Rant: Stop buying expensive spice blends when you can mix your own for pennies

I keep seeing people drop $8 on a tiny jar of taco seasoning at the grocery store. Last week I got a bag of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder at the bulk bins for $3 total and it made like 6 batches worth. You just eyeball the ratios and it tastes exactly the same. My roommate argued with me saying the pre-made stuff has "special ingredients" so I made both and she couldn't tell the difference in her ground beef. Why are we paying for packaging and a name? Has anyone else done a blind taste test on their own blends?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.grace5d ago

See, I actually get why people buy the pre-made stuff. It's not always about taste, it's about convenience after a long day when you just want to dump and stir. Plus some blends have anti-caking agents or preservatives that keep them from getting clumpy if you live somewhere humid. Your bulk spices might taste fine fresh, but after a month in a damp cabinet they can get weird. And let's be real, not everyone has the time or energy to experiment with ratios when they're already hangry. But fair point on the price difference, your roommate sounds like she was just being stubborn.

faith_schmidt2d ago

Hold up, are we really acting like clumpy spices are some kind of kitchen crisis? I've got a jar of cumin that's been sitting in my cabinet for like two years and it still tastes fine. Yeah it's a little clumpy but it's not like the spice police are gonna come kick my door down. Seems like a lot of fuss over something that's basically just a texture thing. And honestly, if you're that worried about humidity, can't you just toss a grain of rice in the jar?