Spice Packets at the Supermarket

[Lis]

Stopped into my local Shop Rite yesterday to see how much it would cost to refill my almost-empty garlic powder, and if it would be worth it to splurge on the fancy stuff at our Spice Bazaar, when a mother of two little ones (at least two little ones that were with her) stops next to me and picks up one of those already portioned spice packets with three spices that includes a recipe on the back. "These are such a lifesaver!" she exclaimed as she pushed her cart away.

I was curious, so I picked one up to check it out. This one had about a half tablespoon of garlic, rosemary, and parsley I think, and on the back had a recipe for a chicken dish you can make. Only for $1.50!

I'm slightly confused by this concept. As a pretty decent cook, I have plenty of spices in my cabinet, including the three mentioned above. Each of the jars, which hold a heck of a lot more than half a tablespoon, set me back maybe $3-$5 on average. But if I were to buy enough of those spice packets to fill three containers of spices... well, there goes my grocery budget for the month.

In no way am I trying to belittle the hecticness of this mother's life. Having two young kids is most certainly a handful. But all it takes is finding a simple recipe online and 'investing' in a standard container of spices.

Oh, and they also had another spice packet that held SIX half tablespoons of different spices, and that one was only $2.50!

[Lifeblood]

Convenience foods like small spice packets are a convenient way for companies to earn money. There is a spectrum here, of course, and paying $3-$5 for small jars is only marginally better than the small spice packets in your example. Many spices, particularly those used in Indian cooking, can be purchased in large bags at certain markets for less than the cost of those small jars. This may be worth it even if you don't use all the spices yourself, and also open the opportunity to go in with others and share the savings, adding some spice to your social life!

[strider3700]

bulk or even larger sizes rocks but I completely understand where the mom is coming from.   package of chicken,  and 1 package of spice, then maybe some frozen veg and rice and you've got a decent meal without needing to think or take much time and it's only $1.50 for the spices which is way less then the $3 or $4 you'd pay for spices and rice in a box to add to your chicken and even that is far less then going out to eat.

Having said that I'm pretty sure my wife has some sort of hording issue involving spices... Food tastes good though so I'm not complaining

[HairyUpperLip]

Adding some spice to your social life!

hahaha nice

[Christof]

In Germany they are less expensive (less than a dollar) but our grocery stores have one or two isles of those. I admittedly do have a hard time why someone would buy three packs of Spaghetti bolognese (only add spaghetti, tomato and ground meat) when spices can be really inexpensve and it is so simple to add a few spices to a meal. Especially at that price and waste of packaging...

Spices are one of the very few things that in Germany are cheaper to buy in bulk. I pay on average 5 Euros for close to a kilogram ($3.50 a pound).

[boarder42]

This is how people think eating at home costs so much. To the person who rattled off buying 3 different things in addition to these. Chicken ... Etc. You're doing it wrong it's called a sale. Only buy things on sale. Like a real sale not a kohls sale.

[penguin456]

At least it is cheaper/healthier than fast food?  One of the grocery chains here has bulk bins of spices, nuts, seeds, etc where you can scoop out and pay for just what you need.  It is so much cheaper than buying the jars!  I can refill one of my spice jars for less than a dollar.  If you dont have anything like that in your area there are places online that sell inexpensive spices.

[amyable]

At least it is cheaper/healthier than fast food?

This is how I feel.  I admit it--I have totally bought such a spice package, but $1.50 for the spices + $5 for a package of chicken thighs and a couple of new potatoes (which will feed us for at least two meals) is not bad compared to fast food / restaurant pricing.  When I purchase things like this, it's in anticipation of days when I do not even really feel like measuring spices after work--I just want to toss everything in a Dutch oven and be done.  I could probably make my own spice packets for "rainy days" though, but I've seen much worse allocation of grocery funds than this.

[socaso]

I have never paid money for spice blends but I have gotten them free with coupons and they can be quite tasty. I have a cupboard full of spices and I just saved the little spice blend jars and put my own mixtures in when they were used up. Took all of 3 minutes to make another jar full that lasts for a couple of months. Supermarkets will really charge a premium for lazy consumers!

