The Best Copycat “Old Bay” Seasoning

This Is The best Copycat Old Bay Recipe

There are many recipes on the internet and most don’t have bay leaves as an ingredient. Bay leaves and celery seed are the main flavors so if you don’t see bay leaves forget about it. This is the best copycat Old Bay.

I just ran out and bought some “Old Bay” before I wrote this to compare and the comparison was great. You ask why not just buy “Old Bay”? For one it is expensive and secondly I run out because I use it a lot and I don’t feel like running to the store.

Quick History! Very Interesting!

Old Bay is an east coast thing that started in Baltimore or Balmore as they say locally . Hon! Gustov Brunn started making it after he was fired from McCormick for being Jewish.

It was originally called “Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning” but later it was changed to “Old Bay. Ironically “Old Bay” was sold to McCormick in 1990 where McCormick continued selling it in the classic yellow can. McCormick switched from metal can to plastic container in 2017 so they could save packaging costs.

As I Said Above I Use It A Lot…

At the risk of sounding like Bubba in Forrest Gump I use the seasoning on many things. Shrimp, crab (of course), fried chicken, potato salad, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, clam chowder, popcorn… I’ve seen it used to rim a glass for a Bloody Mary and also to rim a glass in Baltimore for a Natty Boh (National Bohemian Beer).

Big Tip!!!!!!

Don’t buy your spices from the spice section in large grocery stores. Don’t buy expensive McCormick or other expensive spices. Check out the international section or go to an international/ethnic store and buy them in bags or cheaper brands like Badia.

Here’s What You Need

I used some whole spices that I ground on the right and mixed them with ground spices on the left (the big pile is the ground spices from the right).

• 2 tbsp ground bay leaves (I ground 4 gms of whole bay leaves)*
• 4 tsp celery seeds*
• 3 tsp Black Pepper*
• 3 tsp mustard seeds or dried mustard*
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/4 tsp cloves (ground or whole)*
• 1/4 tsp mace* (can sub with more nutmeg)
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp allspice*
• 1/4 tsp cardamom ground*
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp fine ground salt (table salt)

Ground the spices that need grinding then mix everything together. If it tastes a little off you might need more bay leaf. That is it.

*these are the spices that I ground

Enjoy it with these recipes

Modern mac and cheese. Very special tip about a pantry must!

The Best Creamy Potato Salad with Less Mayo

Sprinkle it on these Cold Oil French Fries

Fry up some chicken and serve it with the potato salad, mac and cheese, and these great Popeye Copycat Beans. Don’t forget to open a Natty Boh.