Spices are the unsung heroes of the food world. They can mask the flavors of vegetables, bring out the best in meats, and turn any dish from bland to delicious. With a sprinkle of this and a dash of that, it's always important to have the right spices handy for all of your cooking endeavors. Here's 20 spices all aspiring chefs should keep in their cabinet at all thymes.

1. Basil

Known for being a main ingredient in pesto, Basil also goes great with pasta, chicken, and tomatoes. It can serve as a garnish for your dish or as a natural anti-inflammatory. You'll definitely want to keep this one stocked!

2. Cayenne Pepper

If you love spice, you'll love cayenne pepper. This spice is perfect for turning up the heat on any dish - from eggs to fish. It has several health benefits and is a main component in the notorious detox diet.

3. Chili Powder

Chili powder is a blend of spices - meaning you get more bang for your buck! It is a must-have when preparing chili, guacamole, and enchiladas.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is useful when making breakfast favorites like French toast, cinnamon sugar toast, and cinnamon rolls and is said to have many health benefits as well.

5. Cumin

Cumin can be used on meats and vegetables and can be used in practically any dish. Check out some awesome recipes here.

6. Curry

If you're planning on making a good curry, marinade, or peanut dipping sauce, this spice will definitely come in handy! It's packed with vitamins and minerals, such as E, K, B6, and iron and is a primary spice used in Indian and South Asian cuisines.

7. Garlic Powder

Necessity for sauces, Italian dishes, and soups of all types. It's always good to have a fresh head of garlic at the ready too.

8. Ginger

Ginger is great in tea and cookies. You can also pickle ginger to make an excellent palate cleanser.

9. Nutmeg

If you want to make memorable holiday dishes such as eggnog and pumpkin pie, nutmeg is essential!

10. Onion Powder

Delicious in dips, soups, and homemade hamburger patties. Learn how to make your own here.

11. Oregano

This spice can be found in many Italian, Greek, and Spanish dishes. It's always good to have some fresh and dehydrated oregano for cooking.

12. Paprika

Great for topping off your poached, scrambled, and deviled eggs. Sprinkle it on potatoes for color and if you plan on making any Hungarian dishes, you'll be lost without this spice (Hungary is obsessed with paprika)!

13. Parsley

It's not just a pretty garnish. Find out some other ways to use it here!

14. Pepper

Salt's partner in crime since the beginning of time.

15. Rosemary

Rosemary has a very powerful taste, so you don't have to use a lot of it when cooking. It's flavor goes well with lamb, as well as garlic and olive oil. If you like the rosemary taste, you can even put it in a citrus tea for a unique taste.

16. Salt

It's important to exercise caution when using salt because many ingredients used in cooking can contain high amounts of sodium (chicken bouillon cubes are one example). 90 percent of the sodium we consume is in the form of sodium chloride, also known as salt. It's used as a preservative in most cases; but it can also be used to bring out the flavor of any steak!

17. Tarragon

Tarragon is a spice that is indispensable in French cuisine. It is used primarily in egg, fish, and poultry dishes.

18. Thyme

Thyme goes great with stews, soups, tomato sauces, and bread as well as many other dishes!

19. Tony's

Tony Chachere's creole seasoning (or Tony's for short) might just be one of the best spice blend put on this Earth. When they say it goes great on everything, they're not lying. If the original is too salty for your liking, try the salt free blend!

20. Turmeric

With it's vibrant color, turmeric can bring any dish of yours to life. Here's 7 easy recipes you can try!

Make sure to stock up on these 20 spices and experiment with all the possibilities when cooking. Happy hunger games and may the odds be ever in your flavor!