When to Season

When to season: For the most flavor, follow these tips for when to add seasonings in food preparation:

1. Add dried herbs at the beginning of cooking and fresh herbs at the end.

2. In slow-cooking foods like soups, add herbs in the final 45-60 minutes.

3. In quick-cooking foods like vegetables, add herbs at the start of cooking.

4. For chilled foods (e.g., salads, dips, yogurt, cheeses, fruit juices), add seasonings several hours before serving. Add herbed vinegars to salads or soups.

5. Since they quickly release flavor, add ground spices near the end of cooking.

6. Add whole spices and bay leaves early to slow-cooking dishes like soups and stews. For easy removal, tie in cheesecloth or place in a tea ball or coffee filter before adding to foods.

7. Rub herb and spice mixtures (e.g., thyme, marjoram and basil or garlic powder and red and black pepper) on top of tender meats, fish or poultry before cooking.

Source: Rubin, Karen Wilk. "Seasonings greetings: do you know the difference between herbs and spices? Do they have health benefits? And how should they be used in cooking?" FoodService Director 15 Dec. 2004: 27. Agriculture Collection. Web. 28 May 2013.