what are the substitutes for curing salt (2024)

Aaron &. April 12, 2023

Curing salt is a type of salt that is used to preserve meat and prevent spoilage by inhibiting the growth of bacteria. While it is an important ingredient in many meat-based dishes, some people prefer to avoid it due to health concerns or dietary restrictions. Luckily, there are several substitutes that you can use instead of curing salt:

1. Sea Salt: Sea salt contains natural nitrates that can help preserve meat, but it is less potent than curing salt. You can use sea salt in place of curing salt by simply increasing the amount of salt you use in the recipe.

2. Celery Juice or Powder: Celery juice or powder contains natural nitrates that can be used to preserve meat. When using celery juice or powder as a substitute for curing salt, use 1 ounce of celery juice or powder for every pound of meat.
Fun cooking to visit https://aaronandmartinfoodiepark.blogspot.com/

3. Pink Salt: Pink salt is a type of salt that contains a mixture of regular salt and sodium nitrite. It is often used as a substitute for curing salt and can be used in the same proportions as curing salt.

4. Herb Mixtures: You can create your own herb mixture to use as a substitute for curing salt. Some common herbs used for preserving meat include thyme, rosemary, and sage. Mix the herbs with sea salt and rub the mixture onto the meat before cooking or curing.

It's essential to be cautious when substituting curing salt, as it plays an essential role in preserving meat and preventing foodborne illnesses. If you are unsure about using a substitute or are new to curing meat, it's best to consult a trusted recipe or a professional butcher.

HalfPint March 21, 2023

You can skip it but understand that the curing salt is there primarily as a preservative. If you skip it, you'll need to keep the cured product in the freezer or in the fridge.

Since celery has a lot of naturally-occurring nitrates, you can try to use that, but I cannot tell you how or the amount to use. I'm sure someone has experimented with using celery. Might need to do a deep dive. I looked at few years ago and didn't find a lot but this was prior to Covid, so...it's worth another look.