Certain ingredients experienced cooks reach for almost automatically, without thinking, because they know they will make everything better. All-purpose seasoning is one of those ingredients. It is the kind of pantry staple that, once you have it, leaves you wondering how you ever cooked without it.
In Caribbean kitchens, and increasingly in Canadian kitchens across the country, all-purpose seasoning is not a shortcut or a convenience product; it is a foundation. It is the first thing that goes on meat before a marinade, the seasoning that goes into a soup pot alongside thyme and pimento, and the blend that sits right next to salt and pepper on the counter because it gets used just as often.
At Cool Runnings Foods, our All-Purpose Seasoning is one of our best-selling products for very good reason. This guide covers everything you need to know: what all-purpose seasoning actually is, what makes Caribbean-style blends different from generic supermarket versions, and the many ways it can elevate your everyday cooking across meat, seafood, vegetables, soups, and more.
What Is All Purpose Seasoning?
All-purpose seasoning is exactly what the name suggests: a single, well-balanced blend of herbs and spices designed to work across a wide variety of cooking applications. Rather than reaching for half a dozen individual spice jars every time you season chicken or a pot of soup, all-purpose seasoning combines those flavours into a single blend that delivers consistent, balanced results every time.
A good Caribbean-style all purpose seasoning typically includes a base of garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper, layered with dried herbs like thyme and parsley, and warmed with spices such as ground pimento (allspice), the spice that is synonymous with Caribbean cooking. Some blends include a small amount of paprika for colour and mild sweetness, while others incorporate cumin or turmeric for additional depth.
The result is a seasoning that is savoury, aromatic, and deeply versatile, bringing a recognisable Caribbean character to every dish without overpowering any individual ingredient.
What Makes Caribbean All Purpose Seasoning Different
Walk down the spice aisle of any mainstream Canadian supermarket, and you will find generic all-purpose seasonings that are essentially combinations of salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. These are functional, but they are not what Caribbean cooks mean when they reach for an all-purpose blend.
Caribbean all-purpose seasoning is built on a fundamentally different flavour foundation. The inclusion of allspice (called pimento in Jamaica) gives Caribbean blends a warm, complex depth that immediately distinguishes them from generic alternatives. Allspice is the spice that defines Jamaican cooking. It appears in jerk seasoning, oxtail stew, red peas soup, escovitch fish, and virtually every savoury dish that defines the cuisine. Its presence gives the seasoning an authentically Caribbean character that generic versions simply lack.
The herbs in a Caribbean blend also reflect island tradition. Dried thyme is a fundamental ingredient in Jamaican cooking, used in quantities that might surprise cooks from other traditions. Its inclusion alongside parsley produces a green, herbal depth that goes far beyond salt-and-garlic basics.
This is the difference experienced Caribbean cooks immediately taste in a dish: not just seasoning, but a specific, culturally rooted flavour tradition in every pinch.
8 Ways to Use All Purpose Seasoning in Your Kitchen
1. As a Dry Rub for Chicken, Meat and Fish
This is the most fundamental application and the one for which all-purpose seasoning was essentially built. Before marinating or saucing, the meat gets seasoned with all-purpose. Rub it generously over chicken pieces, pork chops, fish fillets, or lamb chops, and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes before cooking. The seasoning penetrates the surface, building a flavour foundation that no sauce or marinade added later can replicate.
For best results, apply all-purpose seasoning to raw meat directly after washing and patting it dry. For a whole chicken, push the seasoning under the skin as well as over it, and season the inside cavity. For larger cuts of meat, use enough seasoning to fully coat the surface on all sides.
2. As the Base of a Caribbean Marinade
All-purpose seasoning is the starting point for almost every Caribbean marinade. Begin with a generous amount of all-purpose seasoning and build outward from there: add fresh garlic, scotch bonnet or hot pepper sauce, fresh thyme, lime juice, and a splash of soy sauce to create a complete marinade for jerk chicken, curry goat, or oxtail.
The all-purpose seasoning provides the herbal and spice foundation so the rest of the marinade can focus on adding freshness, heat, and acidity without having to build the entire preparation from scratch.
3. In Soups and Stews
Add a teaspoon of all purpose seasoning to the broth of any Caribbean-style soup, such as red peas soup, chicken soup, pumpkin soup, or beef stew, alongside the other aromatics at the beginning of cooking. The seasoning disperses evenly through the liquid as it simmers, contributing a layered herbal and spice flavour to the broth that single herbs alone cannot match.
