Would you decline a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper on your salad from a waitress using a spice grinder in a restaurant and instead use the pepper shaker on the table? You probably wouldn’t, since the delicious magic of freshly ground pepper is difficult to resist. The pre-ground pepper on the table is good, but freshly ground pepper adds a burst of flavour that awakens your taste senses.
Freshly Ground Spices Add More Robust Flavor
Our culture has come to think that fresh is preferable. But why is this so with freshly ground spices such as pepper? It’s because the oil in spices is what gives them their taste.
The oils are protected by a natural casing supplied by the plant that produced the spice. When that spice is ground, the casing is crushed, and the oils contained therein are exposed to air. When air comes into contact with the oil, the evaporation process begins. The strength of the flavour drops instantly and continues to lessen while the spice is preserved. All of the oil, along with the taste, finally vanishes.
Freshly ground spices may not be practicable in every recipe, but they may transform an excellent meal into an amazing one. The oil contains the powerful essence of a spice’s flavour. and preservation that will result in the optimum flavour.
Toasting Spices Before Grinding Intensifies Flavor
If you already love the culinary joys of freshly ground spices, there is a way to elevate your experience. Toasting spices before grinding them will offer a richer taste than you would expect. Many excellent chefs utilise it as a secret.
We’ve established that the taste of spices comes from the oils that they contain. When you heat whole spices, they release their oil. Allowing them to cool before grinding them for immediate use will result in the most powerful flavour a spice has to offer.
To toast spices, all you need is a cooktop, a skillet, and, of course, the whole spice. Resist the desire to add olive oil to the skillet first; it isn’t essential. Spices should be toasted on a dry skillet. If you want to toast the exact quantity of whole spice requested for in a recipe, look up conversion tables on the internet. There are several websites that offer whole-to-ground spice measurement conversions. A fast tip: print one up and keep it in the cabinet where you keep your spices.
Don’t be frightened if you hear some popping sounds while the pan heats up. Some spices, like popping corn, will do this when heated. When the spices have finished toasting, they will begin to brown somewhat. As the spices are roasted, they provide a deep scent that pervades your kitchen. A deliciously scented kitchen is an added benefit of toasting spices.
Some Spices Taste Better When Freshly Ground
Pepper is an excellent flavouring ingredient, but freshly ground pepper lends an incomparable flavour to foods. Several spices, such as pepper, reveal their genuine flavours after being ground in a spice grinder. Some examples are cumin, clove, coriander, and nutmeg. To that list, you may add any spice that is a seed, such as mustard seed.
Have you ever attempted to recreate the flavour of a meal you had at a fine dining establishment? You got a flavour that was similar to what you experienced there, but something was wrong. It’s possible you used a spice from your spice rack when the recipe asked for freshly ground spice. No one would condemn you for doing so, yet it might be the reason why the food is fine but not as delicious as you expected. The greatest dishes are thoughtfully prepared, and if a spice is better freshly ground, follow the recipe’s instructions.
Using Freshly Ground Spices is Easier You Think
Consider an electric spice grinder if you want to use freshly ground spices but find it too time-consuming. At the touch of a button, an electric spice grinder delivers freshly ground spice.
It’s even easier with the FinaMill electric spice grinder. Interchangeable pods are included with the FinaMill electric spice grinder. One advantage of using the pods is that you avoid cross-contamination of spices. This function simplifies the process of adding several types of freshly ground spices when cooking a meal.
For example, suppose you’re making a pie for Thanksgiving dinner and want to add freshly ground nutmeg to it. While the pie is baking, you make mashed potatoes and season them with freshly ground pepper. You won’t have to stop and wash the FinaMill electric spice grinder to eliminate any traces of nutmeg. Simply changing out the pod to crush the pepper simplifies cooking a huge dinner.
It doesn’t have to be difficult to add freshly ground spices into your culinary regimen. With equipment like the FinaMill electric spice grinder, you can replicate the flavours you love at your favourite restaurant with no effort.