Author Topic: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger  (Read 5915 times)

naners

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 174
  • Age: 42
Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« on: October 06, 2012, 08:07:08 PM »
If you're doing a lot of cooking at home, from scratch, you need to use spices. But: they are shockingly expensive at the grocery store. At places like Costco, you have to buy 5lbs at a time, which will go stale long before you get to the bottom. Solution: bulk spices! The difference in cost is amazing, and you can buy as much or a little as you want so it stays fresh. I'm betting you will be amazed by how much more flavor there is in fresh spices than in that jar that's been in your cupboard for two years. But where to buy? Although many Mustachians have a justified fear of health-food stores,** they can be a hotbed of affordable bulk items, often including spices. If your local Whole Paycheck doesn't carry bulk spices, check with some of the smaller mom-and-pop operations. If you need to get a new spice or you're just starting your spicerack, you can get basic spice jars for around $1 each at the dollar store or Bed Bath and Beyond. Happy cooking!

** While processed foods at health-food stores can be extremely expensive, you may find that their prices for ingredients are actually competitive, particularly if you prefer to eat organic/local. That's particularly true of bulk items and independently owned stores. 

smalllife

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 978
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2012, 08:12:56 PM »
I'm not sure whether or not this was supposed to be a spam post or not.  I've found that the cheapest way to go with spices is to stick with salt and pepper and let the true flavor of the ingredients come out! 

tooqk4u22

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2833
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2012, 10:06:55 AM »
I agree that salt & peper can do the job, I think a variety of spices is good and actual contributes to a more frugal meal plan as you can make many things with the same base ingredients but have flavors or meals that are worlds apart so you don't get bored.

mustachecat

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 398
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2012, 10:19:10 AM »
I didn't think this was a spam post. Spices are a great way to, well, spice up your cooking, and I second the OP's recommendation for going to smaller health food stores, rather than larger grocery stores. Ethnic stores are a terrific place to buy spices, too. I go to Middle Eastern markets for many of my spices and specialty flours. Almond flour at an ME grocery is much, much, MUCH cheaper than anywhere else.

TLV

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 492
  • Age: 36
  • Location: Bellevue, WA
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2012, 10:25:29 AM »
Even if the spices go bland by the time you've used half of them, if the unit price is 1/20th as much (and I'm not exaggerating) then it's still a good deal. If Costco isn't cheap enough, a restaurant supply store (such as Cash and Carry) or an ethnic market may be.

Also, for many herbs/spices, as it starts to lose flavor you can just add more of it to compensate.

naners

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 174
  • Age: 42
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2012, 06:53:38 PM »
Whoops - didn't intend to sound spammy! Yes, I meant it to be a real post. I was inspired by my own recent spice-buying trip to a health food store, which netted me a dozen spices for $6.50, plus starting costs for the jars. That's probably six months' worth so imo a good deal, but as usual it depends on priorities (if you only use s&p, then you don't need a dozen spices). If you do give this strategy a try, don't be alarmed by the high prices per pound, you're only buying an ounce or two so it comes out to very little.

stealmystapler

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 32
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2012, 07:13:32 AM »
I was converted to buying bulk spices about a year ago when I was living in the Adirondacks and couldn't find ground chipotle pepper at the grocery store. I was pleased to discover it could get it so much cheaper online!

When we have run out of 5-6 spices, my husband and I wait to get sale emails from myspicesage. They rotate which free spice they give away for a $25 purchase (we like to wait for saffron!). Once you hit $25, you usually also get free shipping as well as a free 1 oz. package of their listed spices. It usually turns out to be an excellent deal, the spices are good quality, and it has encouraged me to try spices and blends I wasn't familiar with before.

Jack

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4725
  • Location: Atlanta, GA
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2012, 10:46:21 AM »
Spices are the one thing I don't find to be overpriced at my local "hippie foods" store. Not only is being able to buy the amount I actually need (as opposed to a whole jar which will go bad) an advantage, even the unit price is cheaper than at the normal grocery store!

TomTX

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5345
  • Location: Texas
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2012, 07:18:40 PM »
I buy in bulk from an online supplier. One pound increments - but most stuff is $5-$7/lb. Fresh, cheap and good. We use a fair amount of curry/gararam marsala for cooking, and I regularly make tea from spearmint, peppermint, hibiscus and catnip.

Grocery store hibiscus is just so bland.

Gerard

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1570
  • Location: eastern canada
    • Optimacheap
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2012, 12:32:56 PM »
I find I use the same few spices over and over -- cumin, coriander, cinnamon, garam masala, turmeric, black pepper -- so I'm better off going to an Indian or Middle Eastern store and buying a bag, four or eight ounces worth, for about two bucks. The unit cost is less than at the bulk store, and the turnover is much higher. My downfall is that I sometimes buy something interesting that I *think* I'll use, but don't. Kalonji and annato, anyone?

grantmeaname

  • CM*MW 2023 Attendees
  • Walrus Stache
  • *
  • Posts: 5960
  • Age: 31
  • Location: Middle West
  • Cast me away from yesterday's things
Re: Bulk spices: cheaper, fresher, better, stronger
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2012, 12:56:20 PM »
My downfall is that I sometimes buy something interesting that I *think* I'll use, but don't. Kalonji and annato, anyone?
That? That's the entertainment budget. :)

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!