In cooking, various spices and seasonings have been used for many millennia. History has evidence that back in the Stone Age, people learned to use spicy leaves and seeds to improve the taste of meat cooked over an open fire.
Now we cannot imagine, for example, pilaf without bright barberry and cumin, or mulled wine without a fragrant clove.
In addition to giving food a distinctive flavor and aroma, spices also serve as a great addition to food and can act as preservatives. Each spice has its own function. Some of them are used for their medicinal properties (such as anise, dill seeds, mustard), others are loved by us because of their beauty and aroma (cinnamon, star anise).
Is any seasoning a spice?
Spices are considered to be the aromatic part of plants. This part can be bark (in cinnamon), root (celery, ginger), seeds (pepper, cumin) and flowers (lavender, saffron, elderberry). Annuals that do not have a tree trunk, such as basil, thyme, dill, parsley, and mint, are aromatic herbs.
What gives a spice its aroma and flavor?
The spices are grateful for their taste and aroma of the essential oils they contain. These oils are surprisingly volatile. Any housewife will tell you that there is a pattern of adding spices to the dish being prepared. Basically, they are added at the end of cooking to keep the flavor in the dish.
How to store spices?
The modern market offers the buyer a variety of exotic spices and herbs. Basically, they are all packed in sealed bags with expiration dates. In this case, you should adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations and store the spices in a dry, unlit place. You can also pour spices into special jars.
But if everything is clear with the finished product, then what about fresh herbs and vegetables? After all, so that they do not wither prematurely, they must be treated in a special way.
The root vegetables of vegetables should be peeled off, the fruit should be cut into pieces along the fibers, which should then be dried in a drying chamber or in the air and folded into linen bags.
The situation is similar with herbs. The herbs are dried for 4-5 days until the herb is easily pulverized. The dried leaves are placed in a tin or glass jar and tightly closed.
In order for the purchased spices to delight longer with their qualities, you should adhere to simple rules.
You shouldn't buy a lot of spices at once. So you will quickly renew your fragrant jars and not worry that they have deteriorated.
It is better to grind spices directly when using. In general, the spices retain their qualities longer, and when milled they become even more aromatic.
Do not store condiments near a microwave oven or gas stove.
It is best to use containers for storing spices made from materials such as glass and tin. It will not be superfluous to sign the jars.
