Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use as a substitute for Old Bay seasoning? ›

Celery salt and paprika are two of the main ingredients in Old Bay seasoning. If you happen to have these spices in your cupboard, then you have a good substitute. When substituting, mix 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt with 1/4 teaspoon of paprika. Use this for every 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning.

Its bold, distinct flavor serves as a reliable, versatile seasoning for seafood and everything else. It is the key ingredient that brings dishes to life with an extra kick of unique, bold flavor anchored in salt, celery seed, paprika and mustard.

While the exact ingredients are not revealed on the label or the brand's website, Old Bay reportedly has a mix of 18 spices. It has a complex savory flavor, with bay leaf, celery salt, dry mustard, and pepper at the forefront. Paprika and various other spices add depth and make this a well-rounded seasoning.

Many store-bought spices list best-by dates, which indicate the time frame over which they'll retain the most potent flavor and quality (4). It's still generally safe to consume dried herbs and spices that are past their prime, although they won't add nearly as much flavor as their fresh counterparts.

Still, this section of their site confirms that Old Bay contains ginger, bay leaves, mustard, cinnamon, and coriander. It also reveals that Old Bay does not contain onion, garlic, cumin, sesame, turmeric, sugar, starch, yeast, malt extracts, MSG, oregano, gluten, citrus, dairy, soy, tomato, or cilantro.

Old Bay differs a good deal from the classic blend spices for cajun seafood which are salt, cayenne (red pepper) and garlic. Old Bay majors on celery salt, bay leaves, red and black pepper, and adds cloves, allspice, ginger, mace, cardamon, cinnamon and paprika.

According to the product label, some of the ingredients in Old Bay seasoning are celery salt, spices (including red pepper and black pepper) and paprika. Other potential spices may include bay leaf, cinnamon, mustard powder, nutmeg, clove and cardamom.

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.

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.

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.

Does Old Bay have cloves in it? ›

Ingredients. Salt, Sugar, Paprika (16%), Mustard Flour (13.1%), Ground Celery Seed (12%), Black Pepper (3%), Cayenne Pepper, Bay Leaves, Cloves, Coriander Seed, Thyme, Basil, Anti-Caking Agent (Silicon Dioxide), Ground Nutmeg, Rosemary, Savory, Allspice.

You can save money by mixing your own DIY spice mixes from bulk spices. For commercial kitchens that use large quantities of spice blends, blending your own seasonings from whole or ground spices is an economical option.

There are four basic types of seasoning ingredients: • Salt • Pepper ⚫ Sugar and light-flavored sweeteners • Acids When you season a food, you add just enough of one or more of these ingredients to change the food's basic taste, but not enough to add a whole new taste.

Substitute for Old Bay Seasoning

Since celery salt and paprika are two of the main ingredients in Old Bay seasoning, you could substitute 1/4 teaspoon celery salt and 1/4 teaspoon paprika for every teaspoon of Old Bay.

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.

The main flavor of Old Bay Seasoning is celery salt and paprika—a bit of smoke, a bit of sweet, and plenty salty. Although many people seem to be wishing for an Old Bay recipe without the salt, well, it's really hard to deliver on that one.