Here's What's Really In Old Bay Seasoning

Since its invention in 1939, Old Bay Seasoning has widely been used not just in seafood, but also in spicing up Bloody Mary’s, jazzing up popcorn, and much more. While Old Bay’s proprietary blend of 18 herbs and spice has remained secret, many home cooks have attempted to replicate it.

It’s important to begin with fresh ingredients when making Old Bay Seasoning at home, as dried herbs and spices lose their potency over time. According to Bon Appétit, ground spices shouldn’t be kept for more than three months, and whole spices shouldn’t be kept for more than ten.

Per Allrecipes, the principal ingredients in Old Bay are celery salt, paprika, ground black pepper, and ground cayenne. Apart from these ingredients, add a pinch each of ground nutmeg, dry mustard, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, cloves, and ginger. Mix everything and store in an airtight container.