[horsepoor]

The amount of packaging with that kind of stupid shit really pisses me off.

I don't think it even saves any time vs. reaching into the cabinet and opening 3 different spice jars and sprinkling on.  What many novice cooks don't realize is that measuring is overrated.  Just put on *an amount* and if it's salt, err on the low side so people can add it later if they want.

My SIL would probably buy those.  I was over at their house making some sauteed onions for brats on the 4th, and she was looking for spices for me.  She basically said she was afraid to use the Rosemary or Thyme, or do any cooking whatsoever, because she might make someone sick.  I never realized that dried herbs were such a sinister and dangerous substance; probably best handled with rubber gloves and a gas mask!

Even the bottled spices are WAY overpriced.  The bulk bins are where it's at for buying herbs and spices for pennies, and saving ridiculous packaging as well.

[Lis]

I don't think it even saves any time vs. reaching into the cabinet and opening 3 different spice jars and sprinkling on.  What many novice cooks don't realize is that measuring is overrated.  Just put on *an amount* and if it's salt, err on the low side so people can add it later if they want.

I come from a family that never liked taking a lot of risks, buy my mom was always "risky" in the kitchen. She never had any fear trying a new recipe or ingredient. I'm so happy for those lessons in the kitchen! You try a new recipe with a new spice, you fail, it sucks, you try again. Just last night I tried a new recipe that turned out faaaar too spicy for my boyfriend and me (courtesy of me attempting to make my own taco seasoning instead of relying on the salt overload prepackaged ones I used to use). Am I going to never make that recipe again because the first time I tried it came out bad? Nope. Definitely want to make it again, now I know I'll use less red pepper.

A friend of mine who never learned how to cook was watching me make something the other day. We were chatting non-nonchalantly as I threw spices and ingredients together. She couldn't understand why I wasn't measuring a perfect half tablespoon of that and a perfect cup of that... cooking is a good mix of both science and art. You should know the basics of how things work, but flavor and variety are up to the individuals.

I agree that buying in bulk is economically a lot better, but right now it's just me. But spicing up my social life sounds like a great idea! I wonder if anyone at work would want to work together to update our spice cabinets. I'm sure our spice bazaar's ingredients are so much fresher and better, it just doesn't make sense for me to buy in bulk and never use it all.

[horsepoor]

But when you buy the bulk bins, you can buy the tiniest amount you want, and it's still the same price per pound.  In fact, it makes even more sense if you're not going through lots.  Buy a smaller amount from the bulk bin than what you'd get in a spice bottle.

[Threshkin]

We subscribe to the "mix good things together and you get good results" philosophy of cooking.  We rarely measure anything and rarely follow recipes.  That said, we enjoy reading cookbooks from the library or exploring on-line for ideas. 

Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get it right but it all tastes good and gets eaten (quickly).

[sheepstache]

This is how people think eating at home costs so much.

Yes!  I have no problem with people buying these things, but many don't understand how relatively expensive they are and get the wrong impression. 

I think food companies and grocery stores realize that people sort of turn off their inner budgeting when it comes to grocery shopping, because, hey, eating at home is really cheap so everything you can buy in the grocery store must be reasonable, right?  But tons of things in the store are partially pre-made; you have to deliberately seek out the raw ingredients for sale.

Michael Pollan has that catchphrase, "Eat food.  Mostly plants." that I like to base my shopping advice on: "Buy ingredients.  When they're on sale."

[dragoncar]

But when you buy the bulk bins, you can buy the tiniest amount you want, and it's still the same price per pound.  In fact, it makes even more sense if you're not going through lots.  Buy a smaller amount from the bulk bin than what you'd get in a spice bottle.

Yeah, but that bag adds weight.  That's how they getcha!  I swear I just bought some oregano and half the weight was the bag.

[Rezdent]

But when you buy the bulk bins, you can buy the tiniest amount you want, and it's still the same price per pound. In fact, it makes even more sense if you're not going through lots.  Buy a smaller amount from the bulk bin than what you'd get in a spice bottle.

