Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe Mix - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

What is the shelf life of chili seasoning mix? ›

Ground spices (like chili powder and paprika) typically last anywhere from six months to two years, while whole herb leaves (like parsley, oregano, and dill) will last you one to three years. If you have jars of whole spices (like allspice or peppercorns), they'll have a little longer of a lifespan.

It depends on your tastes and how much heat you like, but if a recipe calls for, say, two teaspoons of chili powder, try one teaspoon of sweet paprika and half a teaspoon of each of the spicy and smoked stuff.

Substitution Ratio: For every 1 tablespoon chili powder, use 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, and a scant ¼ teaspoon cayenne. You can customize the cayenne to taste based on your spice preference.

There's a bit of personal preference involved here. I recommend you start at 2 Tablespoons per pound of meat. However, I personally prefer a very heavily seasoning chili, and use about ¼ cup per 1 pound of meat.

Shelf Life of Spices

Ground spices are at their freshest within the first 3 months of being bottled. Whole spices are at their freshest within the first 10 months of being bottled. Ground spices retain most of their flavor for 2-3 years. Whole spices retain most of their flavor for 3-4 years.

Chili Seasoning vs Chili Powder

Essentially, all chili seasoning mixes contain chili powder, along with many other ingredients. Yet, not all chili powders are part of chili seasoning mix. Chili powders can be made from a single pepper or a blend and can be used alone or in spice mixes. Feeling DIYish?

The spice blend differs from one recipe to another, but it usually includes some mix of ground dried chiles, cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and onion powder.

My Nightshade-Free Chili Recipe

I seasoned with ground cumin and coriander, and oregano, tasting and adding more as needed. For heat I used black pepper, white pepper and horseradish. A bit of cocoa added a little warm, bitter note and a little vinegar provided some acidity.

Paprika, which is made from mild red peppers that are dried and ground, is a versatile pantry ingredient that helps give food a smoky flavor. Although you may need to adjust measurements (some varieties of paprika can be very salty) you can use plain paprika as a substitute for chili powder.

Do you need cumin for chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

McCormick® Culinary® Dark Chili Powder is made of chili pepper, cumin, salt, oregano, and garlic with moderate heat, slightly sweet, and earthy flavor. Specially made for chefs to inspire extraordinary menus and deliver consistent recipes.

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Cocoa Powder and Chili Go Very Well Together

Adding chocolate to chili lends depth and richness to the spicy dish, making it both more savory and more satisfying. That's especially the case for vegetarian and vegan chilis, when the hearty flavors from meat aren't part of the equation.

Spices that have passed their expiration date by a few days are typically still safe to use. For a better idea of how long your spices can last, here's a quick list: Whole spices: 2-3 years. Ground spices: 2-4 years.

Generally, spices that are past their prime aren't dangerous to consume, but they will lose their aroma and flavor potency over time.

Storage: McCormick® Perfect Pinch® Signature Seasoning Blend has a shelf life of 720 days when stored tightly closed in a cool, dry place to protect against flavor loss and moisture. Avoid exposure to heat, humidity, direct sunlight and fluorescent light to maintain flavor and color.