1. Build A Cookbook and Reference Library
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Stocking your kitchen with spices - particularly if you're starting from scratch - can be an expensive endeavor. Before you start filling your spice cabinet, research your favorite cuisines, and learn about which herbs and spices are most essential to the recipes you're interested in preparing. These herb and spice focused cookbooks and references are not only great recipe sources, they'll help you discover which seasonings have crossover appeal in multiple cuisines, so you can get maximal use out of the herbs and spices you choose.
- Top 5 Herb & Spice Cookbooks
- Spice: The History of A Temptation, by Jack Turner
- Simply Organic, by Jesse Ziff Cool
2. Shop Online for Top-Notch Herbs and Spices
© 2008 Miri Rotkovitz
Thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to find top-quality herbs and spices, whether common or rare, at affordable prices and in convenient quantities. These sources stand out for the variety and freshness they offer, and for their knowledgeable staff.
3. Get Savvy About Selection and Storage
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Whether you're shopping in the supermarket or at the farmer's market, these tips will help you hone in on the most flavorful herbs and spices. Plus, learn how to store your purchases for optimal freshness, so your cooking will be as delicious and aromatic as possible.
4. Invest in Helpful Kitchen Tools
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Walk into a kitchen or housewares store, and you'll literally find thousands of gizmos and gadgets that supposedly make life easier, but just end up cluttering one's kitchen drawers. But hidden among the superfluous stuff, there are some truly helpful (and often multipurpose) items that can make cooking a joy. Here's a well-edited selection of tools that are especially suited to herb and spice cookery, but that go above and beyond in terms of sheer versatility and utility.