What’s Up Culinarians,
Last time we had an overview of WHY and HOW you should season your meat. Now lets expand on the WHAT.
We touched briefly on the fact that there is a difference between seasoning and flavoring. Let’s begin by giving a clearer definition of these terms.
Merriam-Webster defines “Seasoning” as:
1) A substance (such as salt, pepper, a spice, or an herb) that is used to add flavor to food.
OR
2) An ingredient (as a condiment, spice, or herb) added to food primarily for the savor that it imparts.
“Flavoring” is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
A substance that is added to a food or drink to give it a desired taste.
For a deeper, culinary understanding, seasoning enhances a food’s natural flavor while flavoring introduces a new flavor or alters the foods original flavor.
The differences between the two can be as simple as how much is used. For example, cinnamon is commonly considered to be and used as a flavoring. For some dishes though, a small amount may be used only to enhance the natural existing flavor, such as an apple pie. A more distinct difference between the two is that seasonings can be added either before or after cooking. Flavorings require a continued application of heat to activate them and impart it’s goodness and blend with the food.
Have you ever cooked a sauce and said “Ooo, that needs more salt”, and then added some, tasted again and decided it was perfect? That, folks, is seasoning. When you chiffonade the basil and mince the garlic to go in your meatloaf? Well, that is flavoring.
An example of some seasonings would be:
Salt, Pepper (Black, White, Red, or Melange), Chili Powder, Truffle Oil, Sugar, Balsamic Vinegar, or any of the variety of seasoning blends (which may include spices or herbs commonly used as flavorings) such as Old Bay, Seasoning Salt, Emeril’s Essence, or Beau Monde.
Common flavorings would include:
Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Curry Powder, Garlic, Anise, Cilantro, Dill, Mint, Saffron, Any of the acidic citrus juices (like Lemon, Lime, or Orange), Whole fruit or fruit juices, as well as any number of wines or alcohols that are used in cooking.
Hopefully your mouth is watering so much now that you MUST run and try some of these things in your next meal. Enjoy, and until next time…..
May the Food Be With You.