The Kinder’s All-Purpose is different from The Blend in one important way: where The Blend is three ingredients doing one job (salt, pepper, garlic — season everything), the All-Purpose is a fuller blend with butter notes, paprika, and a light herb touch that makes it feel more complete. It’s the seasoning that handles the job whether you’re going to the grill or the air fryer, whether the protein is chicken or salmon or a tray of vegetables.
The design goal is restraint. The flavors are layered enough to be interesting but balanced enough that nothing dominates — you should taste the food first and the seasoning second. That’s why it works across so many applications without requiring a different jar for every protein.
How It Sits in the Kinder’s Lineup
The Blend is the minimalist version — use it when you want clean savory seasoning without additional character. The All-Purpose adds butter powder and paprika for a fuller profile that feels more like a complete seasoning rather than a simple salt-pepper-garlic formula. The Buttery Garlic and Herb is more herb-forward and specifically designed for the garlic-herb flavor profile. The All-Purpose is what you reach for when you don’t have a specific flavor direction in mind and want the seasoning to just be right.
What’s in It
Salt and black pepper form the base. Garlic powder and onion powder provide the savory foundation. Paprika adds color and mild sweetness that rounds the edges. Butter powder contributes the subtle richness that gives Kinder’s blends their signature feel — present but not dominant. Dried parsley or thyme adds a background herbal note. A small amount of sugar helps with caramelization and makes the blend feel complete without tasting sweet.
Where It Earns Its Place
It works on everything that needs a confident, balanced seasoning without a specific flavor direction. Chicken before it goes into the air fryer — this is probably the most-used application. Vegetables on a sheet pan. Potatoes any way. Eggs. Fish that doesn’t need to taste specifically citrusy or Cajun — just well-seasoned. Ground beef for burgers. Pork chops. The list is long because the design is intentionally broad.
It’s also a good base to build on. Start with the All-Purpose as the foundation, then add a specific element — smoked paprika for a smoky direction, cayenne for heat, more herbs for a Mediterranean lean. The balance of the base makes it easy to push in any direction without the additional ingredient feeling out of place.
Getting the Most Out of It
Season more generously than you think. All-purpose seasonings are calibrated to be pleasant at normal use, which means they’re not overwhelming at higher levels. Most home cooks underseasoning — a properly seasoned piece of chicken should have visible seasoning on the surface. If you’re looking at a light dusting, add more.
Apply before cooking rather than after for anything going into high heat. The seasoning blooms as it cooks, developing deeper flavor than raw spices sprinkled on finished food.
Storage
Half-pint mason jar, sealed, 12 months. The butter powder and paprika fade first. If the jar smells flat when you open it, make a fresh batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kinder’s All-Purpose Seasoning made of?
Kinder’s All-Purpose Seasoning contains salt, garlic, spices, butter, paprika, and natural flavors. This homemade version uses salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, butter powder, dried parsley or thyme, and a small amount of sugar — pantry spices that build the balanced, buttery, savory profile of the original.
What’s the difference between Kinder’s All-Purpose and The Blend?
Kinder’s The Blend is three ingredients: salt, black pepper, and granulated garlic. It’s a minimalist seasoning that does a focused job. The All-Purpose adds butter powder, paprika, herbs, and a small amount of sugar to create a fuller, more rounded flavor. The Blend is for when you want clean savory seasoning; the All-Purpose is for when you want that plus a bit more character and depth without committing to a specific flavor direction.
Can I use Kinder’s All-Purpose on everything?
Yes — that’s the design. It works on any protein (chicken, beef, pork, fish), any vegetable, potatoes, eggs, and even popcorn. The balance is specifically calibrated to complement food rather than define it, so it doesn’t clash with different cuisines or applications. The only place it’s less useful is in dishes where you need a very specific flavor profile — Cajun heat, Mediterranean herbs, Asian spices — where a more targeted blend is a better fit.
How much should I use?
More than you’d expect. Season enough to have visible seasoning on the surface of whatever you’re cooking. For chicken or steak, about a teaspoon per pound is a reasonable starting point for each side. For vegetables, toss with enough to lightly coat each piece. All-purpose seasonings are designed to be balanced, which means they’re not overwhelming even at higher quantities. If you’re looking at a light dusting, add more.
Why does this seasoning have butter powder in it?
Butter powder is what gives the Kinder’s blends their signature richness. It adds a rounded, slightly creamy quality that makes the blend feel more complete than garlic-salt-pepper alone. On hot food, the butter powder releases some fat that deepens the flavor and helps create a better crust. It’s the ingredient that makes a Kinder’s-style blend taste different from a generic all-purpose seasoning even when the other spices are similar.
Copycat Kinder’s All Purpose Seasoning
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1½ tablespoons granulated garlic
- 1½ tablespoons granulated onion
- 1 tablespoon paprika sweet or smoked
- 2¼ teaspoons coarse black pepper
- 2¼ teaspoons dried parsley
- 1½ teaspoons sugar
- 1½ teaspoons butter powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon dried lemon peel or lemon juice powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder mild
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
- Whisk thoroughly until evenly blended.
- Funnel into a half-pint mason jar, seal, and label.
- Store in a cool, dry pantry for up to 12 months.
- How to Use
- Steaks, burgers, chicken, pork
- Roasted veggies & potatoes
- Eggs, avocado toast, popcorn
- Sprinkle before grilling or roasting, or use as a finishing seasoning
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