Do you order seasonings and why ?

[shoneyboy]

 Before I start I want to say, I can be what some people say is "Frugal" when it comes to doing some things, I just call it CHEAP!!!! But it is whatever it takes to get the job done....Right? I have been thinking about ordering some seasonings for a project. I started pricing some of them out locally and have some sticker shock with some of them. This led me to start to wonder, how many of you order seasonings? Or do you just buy what you need from the store? And pay whatever you have to, to do what you want?  How much would savings a few dollars be a factor? Would it be the entire reason to order them instead of buying them locally? I know most seasonings are relatively inexpensive, but when you do find that 1 that you just have to have, BAM!!! Its $5.00 and you need 2 of them...... Just to clarify when I'm talking about seasonings, I want everyone to be on the same page, I'm referring to say salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder things like that, not mixed seasonings. So I came up with this little poll just to kick around some ideals and as always your opinion is valuable.....Thanks for your input ShoneyBoy

 

[kathrynn]

I agree....I looked for Juniper Berries in 4 places the other day...and went to Earth Fare because they had them....YIKES! But I got them anyway. Grocery costs are going up every week.

I purchase a lot of stuff at Costco or Sam's...like granulated garlic, paprika, pepper...etc.  Due to being "cost conscious"...I do try and keep my Hubby's complaining about the costs to a minimum.  

Are you thinking about starting a co-op of sorts?  Just wondering.

 

[jarjarchef]

I do not order spices from online. I try to keep what I use easy to find at the stores. Simple spice blends. This way when I pass on my recipes they are easy to replicate.

Not sure if that was what you were looking for. Part of it is I am too cheap to pay for shipping...

 

[diggingdogfarm]

I'm as frugal as they come, but it doesn't pay to be cheap when it comes to herbs, spices and other ingredients.
You just can't get the best finished product if you use crap. It's impossible.
I do grow some of my own stuff, other stuff I order from a good supplier.
Most of the spices available at stores around here is either total garbage or extremely expensive!!!

Penzey's is pretty good for the most part and they now have free shipping on orders over $30.

http://www.penzeys.com/


~Martin

 

[cooknhogz]

I make some of my own blends for personal use but have found it cheaper at times to buy rubs in bulk. Example, we like the PlowBoys yardbird so much around here I bought 5 lbs of it for $29 bucks. I'm no millionaire but think that pretty cheep. Basically what I'm getting to is I know I couldn't make that 5 lbs myself for $29

 

[cschmidt]

Digging dog - just spent 2 hours at penzeys they know there stuff and it's high quality. I highly recommend looking at there site to anyone

 

[diesel]

I agree with the dog also.  I grow as much as I can and use Penzeys. 

Aaron.

 

[woodcutter]

I've been ordering ingredients from Butcher Packer and Sausage Maker for Summer Sausage. Today I stopped at a place called Country Store(Amish Bulk store). It was stocked with spices, herbs, flours all kinds of different stuff. Everything is packaged by the Amish in small containers. I loaded up on ground ginger, coriander, mustard seeds, pepper corns etc. I don't know about the quality yet but everything looks clean and smells like it should. The prices are much cheaper than what I have been seeing.

 

[bbq grub rub]

I have a Miami Sauce & spice directly across the street from my shop. They have everything I need to make anything, lucky me 8-) I send BBQ across to them regularly. They say my sauce is better than any bottled sauce they have ever had (and they have a LOT of sauces)

 

[chef jimmyj]

High turnover spices...Garlic, Onion, Peppercorns I will buy from the Grocery Store for convenience. Specialty items, Juniper, Mexican Oregano, Varietal Chile Powders I get online. I always buy Whole Spices as much as possible and in small quantities, 1-4oz...JJ

 

[kathrynn]

There is a Spice Shop here in Madison....I do want to check it out. Maybe this week. 

 

[smokinjoe52]

I'm as frugal as they come, but it doesn't pay to be cheap when it comes to herbs, spices and other ingredients.
You just can't get the best finished product if you use crap. It's impossible.
I do grow some of my own stuff, other stuff I order from a good supplier.
Most of the spices available at stores around here is either total garbage or extremely expensive!!!

Penzey's is pretty good for the most part and they now have free shipping on orders over $30.

http://www.penzeys.com/


~Martin

+1 on Penzeys

My reasons:  selection, freshness, online convenience, free shipping over $30.

I think we have over 50 bags/bottles from Penzeys.

 

[linguica]

X2  Spices from grocery stores are grossly overpriced and no where near as fresh as you might think. Spices from online suppliers are cheaper and fresher as they have a rapid turn over.

 

[danbono]

Hi Got my last batch of spices online.

Any one use Penzeys Bratwurst seasoning? I would like to know what you think about IT.

Thanks Dan

PS I tried LEM's bratwurst seasoning and it was salty and not the bratwurst taste I was looking for.

 

[danbono]

Hi All I found a Penzeys store close by, took a 1/2 hr drive to get there..What I nice store, they have jars with the spices in it so you can smell them.

I picked up some of the Bratwurst seasonings, now I need to get some pork butts.

Also stop by a German butcher named  Karl Ehmer and purchased some Bratwurst.Tried one outside that they have on grill, tasted pretty good. So I went inside to buy some, and try and find a clue to the recipe,1st he said it was pork, then I said I taste a spice in there, his reply was that it was pepper.I gave up after that.There is something/spice in there that taste really good,can't put my finger on what it is? I have mace, nutmeg,allspice,marjoram,sage to add to the Penzeys mix, if it is not right.Going to a small test patty 1st.  Will post the results .

Thanks Dan

 

[trevcunn]

Just ordered a few spices and empty jars from Penzeys to see how there stuff is!

 

[LanceR]

There are a pair of Mennonite stores about 25 minutes away that we get a lot of our bulk stuff from.  I've also done business with Pensy's for maybe 18 years but hadn't ordered from them in 5-6 years until about an hour ago.  I couldn't find a few things I needed for a sausage making binge next week locally.

Lance