Buy Spices for Making Dill Pickles
Preparing homemade pickles was once a means to preserve fresh cucumbers throughout the year. Today, however, home cooks prefer the fresher taste of homemade pickles to those found on grocery-store shelves. The success of the dill pickle is largely due to the quality of all the ingredients used, including the spices. You can easily learn buy quality spices in order to prepare delicious dill pickles.
Instructions
1. Closely examine the recipe for the needed spices. Many dill pickle recipes are simple, requiring little else but vinegar, salt, garlic, pickling spice and dill. Bay leaves and other herbs or spices may be included to add more flavor.
2. Opt for a local or Internet spice shop that sells spices and dried herbs in bulk. For fresh herbs, choose a local farmer's market or other source of locally grown herbs. Only purchase the amount of spices and herbs that can be used immediately, since long-term storage of herbs and spices leads to a decrease in their flavor.
3. Purchase whole spices, as they maintain their freshness and flavor longer. Wait to grind the spices until right before using.
4. Use the herbs and spices as soon as possible. If storing, keep the spices in a cool, dry, dark place sealed in an air-tight, opaque jar. Fresh herbs should be stored in the refrigerator standing up in a shallow bowl of water with a plastic bag covering both.
Tags: herbs spices, dill pickle, homemade pickles, Making Dill, Making Dill Pickles, Spices Making