Celery Juice Powder

[bpnclark]

Anyone use Celery Juice Powder instead of Sodium Nitrite? Is it the same?

[Habanero Smoker]

Basically the end result is the same. Most plants and animals (including ourselves) have nitrates stored in our cells. Nitrates are one of the most abundant compounds found on earth. Celery is one of those plants that contains a higher level of nitrates then most plants, and because of this it when it is processed it can be used for curing meats. As for myself, I would put celery juice powder in the same category as saltpeter.


Nitrates do not cure anything, it has to be broken down into nitrites. This is done by certain organisms that are present on the meat and moisture. How fast it will cure, depends on the among of these organisms present at the time the nitrate is applied. Once it is in the form of nitrites, the nitrites begin the curing action by further breaking down and converting to nitric oxide, the chemical that produces the reddish color in meat, and give it that distinctive flavor. Because they need to be converted, curing with nitrates takes longer, and your finished product may have some residual nitrates that haven't converted left in the meat.

Sodium nitrite is much faster since it is already in the form of a nitrite, and doesn't have to rely on the presences of certain organism on the meat. It begins to cure right away.

Which curing method you use, I feel the end result is the same. Sodium nitrite is more reliable and produces more consistent results. If you fee organic form of nitrate is safer, the celery powder is an option, but saltpeter is also an organic form of nitrate. Here is a link describing some of the common curing salts. You should read the description of Sodium (Potassium) Nitrate and Sodium (Potassium) Nitrites to understand the difference between the two, and how they are commonly used.
Curing Salts

[squirtthecat]

I just wanted to give this post a bump...

Sausagemaker.com is now selling Celery Juice Powder cure.

[NePaSmoKer]

I have used it. IMHO you might as well smoke celery sticks  :-\

Im wanting smoked sausage not celery.

[squirtthecat]

I have used it. IMHO you might as well smoke celery sticks  :-\

Im wanting smoked sausage not celery.

So it really keeps the celery flavor, huh?    Interesting.

[NePaSmoKer]

I have used it. IMHO you might as well smoke celery sticks  :-\

Im wanting smoked sausage not celery.

So it really keeps the celery flavor, huh?    Interesting.

Yeah it was rather nasty and i used less than what was called for.

[squirtthecat]

10-4.   I'll avoid it!

[NePaSmoKer]

10-4.   I'll avoid it!

Best to just stay with the normal cures. My peso worth  :D

[squirtthecat]

Best to just stay with the normal cures. My peso worth  :D

Gracias, mi amigo!

[BuyLowSellHigh]

I hadn't seen this earlier - was away on vacation.  Excellent write-up HabS!