How to Make Mustard

Have you ever considered making mustard from scratch? Although you can go to the grocery and purchase a bottle for less than $1, the flavor of homemade mustard far exceeds that of any brand you would purchase at the store.

How to Make Basic Mustard
The process is actually quite simple. All you need to do is combine yellow mustard powder with vinegar or wine. How thick the mustard is will depend on how much vinegar or wine you add to the powder. The type of vinegar or wine you use also will determine how strong the mustard tastes. In order to combine the ingredients thoroughly, it's best to make this condiment in a blender or food processor. This helps ensure that you don't come across clumps of powder in the finished product.

Different Varieties of Mustard

• Honey mustard is simply a combination of basic mustard and honey. The amount of honey you add will depend on how sweet you want the finished product to be.
• Creole mustard is prepared by soaking brown mustard seeds in vinegar. The seeds are then ground, and horseradish is added to increase the level of heat.
• Deli mustard also is made using brown seeds. They are spiced with ginger, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice and garlic.
• Dijon mustard is quite special. In order for it to be called Dijon, it must be made in France using special seeds grown in French soil, which is high in potassium and other minerals.
• English mustard is made with white and brown seeds, turmeric and flour. The combination of seeds will determine how hot it is.

You also can make flavored mustard simply by adding spices, different vinegars, herbs, and even berries.

Important Tips to Consider
How you make mustard will greatly affect its flavor. For example, it's best to start with mustard seeds, and then grind them just before you make mustard. When the seeds are freshly ground, your mustard will have a stronger flavor. It's also important to note that the type of vinegar or wine used will not only affect the pungency of your mustard, but also the flavor. Finally, if your mustard is too strong, you can store it at room temperature. As it ages, the condiment will become less strong. Taste it every so often. Once you hit the right level of pungency, refrigerate to preserve the flavor.

Storing Homemade Mustard
Believe it or not, mustard never spoils. You can keep it indefinitely. Once you make a batch, just be sure to store it in a glass or plastic container with a plastic or enamel coated lid. Mustard is very acidic and can remove molecules from aluminum, which means your mustard would be unsafe to eat, not to mention gray in appearance, if you stored it in aluminum containers.

Serving Suggestions
Just as there are 100 different ways to make mustard, there are also a hundred different ways to serve it. Mustard tastes great on pretzels, hot dogs and sandwiches. But this condiment can also be used as an ingredient. How could you make potato salad without mustard? How could you make baked beans without this spicy condiment? You couldn't even make a decent barbecue sauce.

It doesn't matter how you flavor your mustard. All that really matters is that you take the time to make it from scratch. When you do, you have the opportunity to control the level of spice and even the flavor. With just a few simple ingredients you can prepare gourmet varieties that would otherwise cost a fortune.