Editing Seasoning (section)

==General meaning==
Seasonings include herbs and spices, which are themselves frequently referred to as "seasonings". Salt may be used to draw out [[water]], or to magnify a natural flavor of a food making it richer or more delicate, depending on the dish. This type of procedure is akin to [[Curing (food preservation)|curing]]. For instance, [[sea salt]] (a coarser-grained salt) is rubbed into [[Chicken (food)|chicken]], [[Lamb and mutton|lamb]], and [[beef]] to tenderize the meat and improve flavour. Other seasonings like [[black pepper]] and [[basil]] transfer some of their flavors to the food. A well-designed dish may combine seasonings that complement each other.

In addition to the choice of herbs and seasoning, the timing of when flavors are added will affect the food that is being cooked or otherwise prepared. Seasonings are usually added near the end of the cooking period, or even at the table, when the food is served. The most common table-seasonings are salt, pepper, and acids (such as lemon juice). When seasonings are used properly, they cannot be tasted; their job is to heighten the flavors of the original ingredients.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://opentextbc.ca/ingredients/chapter/seasoning-and-flavouring/#:~:text=Many%20ingredients%20are%20used%20to,the%20food%20without%20changing%20it.&text=Flavouring%20refers%20to%20something%20that,original%20flavour%20of%20the%20food.|title=Seasoning and Flavouring|date=24 October 2015|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=13 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113083831/https://opentextbc.ca/ingredients/chapter/seasoning-and-flavouring/#:~:text=Many%20ingredients%20are%20used%20to,the%20food%20without%20changing%20it.&text=Flavouring%20refers%20to%20something%20that,original%20flavour%20of%20the%20food.|url-status=live}}</ref>

Researchers have found traces of garlic mustard seeds in prehistoric pots that also contained traces of meat, making this the earliest recording of seasoning food.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Saul |first1=H |last2=Madella |first2=M |last3=Fischer |first3=A |last4=Glykou |first4=A |last5=Hartz |first5=S |last6=Craig |first6=OE |date=August 2013 |title=Phytoliths in Pottery Reveal the Use of Spice in European Prehistoric Cuisine |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=8 |issue=8 |pages=e70583 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0070583 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=3749173 |pmid=23990910|bibcode=2013PLoSO...870583S |doi-access=free }}</ref>