So when redditoru/leeleez09asked ther/Cookingcommunity to share their"secret" ingredient, I was already taking notes.

Here are the simple additions that home cooks swear by for leveling up their food.

“Fresh lemon and lime juice.”

Hand holding a tube of Aurora anchovy paste over a kitchen counter

I learned about this only recently.

Add it right at the end, don’t cook it into the dish."

u/Hey-Just-Saying

3.“Miso.

Container of soybean paste on a counter

Its pure magic!”

“It’s not a secret, but the answer is salt.”

u/Illegal_Tender

“The answer is MORE salt.

Bottle of Angostura aromatic bitters on a table

I recently made stewed lemon kale and seasoned it way more than I wanted to.

I was shoveling back kale.”

u/notnotaginger

5.

Person holding a jar of Better Than Bouillon vegetable base with two pots of soup on the stove

Just a dash adds a nice, subtle spice note to anything.

Meat sauces, stews, and fruit desserts are particularly nice."

“I toast peppercorns in a skillet before putting them in a grinder.

Person holding a small jar of a Schwartz whole nutmeg spice jar with a red cap

It is unbelievable how much better the flavor is, especially in eggs.”

u/farmgirlheather

“Bloom ALL your spices, and ideally, buy them whole and bloom them before crushing/grinding.

Totally different game.”

Pork ribs in a slow cooker garnished with fresh herbs

u/Butthole__Pleasures

7.

“Better Than Bouillon Organic Reduced Sodium Vegetable Base.”

8.“Onions.

A hand holding a crumpled bag of umami seasoning made of monosodium glutamate

We always have red onions, white onions, shallots, and green onions ready to go.

u/grumblebeardo13

9.

“Nutmeg in a lot of dishes that most people around me wouldnt consider putting it in.

A simmering pot with various ingredients, including Parmesan rinds and mushrooms

Also, a small spoonful of grape jelly into my Bolognese to cut the acidity.”

“I brown butter before I use it, most of the time.”

u/PinkMonorail

“We recently made carrot cake with brown butter cream cheese frosting, and it was sublime.

Package of Bob's Red Mill nutritional yeast flakes

I also love brown butter Rice Krispies squares so much better!”

u/janesfilms

11.

“BothGreekand Mexican oregano using the right one makes a lot a difference in a dish.”

A jar of Simply Nature creamy sunflower butter on a kitchen counter

“Powdered onion soup.”

u/CWeed84

13.“MSG.”

u/Procedure-Loud

15.

A bulb of black garlic cut in half, revealing the cloves

It makes soups and sauces taste amazing (remove before serving, though!).”

“Fish sauce and gochujang.

Gochujang is a great addition to any cheap pasta sauce in a jar.”

Hand holding a jar of Trader Joe's 100% Colombian Instant Coffee in a kitchen

u/latihoa

17.

“Nutritional yeast.”

u/ladymuse9

19.

“Fresh-ground Cambodian white pepper.

It has a sweetness that I find incredible.

I like adding it to anything instead of black pepper.

u/sparklingwaterll

21.

“Lately, granulated black garlic.

It adds so much umami to a dish.”

“Cocoa powder and pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin puree adds a rich, creamy texture and beautiful color to soups and stews.”

u/ChiSquare1963

23.

“A pinch of instant coffee in all my gravies.

It doesn’t add a coffee flavor, just a little depth.”

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.