The Use and Abuse of Condiment Packets

All right, I know it’s trivial but someone is going to ask about these eventually, so let’s get it out of the way now. One of the problems with being a bachelor is that you start picking up all of these various packets of seasoning, condiments, and other ways to flavor your food. It honestly hits the point where you think that they are breeding when you aren’t looking. Nonetheless, they can be handy to have at hand.

Let’s first get serious. I’m not going to be suggesting them for home use. It’s actually cheaper to buy a small bottle of soy sauce than to grab a handful every time you hit the Chinese restaurant; you would have to grab a ridiculous amount to make it worth it. The effort of tearing each packet open compared to just pouring out the needed amount from a bottle really isn’t worth it. So this is not going to a recommendation for frugal shopping.

However. They do make your life easier everywhere else. I am suggesting you keep grabbing them and asking for them whenever you can, extra even. Then, when you take them home put them somewhere where you can grab them easily. In general, you know when you will be eating somewhere besides the house, and that’s when you grab whatever packets you feel you may need. They may be low-quality, but they do add flavor in some areas, and that’s something worth considering.

The salads created for corporate lunches are usually boring. Even when they do non-standard salads, such as a Caesar’s salad, it can still use a little something extra; pepper and parmesan cheese packets rock for that needed flavor. Red pepper and soy sauce packets can add a little something to soups when they come up. If you have some creamer packets, you’re not as dependent on the creamer, so it can run out without you caring. Mashed potatoes a little dry? Bring out the soy sauce and butter packets; yeah, soy sauce in mashed potatoes. Try it before you make that face. In short, if you know you’re going to be eating somewhere else, grab some packets of flavor to make the food more palatable.

Also, odds are good that you or a roommate don’t use those packets that come with ramen or those other nuke ‘em lunches, such as that packet of dried vegetables. The flavor packets can be used like you would soy sauce packets, just keep in mind that they may be thicker and so allow for it. The vegetable packets can be used as long as you can get them into hot water; not only do they add some flavor, but they also add some added nutrition to anything.

So, if you have a messenger bag or briefcase  that is always with you, you can use that space to make sure that you have some added flavor to your food, and it’s conveniently packaged for single use. Just a small tip that may make those boring lunches a little less boring…