Are McCormick spices worth the price?

Question

In my opinion they are way over-priced. I've been using the Badia brand that I buy at Publix for less than half the price. I'm not a gourmet or a Badia salesman. I'd like to have the opinion of people who cook a lot. Yes I know fresh parsley is better than dried.

Thanks for your responses!

Here's something for you to think about regarding spices. I paid $3.50 for less than an ounce of McCormick brand coriander seed. At Spice Barn I can get a pound for $4.99. Do you get how much McCormick is ripping us off for their brand name?

http://www.spicebarn.com/

Answer 1

If you're happy with the store brand, then that's what you should buy. I myself prefer the McCormick spices because you always know what you're going to get, and the quality is certainly higher than some store brands I've tried. Especially with dried herbs, the cheaper brands tend to have more stems and less leaves, or they are made from inferior leaves to begin with so the flavor is weak or bitter.

Answer 2

NO, they're not worth the price. If you can, you should buy your spices fresh from a specialty spice store. They're 10 times more fresh than the bottled stuff on the grocery store shelves (any of them--McCormick or otherwise) and you'll be surprised at the flavor difference when you use curry powder that was made fresh earlier in the week vs. McCormick curry powder which was made a year ago and has been sitting in some warehouse somewhere.

Answer 3

I normally buy herbs fresh and keep dried on hand and when it comes to spices I buy whats on sale or with a coupon. Some McCormick's spices are average price, while others are too high. Tones is another brand that you can find in bulk at warehouse stores. Their cajun seasoning is the best. Even $ stores carry oregano, garlic, basil for you guessed it a dollar. If spices come whole ot might be worth the splurge to buy them. For example whole nutmeg- 1 whole nutmeg goes a long way.

Answer 4

I use a lot of spices including McCormicks. I think theirs has a "fresher" taste. I am really impressed with the new Grinders they have. Many spices lose freshness unless they are ground at time of use. One example is pepper. In my opinion, they are worth the price.

Answer 5

I use McCormicks, but I purchase the smallest containers of spices they have. Its good to replace the spices every 6 months or so.

Answer 6

You want to trust the company that provides your spices and if that requires a bit more money...well. There actually is a standard for the amount of fecal matter and insects that can found in spices. Is that scary? I use Penzey Spices. Very fresh! And, remember, don't buy more spice that you will be using soon.
1-800-741- 7787 for catalog or www.penzeys.com
The catalog is very informative and includes recipes.

Answer 7

Spices from the grocery store are ususally overpriced and poor quality. I use Penzy's spices. You get a lot more for the money, the quality is excellent, they have stuff you never imagined, the spices are very versatile, and they are usually cheaper than the grocery store if you buy them in the bags. Their website is www.penzeys.com They have reasonable shipping and you can order online or over the phone. I have never been disappointed with their products.

Answer 8

Well, as I like to say, "you get what you pay for". If the spices are expensive, then most likely they will work well. As for McCormick spices, I use them all the time. They are great for baking and chicken.

Answer 9

You can find any spices you need at any grocery store. They don't have to have the McCormick label.

Answer 10

I trust nothing but McCormick's (and Lawry's) brands spices! They are well worth the money! They are expensive, but they taste better than knock-off brands. They have EXCELLENT recipes on their site too!