Frequently Asked Questions
1) How do you use Pleasoning®?
You can use any of our seasonings in place of other seasonings or salt and pepper when cooking and at the table. They are good on eggs, french fries, cottage cheese and hamburgers. Use them in casseroles, on chicken or other poultry, beef, pork, lamb, game, fish and seafood. Try them on your vegetables, in salads and soups. They even help add flavor to those frozen dinners! Pleasoning® gives you gourmet flavor made simple!
2) “All-Purpose” or “Original” What’s the difference?
They are two totally different blends. “Original” was first marketed in 1952, but Frank’s (the founder) inventiveness didn’t stop there. He came up with another “all-purpose” seasoning that we now call “All-Purpose” Pleasoning®. The “Original” does taste saltier than the “All-Purpose”. Both blends are used the same way. “All-Purpose” has become our most popular blend and is found on restaurant tables all over the Midwest. Let your taste buds decide which one you like more!
3) Why is salt listed first in the ingredients in some blends?
The ingredients on all Pleasoning® labels are listed by weight, not by volume. Salt is usually listed first because it is heavier, not because there is more. By volume, herbs and spices take up much more space than salt because they are light and fluffy!
4) What’s the sodium content of Pleasoning® blends?
ALL of our seasonings have much less sodium than table salt and most other seasoning blends, we even have some that are sodium-free! As a comparison: a ¼ teaspoon serving of table salt contains 590mg sodium (the recommended daily sodium intake is 2300mg). A serving of All-Purpose Pleasoning® has 82% less sodium than the same size serving of table salt. Our seasoning blends range in sodium content from 0mg to 230mg sodium per serving.
5) Why don’t you list the herbs and spices used in the ingredients?
The government does not require the listing of the various herbs & spices used in our blends. Each of our seasonings has its own secret recipe!
6) Do any of your products use Potassium Chloride?
NO! We do not use Potassium Chloride in any of our Pleasoning® blends.
7) Why do you use MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)?
MSG (an all natural ingredient) helps enhance the flavor of your food. Several of our seasonings use small amounts of MSG (remember “Accent”?). When you eat cold cuts, hot dogs, certain snack foods and canned soup, you consume a much greater amount of MSG than used in our blends. Tomatoes and other foods have their own “natural” MSG. Over half of our blends do not contain MSG. We list MSG in the ingredients if it is in a blend. Here is a link to our MSG free blends: MSG free
8) What is Pleasonings background?
Pleasoning® has been in business in La Crosse, WI since 1952. We are a small family owned and operated business. Frank Italiano, the founder, worked the business until age 83. His wife, Lenore, retired from Pleasoning® in 2007, Their daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law, Paul Boarman took over the business in 1998. It is now run by Kathy (2nd generation) and her son Dominic and daughter Jaime (3rd generation). They are the only employees. Please see our About Us page.
9) What stores sell Pleasoning?
Some Woodman’s Stores and all the Festival Foods in Wisconsin carry it!
10) Which blend did I use at the restaurant I ate at?
“All-Purpose” Pleasoning® is the blend that is on restaurant tables throughout the Midwest. It is available in many stores in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
We are a very specialized product so it might not be available in your local stores. Most of our business is done by mail order (mail, phone and the internet). You can order just 1 shaker or 100 shakers. Your order will be shipped out within 2 business days of receipt.
11) Do you have an Outlet Store?
Yes, our Outlet Store is located at 2109 Ward Avenue in La Crosse, WI. The store is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. At our Outlet Store you can taste any or all of our 40 different seasoning blends. So come in and try before you buy!
