there. A load of spices.
Whoa! That spice aisle? Things can get insane down that aisle. While salt no longer costs a king’s ransom, spices can still cost a pretty penny.
Add a little spice to your life.
One of my favorite ways to add great flavor without spending a small fortune is to make my own spice mixes. I’ve been doing this for at least a decade, and it totally works. Yay for making things yourself to save money!
It started out with making my own Taco Seasoning and has morphed into other homemade spice blends: Cajun, Greek, and even a homemade Herbes de Provence. I haven’t bought those chintzy foil packs in forever.
Commercial spices are loaded with junky ingredients, don’t you know? “To preserve freshness” or “prevent caking”, they add other things besides spices and herbs.
I’ve purchased the expensive bottled blends, especially in Paris when I don’t have my own kitchen, but really? You can do this yo’self! In like 60 seconds.
Homemade Seasoned Salt
One of my favorite homemade spice blends is homemade seasoned salt.
I love to use garlic and Italian herbs in my dishes, so I made a seasoning salt that combines these flavors. I’ve used it in practically everything. And it works every time!
In my my cookbooks, I’ve named it FishMama Spice. Yes! My own vanity spice! Makes me sound like a girl band member, doesn’t it?
Mix up a batch or two of FishMama Spice and keep it on hand. Sprinkle it into dressings, on meats ready for the grill, on potatoes or commercial French fries. I love it in sautes of chicken and vegetables.
What can I use seasoned salt for?
I use custom spice blends on a daily basis to add flavor to a number of dishes:
- salad dressings and vinaigrettes
- sour cream dips
- seasoned meats
- sauteed or grilled vegetables
- soups
- sauces
- on salads, potatoes, French fries, or garlic breads
There’s really no end to the combinations of herbs and spices you can create or the many uses for them.
How should I store spice blends?
I use small, half-pint mason jars to store my spice blends. I like to use the small plastic caps that can be reused easily. If I use lemon zest in the blend, I store the mix in the freezer; otherwise, the blends just go on a shelf in my spice cupboard.
Pictured: Easy Roast Potatoes
What is the difference between salt and seasoning salt?
The names say it all. Salt is just that: salt.
Seasoning, or seasoned salt is a blend of salt, spices, and herbs. The blend can vary depending on manufacturer, but the main ingredient is salt.
In this recipe, I’ve included garlic powder, oregano, basil, thyme, paprika, and black pepper. You can omit those you don’t love and add in ones that you do. That’s the beauty of custom made spice blends.
Can seasoned salt go bad?
Spices, known for 1000s of years as preservatives, do not spoil. They can lose their potency and flavor, but they won’t rot.
It’s best to purchase just what you need or store the surplus in the freezer.
When making homemade seasoned salt, I recommend making small batches at first until you know how much you will use within a few weeks.
Since homemade seasoning blends don’t contain the anti-caking agents that commercial blends do, you may find that your seasoned salt clumps over time. Making small batches and using them up in a timely manner will help you avoid this.
How do you make seasoned salt?
Making seasoned salt is a very simple process. Measure out your herbs, spices, and salt into a jar or bowl. Stir to combine. Store in an airtight container.
How can you save money on spices?
I highly recommend mixing up your own spice mixes in order to save money and time in the kitchen. Who’s got time to fumble with a bunch of jars and shakers? Make one spice blend and use it in a multi-purpose way.
You can buy big canisters of spices at Costco or the small packets in the Mexican food aisle of your grocery store. Both methods will be cheaper than buying the small glass jars. You can freeze extras for longer storage.
If you prepare this recipe, be sure to take a picture and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!
Homemade Seasoned Salt
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small jar or bowl. Stir well to combine.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Storage: Spices, known for 1000s of years as preservatives, do not spoil. They can lose their potency and flavor, but they won't rot. It's best to purchase just what you need or store the surplus in the freezer. When making homemade seasoned salt, I recommend making small batches at first until you know how much you will use within a few weeks.
- Since homemade seasoning blends don't contain the anti-caking agents that commercial blends do, you may find that your seasoned salt clumps over time. Making small batches and using them up in a timely manner will help you avoid this.
Nutrition
First published in June 2014, this post has been updated for clarity and relevance.
