Is it true that putting spices in something then baking it destroys the spices?
I heard that putting spices in something and putting it in the oven will eliminate the taste of the spices. Is this true? For example if I were to put spice in lasagna before putting it in the oven you will not be able to taste the spice afterwards.
Best Answer
It is not true that baking destroys spices (for most spices I know; unless you put them to bake dry on top of something, which might burn them).
I made this answer a bit broader as we add flavor to food not only with spices but with herbs or flavorful vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits as well.
Baking/heat will likely change the texture and flavor of spices, vegetables, and especially fresh herbs, but it will not destroy them. Sometimes it will take away the fresh sharpness (like in garlic or onion).
Sometimes frying or roasting spices before cooking is even desired to give them a slight toasty flavor (like whole cumin and other spices in Indian cuisine). Some say that "only with roasting all flavors can be unlocked".
So it depends on what effect you want to achieve with a spice/seasoning.
And in your case putting spices into lasagna before baking will help blend the flavors together. However, putting some fresh herbs on top of the lasagna before serving will give the dish some color and freshness.
Pictures about "Is it true that putting spices in something then baking it destroys the spices?"
Can you bake spices?
Whole spices are preferred over ground spices for roasting. That's because whole spices better retain their oils and so contain more flavor to release when they're heated or ground. You can certainly roast ground spices \u2014 just keep in mind that it will take only seconds before they're done.Does heat destroy spices?
Herbs, chiles, and spices alike lose flavor more quickly when they are exposed to heat. When exposed to heat, the oils in herbs and spices dry out.Do you add spices before or after cooking?
When to Add: Herbs may be added near the end of cooking for more distinct flavor, or at the beginning for more blended flavors. Ground spices and herbs release their flavors readily. In long cooking dishes, such as stews, add these near the end of the cooking time to minimize the \u201ccooking off\u201d of its flavors.Do spices lose flavor when cooked?
Unlike spices (which can be added during or after cooking), dried herbs need time to release their flavor, so they're almost always added during the cooking process. They're typically used in stews, sauces, and other long-cooking recipes where they can fully release their flavor.Teen Titans Go! | Fooooooooood! | DC Kids
More answers regarding is it true that putting spices in something then baking it destroys the spices?
Answer 2
The flavors of most spices are quite stable, and will not be destroyed by cooking from any method, including baking. You will see that traditional recipes often add spices at the beginning of a recipe, especially for robust hard spices like cinnamon, anise, caraway, cumin, allspice, dried chili powder, and so on.
In fact, in many cuisines, the spices are bloomed by frying or toasting as part of assembling the dish in order to bring out their aromas and flavors.
This idea may have originated with herbs (especially the more delicate ones like basil, tarragon, or cilantro) whose flavors are more volatile or heat sensitive, and so are traditionally added in the last few minutes of cooking, or even after the cooking.
Even so, with herbs, this is not universal as some of the more hardy ones do stand up to cooking, such as oregano, sage, and similar.
Answer 3
I make beef jerky and I have to make the marinade hotter than mortal sin in order for it to be a really hot flavor When it's finished...I use concentrated capsaicin and ground up dried ghost pepper in my hottest variety...but it's still much hotter before it's cooked. By a measure of half. I've been making jerky since 1991.
Answer 4
Depends on how long its cooked and at what heat if you were to put basil or parsley in and then cook it for a long time it will crisp up and blacken and in a sense destroy them. In contrast a roast cooked moderately high and long tied with rosemary all around turns out wonderfully and allows the roast to draw in many of the flavours. In the end it just depends on what spices you are using and how they will be cooked.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: JÉSHOOTS, Mareefe, Nicole Michalou, Ksenia Chernaya