Yeah, but that bag adds weight.  That's how they getcha!  I swear I just bought some oregano and half the weight was the bag.

I believe that stores in our area are required to use tare weights, which is the price of the product without the bag.  Disclaimer: I haven't actually checked to see if my bulk store is ACTUALLY doing this with bulk items. However, once I was behind a lady who was demanding proof of tare weight of some item and they did oblige her so I'm pretty confident about the store I use.  YMMV
Once I bought a single nutmeg for pennies.  It lasted months.  Next time I go will weigh with/without bag and see if there's a price difference.

[Jacana]

One of the grocery chains here has bulk bins of spices, nuts, seeds, etc where you can scoop out and pay for just what you need.  It is so much cheaper than buying the jars!

Lucky, that sounds amazing! Haven't seen that yet but I did discover that if I buy certain spices in the international food sections it's a lot cheaper. Ex:

McCormick Gourmet Collection Ground Cumin, 1.5 oz. $5.19 (Regular spice aisle, didn't see a regular non-gourmet/organic version)
Goya Ground Cumin, 1.8 oz. for $2.49 (Latino section)
Laxmi Brand Cumin Powder, 7 oz. for $2.99 (Indian section)

[horsepoor]

OK, so I emptied out a spice baggie and weighed it.  5 grams with the twist tie.  Most of the basic herbs and spices at WinCo are around $5 a pound.    There are about 450 grams to a pound, so the bag/tie weigh 0.01111 # x $5.  The bag and tie costs about 5 cents for the average spice.  Now if I go to Rosauer's and buy $42/lb organic tarragon, the bag ends up costing 47 cents.  OTOH, the packaging is a big part of what you're paying for when you buy Spice Islands or whatever @ $4/1.5 oz bottle, so even the 47 cents doesn't look terrible by comparison.

[Amanda]

...Most of the basic herbs and spices at WinCo are around $5 a pound.    There are about 450 grams to a pound, so the bag/tie weigh 0.01111 # x $5.  The bag and tie costs about 5 cents for the average spice.  ...

Winco is the best!

[kimmarg]

...Most of the basic herbs and spices at WinCo are around $5 a pound.    There are about 450 grams to a pound, so the bag/tie weigh 0.01111 # x $5.  The bag and tie costs about 5 cents for the average spice.  ...

Winco is the best!

I'm squill pretty sure they have to have a Tare on the scale. Whole foods does I know. The bulk spice section is pretty much all I shop there! I tried to buy 1 bay leaf and it was below the Tare weight and the cashier eventually gave it to me because they weren't sure what to do!

[Hunny156]

If you live in TX and have a Fiesta nearby, they have an impressive array of bulk spices.  I do better at Sprouts on sale for their bulk grains, nuts, etc, but Sprouts doesn't have bulk spices & Fiesta does.  They even have these tiny Ziploc bags you can use if you only want a small amount of spice, very convenient and cheap.

Ever notice how some spices are harder to come by than others?  I was looking for Herbs de Provence, and eventually had to break down and pay $9 for a small (2 oz?) gourmet McCormick bottle at HEB.  RIP OFF!

A few weeks later, I was at Costco, and they had a 14 oz container for $5!  I snatched it up, in case they stop carrying it.  I use that spice enough that it won't go to waste.  Costco & Sams have some pretty good deal on spices, if you need bigger quantities and know your prices.  Not all their spices are worth it.

[MrsPotts]

I went to Winco yesterday JUST  to buy spices because I was out of cumin and garlic which meant I couldn't cook ANYTHING.   I think I might have spent 2 bucks. 

[Runge]

I'm not really a huge fancy cook or anything, which is probably where my experiences diverge from the rest of the group, but I actually prefer the small packets over your typical jars or bulk. I rarely will run out of spices before the particular spices that I use go bad because I can't find smaller packages where I'm at. (Maybe I'm at the wrong store?) Anyway, I realize that it's more $/oz, but I'm still spending less money by my (mental) calculations compared with bulk.