Maybe a silly question...

[devo]

"Often I've had people tell me that their grandparents didn't use cures when smoking meats, since some people feel cures are not necessary. Would a person so young really know what his grandparents were doing? Probably not. Or better still, back in the good ol' days, how many people died of natural causes? An excuse a physician would give you when he couldn't diagnose why the person died, no matter how old or young the patient was, was that the cause was "natural". Fortunately for us the physician today can easily diagnose food poisoning problems, and this book was written to help avoid them."

Reference: Great Sausage Recipes And Meat Curing by Rytek Kutas

[viper125]

Lol still using natural causes. Their is a reason the call them practitioners. 

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[KyNola]

Well, the wheels flew off of this wagon rather quickly! ::)

[Habanero Smoker]

My Kutas book is out on loan, but I kind of remember that statement. It was about how some  state how there ancestors never used a cure, and lived to be of old age. I like that book, but like most sources not everything is 100% accurate. For example, the statement that it is easy to diagnose food poising is wrong. I have several family members who are EMT's, RN's and LPN's, and they tell me it is almost impossible to diagnose most food passioning accurately. It symptoms are so much like the flu, or several other illnesses, that you need to have several people who have eaten from the same source to become ill. Most people who come down with food poisoning often think they have a flu or stomach virus. I also feel his statement that if you smoke it you must cure it, is not 100% accurate. A third issue I have with his book, is that his amounts of cure he uses to cure meat are on the high end.

I feel this is one of those threads, that not matter what is stated, some are going to read into what they want.

Thanks Habs,

Another thing I just remembered is sea salt contains naturally occuring nitrite. I don't know what the concentration % is. I sure it's lower than the amount of cure #1 we use. A product containing sea salt would't list nitrite.

What every amount of nitrite or nitrates your sea salt contains will be negligible. Concentrated celery juice is different. Compared to most plants it has a high level of nitrates. It is so high that you can purchase celery powder to use as a curing agent. It is suppose to be a natural way to cure your meat, but my position is nitrates are nitrates; whether they are natural or synthetic.

[viper125]

Didn't mean any thing negative here.  It's simply all my life Ive hear of nitrates and nitrite and every thing else MAY KILL YOU.  Even the things considered healthy by one group is unhealthy by another. Now I Know nitrates and nitrites can be dangerous. But like said is made naturally in body and other foods and plants. So you can not avoid them. I'm one of those that remember my grand father doing it. I remember he used mostly salt and smoke. Some also used salt peter and that. But my grand father didn't. My grandma was full blooded Cherokee and grand pa was half. They were true hillbillys. No trusting completely in others ways. Salt and sugar and smoke was their way. What they could do with roots and berrys would spin your head. But thats another story. LOL I was old enough to remember,just wish I had been smart enough to been more interested then.

[NePaSmoKer]

Jeeezus


I must be dead?

[Salmonsmoker]

My intent wasn't to make the wheels fall off the wagon. I was just trying to add information to Fernslinger's question. I use cure #1 and 2. Naturally occuring and produced nitrite are chemically identical. I didn't know that celery juice had high concentrations of nitrate. So there you go... I passed on a little information and got some back. ;D

[viper125]

Me either! I appreciate the info. I am not as knowledgeable as I would like to be on cures. But some times I don't respond or ask because
People think I'm arguing or being negative to what they say. But you can be sure that's not the case. I for one don't nor ever will know it all. Hell I forget more in a day then I ever learn i a month. LOL

[viper125]

Oh by the way! If any one ever thinks so please email me! I SURE DONT MEAN TO OFFEND.

[Habanero Smoker]

Me either! I appreciate the info. I am not as knowledgeable as I would like to be on cures. But some times I don't respond or ask because
People think I'm arguing or being negative to what they say. But you can be sure that's not the case. I for one don't nor ever will know it all. Hell I forget more in a day then I ever learn i a month. LOL

I never took it that you or Salmonsmoker were being negative. The forum is for discussion.

Glad to see everyone is still alive and kicking.

[devo]

In my learning curve I have done some pretty dumb things with cure #1. I even went as far as to post a recipe with not the recommended amount of cure for which I got a new a** hole ripped out from 10.5. He was right for giving me heck and since then I make sure if I post anything with cure it is with in the recommended amounts. Why put your family and friends at risk for a hobby?? There are good books out there for standards and Rytek Kutas one of them.

[viper125]

LOL Yea Hab and him both got me.  But always glad some one catches my mistakes. Not that i ever make any! LOL

[Fernslinger]

I always knew about the whole muscle thing and bacteria being on the outside. I wasnt putting the cure being needed with the low cabinet temps of the smoker....

[slowpoke]

You guys are great. Thanks for the info.