Did You Know – Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices. It is currently sold in the United States by McCormick & Company and originally created in Baltimore, Maryland where it was founded in 1939.
The seasoning is a mix of celery salt, celery seed, red pepper, black pepper and paprika spices. Some of the other spices that may be used are bay leaves, mustard, cardamom, cloves and ginger as listed in the original product. It is regionally popular, specifically in Maryland, mid Atlantic States, the Southern States, parts of New England and the Gulf Coast.
Old Bay Seasoning is named after the Old Bay Line, a passenger ship line that plied the waters of the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia in the early 1900s.
In 1939, a German-Jewish immigrant named Gustav Brunn started the Baltimore Spice Company. The origins of the company can be traced back to Wertheim, Germany, where Brunn started a wholesale spice and seasoning business selling to food industries, seeing an opportunity as spices were in especially short supply amidst hyperinflation in the aftermath of World War I. Due to rising antisemitism as the Nazi Party rose to power, the company moved to Frankfurt, Germany; however, on the night of November 9, 1938, a massive pogrom against Jews, known as Kristallnacht, led to Brunn being arrested by Nazi soldiers and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp.
According to Brunn’s son, Gustav’s wife paid a large sum of money to a lawyer for him to be released as they had already applied for and received American visas. They were able to escape with their two children to New York City and later Baltimore, Maryland where Brunn had family. There, having brought with him only a small spice grinder, Brunn founded the Baltimore Spice Company and produced the “Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning”, which was later named Old Bay. The rights to the seasoning brand were purchased by McCormick & Co in 1990. McCormick has continued to offer Old Bay in the classic yellow can.
In 2017, McCormick changed the packaging from metal cans to plastic containers in an effort to reduce the packaging costs.
The seasoning is chiefly used to season crab and shrimp. It is also used in various clam chowder and oyster stew recipes. The seasoning is also used as a topping on popcorn, salads, eggs, fried chicken, chicken wings, French fries, tater tots, corn on the cob, boiled peanuts, dips, chipped beef, baked potatoes, potato salad, potato chips and guacamole.
In 2020, McCormick created Old Bay Hot Sauce in advance of the Super Bowl, which initially sold out within 30 minutes of its launch and caused the Old Bay website to crash temporarily. Some customers resold the 10-US-fluid-ounce (300 ml) bottles, retailing for $3.49, online for between $50 and $200.
In 2022, the company collaborated with Pepperidge Farm to produce Old Bay-flavored Goldfish Crackers. The crackers sold out online within nine hours.
Source: http://www.enwikipedia.org
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Did You Know, Spices/Seasoning
A fascinating story
It sure is, smart business man.
I have seen this in the supermarket but I’ve never tried it. Great post, nice to find out more about it and the history behind the brand.
Thank you Paul, I need to try it on chicken. I have only used it for shrimp boils.
What an interesting history! Thank you for this post. I am so glad they were able to escape Nazi Germany.
I thought so too Betty. You’re welcome!
Great write up. I have used Old Bay for many years and still do. Thank you for the information.
You’re welcome and have a great weekend!
I still love it
We do too!
Thank you Ned!
Thanks for this info about Old Bay Seasoning! It’s been a staple on my shelf for a long time. I’ve still got some in a metal can.
Sounds like me with my baking powder. The can I have has a metal piece across the top for scraping off the baking powder from a measuring spoon. I just refill it.
It’s so funny you wrote about Old Bay. Last week we had friends over and I made salmon cakes. The recipe I picked used Old Bay as an ingredient and I thought what the heck is that? We don’t have it in Canada, or at least I have never seen it or heard of it. I googled it and try to recreate, the best I could, with the spices I had. I will keep your list of spices for next time or probably mix some up and keep it stored. Thanks Diane !
If you ever make a shrimp boil, it is great in that. I had comment that people use it with almost any meat too.
Very interesting Diane. I use Old Bay on fish, but have never tried it on chicken. Maybe next time I cook chicken.
Since I posted this I have heard many ways people use Old Bay Seasoning. I have only used t on seafood boil.
I put it in my Lobster Rolls when I mix up the filling.
OK now you have me drooling!
I made them the first time when I went to Prince Edward Island last summer and got fresh lobster off the boat. They were delicious.
Now that’s the life!
Old Bay has done pretty well for themselves lol. Good, bold taste, and I think it is very versatile as you note here!
Thank you Bruce!
T loves Goldfish Crackers. We’re gonna have to keep an eye out for those crackers next time they become available again?!
Every now and then I like to try different flavors with Goldfish. I had pizza Goldfish too, they were good.
What a fascinating food story. Sad, but with a happy ending!
Thank you Linda, I would love to know how much he sold it for.
Thanks for the history lesson. I am from Baltimore and Old Bay is a must have on eggs, soups, stews, seafood, chicken, grilled vegetables…you get the idea
I do get the idea and I can’t wait to try it on different food other than seafood boil! Thanks for all the great ideas to use it on.
I remember seeing that tin here at the house on my mom’s spices she kept on a lazy susan in the closet … I was reading the list of items and first, the fish and I thought “we didn’t eat that”, then saw the other many things it was used for, most which we ate. 🙂
I have only used it for my seafood boil until my readers told me what else they did with it too.
The last time I went grocery shopping they had Campbells Clam Chowder made with Old Bay Seasoning (the New England style clam chowder).
I didn’t know they sold that but Terry did. He said it was too much spice for him.
I just noticed it the last time I was in the soup aisle. I guess it people want spicy clam chowder, they’d get the Manhattan variety. I like the New England style.
I’m a New England style lover too.
I’m not familiar with Old Bay seasoning, but according to Google, a mixture of celery salt and paprika is the simplest substitute for Old Bay seasoning (as you mentioned in your post). It seems that Old Bay products are in high demand in the USA – I’m always amazed at how someone can develop a winning recipe/product.
I have only used Old Bay for my shrimp boils. I need to try it on other things too according to the comments. I would love to know how to make a recipe famous!
Old Bay is so anchored in tradition; it’s the secret ingredient for everything from seafood to fries!
I have only used it for seafood boil, time to spread my wings! lol
Okay rhis is so cool! I have a can sitting in the back of the cabinet that I bought for a recipe I never made and now I feel I need to pull it out and use it after reading this history 🙂
Oh yes, try it on anything.