All Purpose Seasoning – 7:2:1 and 7:2:2

Make it yourself at home. This mixture of common spices is ideal for most meats and vegetables. Have it ready in a shaker to use without measuring every time.

Editor’s Note: Originally Published August 26, 2011. Updated with expanded explanation and updated photos.

For Father’s Day, my wife gave me a gift certificate to the local cooking school Artisan Cooking School in Grand Haven. I don’t think she was trying to give me a hint, just that she thought we could enjoy it together. She was right.

I opted for the grilling class (big surprise there).  Howard Norris is the chef/owner and was an excellent host and very educational. Multiple grilled types of meat and sided dishes were prepared quickly and efficiently with lots of discussion and pointers. Plus we got to eat it all — a wonderful evening.

One of the common themes with meat preparation was a common and very simple mix of spices. Nothing fancy. A 7:2:1 ratio of kosher salt:pepper:granular garlic. It worked great on everything that night.

I have used it several times since then with similarly great results. Retrospective, the ratio is very similar to many of my and other recipes.

Some Uses for This Seasoning

My Rating

Excellent, wonderful and other adjectives. This is one for the lazy in me and the need to simplify things.

Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for All Purpose Seasoning – 7:2:1 and 7:2:2

A wonderful time saver to make cooking more fun. If you cook much, or even if you don’t, you will come to dread dragging out all the spices

What Salt to Use

Salt is salt is salt… but it is not. All salt is NaCl, AKA sodium chloride,  but granules of various salts are different in size. So they pack together in different density.

The rough equivalent is 1 teaspoon table salt = 1 1/4 teaspoon Morton kosher salt = 2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

This recipe and others on this site that calls for kosher or coarse salt will be referring to Morton. You can adjust from there for what you have.

Also, things like sea salt, etc. usually are in the Morton salt range. They differ in the “trace minerals” they are “contaminated” with. Use them if you wish.

BUT since salt is mostly to taste, use what you want. If you are salt sensitive or restricting salt, try cutting the salt in half.

The Pepper

Again, like salt, pepper can be different in many ways. This recipe is based on restaurant grind black pepper which is a rougher grind.

There are different pepper versions not only in grind but in berries used to make the pepper. Use what you like.

You are right when you feel fresh ground pepper has more taste. Due to being freshly ground, the surface has not been exposed to air for a long period that leads to oxidation which will decrease taste.

Garlic and Other Seasonings

Try to use “granular” garlic and not powder. Its texture will mix a lot better with the salt and pepper.

Modification for the Garlic-asaurus. I live with a garlic loving wife along with the rest of my family when they are here. For them, I use 7:2:2

One of the most common suggestion is onion powder but add what you commonly use. Remember, it is easy to use your custom seasoning and another one for a specific recipe. But you can’t take the cayenne pepper out if you don’t want it when cooking for the kids.

Other Tips

I use a shaker that can be sealed. I buy them at Penzy’s for a dollar. Or recycle another container but be sure it seals tight. A container can be refilled for many years to come.

I wrote the recipe using tablespoons, but obviously, it could be teaspoons, cups, ounces or whatever.

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4.48 from 243 votes

All Purpose Seasoning - 7:2:1 and 7:2:2

Make it yourself at home. This mixture of common spices is ideal for most meats and vegetables. Have it ready in a shaker to use without measuring every time.

Prep Time2 mins

Total Time2 mins

Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Servings/Adjust Amount: 60 1/2 teaspoon

60

Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons kosher salt - Morton kosher salt
• 2 tablespoon black pepper - course grind
• 1 tablespoon Granular garlic - 2 for 7:2:2
• other things to your taste

US Customary - Convert to Metric

Instructions

• Mix well

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips:

1. This is based on Morton Kosher salt. Conversion for various salts: 1 teaspoon table salt = 1 1/4 teaspoon Morton kosher salt = 2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
2. Use granular garlic powder, not regular garlic powder.
3. We always use two parts garlic powder due to our love of garlic.
4. This is a bit heavy in salt for some. Cut it down for your taste.
5. Use other spices if you want.
6. Use a shaker with large holes and a top that seals. I get .mine at Penzy's
7. This is written with tablespoons, but you could use teaspoons, cups or any other measurement. It is all about the ratio of ingredients.

Course Rubs and Sauces

Cuisine American

Keyword Beginner Recipe, Best Recipe, Easy, Seasoning Mix

 

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Calories: 1 kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2 g | Protein: 0.05 g | Fat: 0.01 g | Saturated Fat: 0.002 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002 g | Sodium: 392 mg | Potassium: 4 mg | Fiber: 0.1 g | Sugar: 0.04 g | Vitamin C: 0.1 mg | Calcium: 1 mg | Iron: 0.1 mg

 

Nutrition is generally for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.

 

All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

Originally Published August 26, 2011.