All purpose seasoning works particularly well in one-pot dishes where the cooking liquid becomes the sauce. It provides a consistent flavour base that ties together all of the individual ingredients the meat, the vegetables, the coconut milk into a coherent, well-seasoned whole.
4. On Roasted Vegetables
All-purpose seasoning is outstanding on roasted vegetables, an application that many non-Caribbean home cooks have not yet discovered. Toss diced sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, or mixed root vegetables with olive oil and a generous sprinkle of all-purpose seasoning before roasting at high heat. The herbal and spice notes complement the natural sweetness of the vegetables as they caramelise in the oven, producing a deeply flavourful result that plain salt and pepper cannot achieve.
It also works beautifully on roasted cauliflower, broccoli, and green beans, where the warm Caribbean spice notes add an unexpected and welcome dimension.
5. In Rice and One-Pot Dishes
Stir a teaspoon of all-purpose seasoning into rice cooking water alongside coconut milk and thyme for simple but deeply flavoured Caribbean-style rice. Add it at the beginning of a one-pot rice and peas recipe to provide the herbal base note that ties the dish together. In pelau, the Trinidadian one-pot chicken and rice dish, all-purpose seasoning is added at the browning stage, where it combines with caramelised sugar and chicken to build complex, layered flavour.
6. On Grilled and BBQ Meats
All-purpose seasoning is a natural fit for Canadian grilling season. Rub it generously onto chicken wings, pork ribs, or beef kebabs before they go on the grill. The herbs and spices develop beautifully over direct heat: the garlic caramelises, the herbs toast slightly, and the allspice adds a distinctive Caribbean smokiness that sets these dishes apart from standard BBQ fare.
For an easy Caribbean-inspired summer meal, season chicken thighs with Cool Runnings All-Purpose Seasoning, grill over medium-high heat, and finish with a drizzle of Cool Runnings Pineapple Syrup in the last two minutes for a sticky, tropical glaze.
7. In Gravies, Sauces and Stir-Fries
A pinch of all-purpose seasoning added to a pan gravy, brown stew sauce, or quick weeknight stir-fry adds instant depth and Caribbean character without requiring a full pantry of individual spices. In brown stew chicken, one of the most beloved everyday dishes in Jamaican cooking, all-purpose seasoning is added at the browning stage and again when the sauce is built, creating a rich sauce that tastes as if it simmered for hours.
8. As a Finishing Seasoning
Unlike many spice blends that are best used during cooking, all-purpose seasoning also works as a finishing touch. Sprinkle it lightly over finished rice, grilled vegetables, or roasted potatoes just before serving. Using the same seasoning at different stages of cooking layers flavour in a way that creates genuine depth rather than one-dimensional saltiness.
All Purpose Seasoning vs Individual Spices: The Practical Case
Some home cooks argue that it is always better to season from scratch by measuring individual spices to build each dish from the ground up. While there is merit to this approach for certain applications, the practical case for all-purpose seasoning in everyday Caribbean cooking is compelling:
Consistency: A quality all-purpose blend produces the same balanced flavour result every time. Building from scratch requires experience and a calibrated palate to know how each spice contributes to the whole. All-purpose seasoning encodes that knowledge into the blend itself.
Efficiency: Speed matters in weeknight cooking. Being able to season a piece of chicken or a pot of soup with a single, well-chosen blend rather than measuring five or six individual spices is a genuine practical advantage.
Accessibility: Not every Canadian kitchen has a fully stocked Caribbean spice pantry. All-purpose seasoning makes Caribbean-style cooking accessible to everyone, from experienced diaspora cooks maintaining a connection to their heritage to new cooks discovering Caribbean flavours for the first time.
A Simple Brown Stew Chicken Recipe Using All Purpose Seasoning
Brown stew chicken is one of the most beloved everyday dishes in Jamaican cooking. It is deeply savoury, richly sauced, and built almost entirely on all-purpose seasoning and a few aromatics.
Ingredients (serves 4):
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1 whole chicken, cut into pieces (or 8 bone-in, skin-on thighs)
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2 tablespoons Cool Runnings All-Purpose Seasoning
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1 teaspoon salt
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1 tablespoon soy sauce
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 small onion, sliced
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2 stalks scallion, chopped
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1 sprig fresh thyme
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1 scotch bonnet pepper, whole (pierced once; do not cut)
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2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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1 tablespoon brown sugar
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1 cup water or chicken stock
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1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
Method:
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Wash and dry the chicken pieces. Season generously with all-purpose seasoning, salt, and soy sauce.
