Toasting

In the spice world, toasting is the process of dry-heating spices in a pan to release and transform their volatile oils. The heat creates new aromatic compounds, from nutty to smoky to caramel-like, that deepen the complexity of the spice’s flavor profile. Some spices are better suited for toasting than others, so always check our How to Use pages for each spice to see the most relevant preparation and cooking techniques.