Stop Buying Those Little Bottles of Spices at the grocery store. There's a better, cheaper way. Keep reading to find out.
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I have been harping about buying spices from the bulk section of a co-op or natural food store since before I started my dessert blog.
Before I learned this trick, I was buying questionable spices in those little bottles at the grocery store. Paying $5, $6, $8 for who knows how old a bottle of spices.
Totally unnecessary and a waste of money.
Because have you ever, in your life, if you’re a spice-bottle person, actually finished a bottle?
Maybe you’ve finished a bottle of cinnamon or garlic powder. But I don’t think anyone has ever finished a bottle of cardamom or cloves.
I love cloves. That is my love spice. Ground cloves shine in these Chewy Gingersnap cookies.
Buy Spices in Bulk Instead
Find a co-op, natural food store or other shop near you that sells spices in bulk.
And by “bulk,” I don’t mean you need to buy three pounds of cardamom.
It’s quite the opposite.
At a self-serve bulk spice section, you buy only as much as you need. If you’re trying a recipe that calls for half a teaspoon of a spice you’ve never used before, buy half a teaspoon.
That way, you’re not stuck spending several dollars on a whole bottle for a flavor you end up not liking. No one wants that sitting in her cabinet for the next seven years.
Why Bulk Spices Are Better
This is especially useful for baking because we use plenty of spices that aren’t necessarily everyday ingredients: cardamom, cloves, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and whatever else a recipe sends you looking for.
Buying from a good bulk spice section means you :
- Buy only what you need.
- Try unfamiliar spices without committing to a whole bottle.
- Replace spices more frequently instead of keeping them forever.
- Spend less on spices you don’t use as often.
- Buy small amounts when you’re experimenting with a recipe.
And because you’re buying smaller quantities, you’re much more likely to actually use them while they’re still flavorful.
How to Find Bulk Spices Near You
Search for bulk spices near me, food co-op near me, natural food store near me or spice shop near me.
If you have a local co-op, start there. Natural food stores, independent markets and dedicated spice shops are also worth checking.
And don’t assume “bulk” means you have to buy a lot. If it’s self-serve, you may be able to buy a tablespoon—or even less.
So tell me: Where are you currently buying your spices?
I promise not to make fun of you if you’re still going to the grocery store.
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