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Add the garlic, onion, and scallion, mixing well to coat. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour (overnight is better).
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When ready to cook, heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the brown sugar and allow it to caramelise to a deep amber colour, stirring constantly.
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Add the chicken pieces skin-side down and brown on all sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
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Add the thyme, scotch bonnet, ketchup, and water or stock. Stir to combine, scraping up the caramelised bits from the bottom of the pot.
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Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 to 35 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste.
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Serve over white rice with a side of Jamaican steamed cabbage.
The all-purpose seasoning in this recipe performs three distinct roles: it seasons the marinade, contributes to the crust that forms during browning, and flavours the sauce as it simmers. This layered application gives the dish its characteristic depth.
Storage and Shelf Life
All-purpose seasoning should be stored in a cool, dark place away from heat and moisture. Keep the lid tightly sealed between uses; exposure to steam from cooking can cause the seasoning to clump and lose potency. Avoid sprinkling directly from the container over a steaming pot, as the moisture will degrade the quality of the remaining product.
Properly stored, all-purpose seasoning retains its peak flavour for 12 to 18 months. Check the brightness of the aroma as the main indicator of freshness; if the seasoning smells flat or faint when opened, it is time to replace it.
Why Cool Runnings All Purpose Seasoning
At Cool Runnings Foods, our All-Purpose Seasoning is one of our best-selling products because it delivers exactly what home cooks need: a well-balanced, authentically Caribbean seasoning blend that works across every application, from dry rubs to soups and grilled vegetables.
It is a product rooted in genuine Caribbean culinary tradition and built with the commitment to authentic flavour that defines our entire collection. We are based in Toronto and ship nationwide across Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia—so quality Caribbean seasoning is always just an order away.
Shop Cool Runnings All Purpose Seasoning: Cool Runnings Spices & Seasonings
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is all purpose seasoning made of?
A: A Caribbean-style all-purpose seasoning typically includes garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried thyme, parsley flakes, allspice (pimento), and paprika. The exact blend varies by brand, but the inclusion of allspice gives Caribbean versions their distinctive warm, complex character.
Q: Can I use all purpose seasoning on fish and seafood?
A: Absolutely. All-purpose seasoning works beautifully on fish fillets, shrimp, and other seafood. Use a lighter hand than you would with meat, as seafood requires less seasoning and shorter marinating times. Apply it just before cooking rather than letting it sit for extended periods.
Q: Is all purpose seasoning the same as seasoning salt?
A: No. Seasoning salt is primarily salt with minor additions of other spices. All-purpose seasoning is a herb-and-spice blend that may contain a small amount of salt, but it is not salt-forward. Caribbean all-purpose seasoning is meant to be used alongside salt, not as a direct replacement for it.
Q: How much all purpose seasoning should I use?
A: For a standard piece of chicken or a portion of fish, start with half a teaspoon to a teaspoon and adjust to taste. For a pot of soup serving four to six people, one to two teaspoons is a good starting point. All-purpose seasoning is versatile and forgiving, so start conservatively and add more as needed.
Q: Can I use all purpose seasoning on vegetables?
A: Yes, it works exceptionally well on roasted, grilled, and stir-fried vegetables. Toss vegetables with oil and all-purpose seasoning before roasting for a deeply flavourful result. It is particularly delicious on sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, and cauliflower.
Q: Is Cool Runnings All Purpose Seasoning available across Canada?
A: Yes. We ship nationwide from our facility in Toronto. You can order through coolrunningsfoods.ca for delivery to any province or territory in Canada.
Conclusion
All-purpose seasoning earns its place as a kitchen staple by doing more, more consistently, than almost any other single ingredient in the spice drawer. It seasons meat, enriches soups, elevates vegetables, anchors marinades, and brings the warm, herbal character of Caribbean cooking to every dish it touches.
At Cool Runnings Foods, our All-Purpose Seasoning is the product our customers reach for first and replace most often. Once it becomes part of your cooking routine, it is genuinely difficult to imagine cooking without it.
Explore our complete range of Caribbean spices, seasonings, and specialty ingredients and bring authentic Caribbean flavour to every meal you make.