Bulk Spice Section

txrandom

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2004
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Has anyone else just realized the awesomeness of the bulk spice section in your grocery store? I needed to buy some chopped chili pepper, so I went to the spice aisle. The cheapest brand came out to ~$1 per ounce. Later in the store I came across the bulk spice section and it only cost $5 per pound. That's about 70% cheaper. Filling my spice cabinet out won't be so expensive now.
 
Dec 26, 2007
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Are buying more or less than 10 lbs? If it's less than I believe it does not qualify as "bulk" and you need to change your title accordingly.

Thanks,
ATOT
 

joesmoke

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 2007
5,420
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0
realized this yesterday. needed sesame seeds... the little jar of them from mccormick was 5 bucks, so i went to the "bulk" section and got 3 times that amount for $.49
 

txrandom

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2004
3,773
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I actually bought some sesame seeds the same trip as well. I knew the little jars were expensive. I got sesame seeds for $3.99 a pound.
 

elektrolokomotive

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2004
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I never buy spices from a grocery store if I can help it. Horribly overpriced usually, and questionable freshness. Find a local spice merchant if you can. There are two good ones here in Seattle: World Merchants and Marketspice. There's also the Spice House in the Chicago area and Milwaukee. As far as I know, World Merchants, The Spice House, and another outfit called Penzey's all have a presence on the intarweb.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
73,745
35,610
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Food coops generally have a huge variety of cheap. bulk spices. And, yes, you can get them in alternator sized bags.
 

acheron

Diamond Member
May 27, 2008
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Penzey's is excellent, and they have stores all over the place. :thumbsup:
 
Feb 6, 2007
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Originally posted by: elektrolokomotive
I never buy spices from a grocery store if I can help it. Horribly overpriced usually, and questionable freshness. Find a local spice merchant if you can. There are two good ones here in Seattle: World Merchants and Marketspice. There's also the Spice House in the Chicago area and Milwaukee. As far as I know, World Merchants, The Spice House, and another outfit called Penzey's all have a presence on the intarweb.

I couldn't help laughing at this. "Local spice merchant" sounds like something out of Dune. "Zounds, there is no local spice merchant on this planet. To Arrakis!"
 

RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
8,622
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Originally posted by: txrandom
Has anyone else just realized the awesomeness of the bulk spice section in your grocery store? I needed to buy some chopped chili pepper, so I went to the spice aisle. The cheapest brand came out to ~$1 per ounce. Later in the store I came across the bulk spice section and it only cost $5 per pound. That's about 70% cheaper. Filling my spice cabinet out won't be so expensive now.

You usually need to use 3x more generic spice, they just dont have the kick that the name brands have
 

txrandom

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2004
3,773
0
71
Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Originally posted by: txrandom
Has anyone else just realized the awesomeness of the bulk spice section in your grocery store? I needed to buy some chopped chili pepper, so I went to the spice aisle. The cheapest brand came out to ~$1 per ounce. Later in the store I came across the bulk spice section and it only cost $5 per pound. That's about 70% cheaper. Filling my spice cabinet out won't be so expensive now.

You usually need to use 3x more generic spice, they just dont have the kick that the name brands have

The pepper I got was hot and flavorful. I added a little to a whole pot of soup and the whole thing is hot. The sesame seeds seem like your normal sesame seeds so far. Some bulk spices probably do suck though.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Yeah, I get the main ones for making rubs - garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, chili powder, onion powder, etc. They work well but I use a lot of it. Spices do lose their flavor over time so don't have it for many years.