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sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 12:05 am
by senorkevin
What is the difference between sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate?
Which one would you use?

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 11:00 am
by NCPaul
You don't need either of those. Potassium sorbate can be used in bacon curing but is not necessary.

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 1:46 pm
by wheels
I wouldn't use either.

Phil

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 2:14 pm
by senorkevin
What would you use?
What is the difference?

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 4:29 pm
by wheels
senorkevin wrote:What would you use?
What is the difference?


In what?

I use cure #1 and sodium ascorbate (a vitamin C salt) in bacon - the sodium ascorbate IMO is optional.

In ham, I use cure #1 mainly, and sometimes add saltpetre. I always suggest that people use cure #2 when they want nitrate as well as nitrite though - it's simpler.

I guess that the major difference is that these protect against botulism poisoning whereas others don't.

Phil

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 4:40 pm
by senorkevin
is the sodium ascorbate a replacement for salt? I have just bought a piece of leg to brine to have a go at making ham. Do you have a brine recipe? The leg has no bone just meat and a little fat.
For bacon this bloke told me I should use sodium erythorbate, sodium benzoate/potassium sorbate and phosphate to enhance the taste and preserve, aswell as cure #1

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 5:02 pm
by wheels
I'd forget the sodium benzoate/potassium sorbate.

Sodium erythorbate is used in the same way as sodium ascorbate, it's a Vit C salt just the same. Phosphate 'locks' water into the meat, it's used commercially to sell you water at meat prices. Some people use it to make a more juicy meat: I like my ham drier, so don't.

There's a couple of brine recipes on my blog, and many more here.

Re: sodium benzoate / potassium sorbate

PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 5:10 pm
by senorkevin
how long could I store the bacon without sodium benzoate/potassium sorbate?
Ok thanks I will take a look.