Copycat Old Bay Seasoning Mix Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

What is the closest thing to Old Bay seasoning? ›

Cajun seasonings use many of the same herbs and spices as Old Bay seasoning, including paprika, pepper, and celery salt. Though the mix of ingredients is a bit different, Cajun seasoning works as a substitute for Old Bay. You can use the same amount of Cajun seasoning in your recipe as you would the Old Bay seasoning.

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.

While Cajun seasoning comes in many varieties, Old Bay is a specific brand, though you can make our Old Bay copycat recipe at home. Most Cajun seasoning blends are spicier than Old Bay, and Old Bay contains ingredients like bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard that aren't usually in Cajun spice blends.

Old Bay was invented in 1940 by Gustav Brunn, a German Jewish refugee in Baltimore. Before immigrating to Maryland, Brunn was a successful spicemaker in Germany where he specialized in making blends for sausages.

Yes, Chesapeake Bay seasoning is often referred to as a regional variation of Old Bay seasoning. Both blends are used in similar ways and share some common ingredients, but there may be slight differences in the specific herbs and spices used in each blend.

While both blends are closely guarded secrets, it's generally agreed that J.O. brings more salt and heat, while Old Bay leans savory with eighteen spices, including pepper, cloves, ginger, and coriander. Both businesses also sport solid Maryland pedigrees.

OLD BAY® Seasoning has a shelf life of 540 days when tightly closed and stored in a cool, dry place, to protect against flavor loss and moisture.

McCormick continued to offer Old Bay in the classic yellow can. McCormick has a number of other products under the Old Bay banner, including seasoning packets for crab cakes, salmon patties and tuna, tartar sauce, co*cktail sauce and seafood batter mix.

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.

We all prefer Zatarain's boil over home mixes or Old Bay. It is spicy and infuses a lovely flavor in foods. I even add a little of the boiled water to gumbos and jambalayas as it enhances the spices I add myself.

Is slap ya mama like Old Bay? ›

While Old Bay seasoning is traditionally used in seafood dishes, its blend of herbs and spices can also work as a substitute for Slap Ya Mama seasoning. The flavors of Old Bay are slightly different, but it can still add a delicious kick to your Cajun-inspired recipes.

That would be Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning, because I prefer a bolder seasoning on seafood. Old Bay is nice, but has a different flavor profile, combining several more spices and herbs compared to Tony's. Tony's leads with salt, hot red pepper, and black pepper. Old Bay leads with celery, salt and mustard.

Celery Salt and Paprika

A lot of people think that Old Bay seasoning is super complicated to make (or, at least, emulate the taste of), but it's really not. Simply combine 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt with 1/4 teaspoon of paprika for every 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning if you're substituting it in a recipe.

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. OLD BAY Seasoning's blend of 18 herbs and spices not only provides distinct flavor, it also adds excitement and zest to every moment. There truly is no substitute.

The Baltimore Spice Company was family-owned and run until Ralph Brunn retired in 1985. McCormick bought the Old Bay spice recipe, in 1990 and sells it around the world.

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.

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.

The main difference between Creole and Cajun seasoning blends comes down to the ingredients: Cajun seasoning features an array of ground peppers—black, cayenne, and white—while Creole seasoning is more herbal, with recipes often containing oregano, thyme, rosemary, and paprika.

Thyme and Oregano are the best universal substitutions for bay leaf. Fresh basil is sweeter than a bay leaf but makes a good bay leaf alternative in Italian dishes. Dried basil has a peppery taste like bay leaves making it a great alternative for bay leaf substitution.