Copycat Old Bay Seasoning Mix Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of Old Bay seasoning mix? ›

Some popular substitutions for Old Bay include crab boil, cajun seasoning, and celery salt mixed with paprika. When using a substitute, make sure to start with a small amount to begin with and taste as you go. Sometimes an alternative can change your dish's flavor profile slightly, so it is best to go slow.

Most of the flavor comes from mustard, paprika and celery salt, along with mace, nutmeg, bay leaf, red pepper and cardamom, and while it's an obvious pairing with seafood, it's also a surprising twist on fried rice and chickpeas. Even now, I'm eating fistfuls of popcorn dusted with Old Bay.

Within that unique blend of 18 herbs and spices lies a collaboration of complex flavor elements, just waiting for a chef to let them shine. For example, celery seed is a key flavor in OLD BAY that gives it a subtle earthy note.

What's the Difference Between Old Bay and Cajun Seasoning? While the two include some of the same ingredients, this Old Bay replica uses more spices and has a bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard base. Cajun seasoning concentrates on paprika and is a little spicier because of the cayenne pepper.

The main flavor of Old Bay Seasoning is celery salt and paprika—a bit of smoke, a bit of sweet, and plenty salty.

Demand for Old Bay Seasoning is still so strong that McCormick is having a hard time keeping it in stock, the company's CEO says. In July 2020, shoppers were on the hunt for Old Bay. Fun fact: There's currently an Old Bay shortage?

When you use too much it can make your food salty and/or spicy.

Old Bay is a type of seasoning made from 18 different herbs and spices, including mustard, celery salt, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper, paprika, and bay leaves.

Despite many people speculating that garlic powder was one of the secret ingredients contained in the recipe, Old Bay's makers have stated that their product contains no garlic, in response to a question from a customer with an allium allergy.

What's the Difference Between Lawry's vs Old Bay? While both Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Old Bay Seasoning are versatile spice blends, Lawry's is known for its savory and tangy flavor, suitable for a variety of dishes.

What is the shelf life of Old Bay Seasoning? ›

Sprinkle OLD BAY Seasoning generously on French fries, corn-on-the-cob, steamed vegetables and popcorn. OLD BAY® Seasoning has a shelf life of 540 days when tightly closed and stored in a cool, dry place, to protect against flavor loss and moisture.

Old Bay was invented in 1940 by Gustav Brunn, a German Jewish refugee in Baltimore. Before immigrating to Maryland, Brunn was a successful spicemaker in Germany where he specialized in making blends for sausages. His business was booming until Hitler came to power in 1933.

We all prefer Zatarain's boil over home mixes or Old Bay. It is spicy and infuses a lovely flavor in foods. I even add a little of the boiled water to gumbos and jambalayas as it enhances the spices I add myself.

A: No, Creole seasoning and Old Bay seasoning are different. Creole seasoning is a blend of spices that originated in Louisiana and includes peppers, onions, and garlic. Old Bay seasoning is a Chesapeake Bay blend that includes celery salt, paprika, and black pepper.

Old Bay seasoning is not traditionally used in Cajun cuisine. It is actually a blend of herbs and spices that originated in Maryland and is commonly used in seafood dishes on the East Coast of the United States.

Bay leaves compliment acids and also emphasize the umami flavors in chilis, sauces, and stews. If you don't have whole or ground bay leaves, you can use dried Greek oregano or dried thyme in its place.

Can I use Old Bay seasoning instead of Cajun seasoning? You can definitely use Old Bay seasoning instead of Cajun seasoning. It might be a little more salt forward so adding a touch of cayenne pepper to make up for the heat could be a good option.

Creole seasoning can also be a good Old Bay substitute if needed. Cajun seasoning blends are also a good alternative to Creole seasoning if you're looking for a more comparable flavor profile and have that in your spice cabinet.

Dried herbs and spices don't truly expire or “go bad” in the traditional sense. When a spice is said to have gone bad, it simply means that it has lost most of its flavor, potency, and color. Fortunately, consuming a spice that has gone bad is unlikely to make you sick.