Do you enjoy cooking? Your spice cabinet can easily become an expensive investment in your kitchen! You don’t even have to be purchasing exotic spices for the prices to start adding up. Even worse, spices don’t stay fresh forever and some articles will tell you to replace your spices every six months, even though most spices will continue to add flavor for a year or more, provided they’re stored in a cook, dark place.
If you are a budget minded cook, herbs and spices present some special challenges. Let’s say you’re interested in cooking Indian food; most recipes require six or more different herbs and spices. If you want to experiment with just one dish you may have to purchase turmeric, cumin and mustard seeds. Just to mention a few! Purchasing these spices at the grocery store can make a big dent in your grocery budget. What is a prudent cook to do?
One solution is to buy premixed spice blends. One jar of Italian seasoning combines a balanced blend of marjoram, thyme, rosemary, savory, sage, oregano, and basil. It’s quite a bargain when you figure out how much each individual jar would cost.
Find a store that sells spices in bulk. Determine what spices you use all the time and purchase those in bulk. Our local co-op sells many spices in bulk and for just a few dollars you can buy a pound of basil! Some spice companies also sell bulk spices, for example Penzeys sells spices in various sizes depending on your need.
Remember the more spice you buy the less it costs per ounce. For example, warehouse clubs sell large containers of chili powder for just a little more than you would spend for a small bottle at the grocery store.
If you know you can’t use a whole bottle of a spice, find a friend who likes to cook and split the bottle with them.
Do everything you can to keep you spices fresh. Keep all red spices such as chili powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes in your refrigerator or freezer to prolong freshness.
You can grow your own spices too! I have a large oregano plant in my garden; during the summer I enjoy fresh oregano. I also cut and dry the oregano so that I have a good supply to use during the winter.
What other methods do you use to save money on your herbs and spices?
Linked to: FrugallySustainable, TheThriftyHome, Econobusters
Nancy on the Home Front 
Buying spices in bulk really is a great way to save! I refill my spice bottles at the food co-op for about 1/6 the price of a new bottle from the supermarket, and the savings are even bigger for certain herbs, such as thyme. For spices used in Indian food, Indian stores typically have large packages at very low prices; I bought 1/2 lb. of coriander for 99c, and it lasted us 10 years! We refilled our little bottle and kept the rest of the bag sealed up in a jar in our pantry, so it kept its flavor.
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Becca,
That’s great that your food co-op offers spices in bulk, that’s a great way to save!
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