Prague Salt

[senorkevin]

I have finally found prague salt here in mexico but the place I bought it from didn't believe me that there are 2 types!
I assume that it number 1.
Is there a way of testing it or something to find out which one it is?

[DanMcG]

Please don't assume, there should be a label on the packaging.
#1 will have a small percent nitrite, and #2 will be part nitrite and part nitrate.
In the states #1 is 6.25% nitrite the remainder is salt.

[senorkevin]

I asked in the shop if it number 1 or 2 and she said there is only 1 type (damn Mexicans!)
I checked the lable and it only said Prague salt or sal prage (in spanish!)

[DanMcG]

Dang, not only don't ya know if it's 1 or 2 but you don't know the concentration of the cure in the mix.
Could you get the manufacturers name off the label and call them?

[senorkevin]

To be honest she didn't know anything about it. She only told me it was for converving.
I could have told her that!

[vagreys]

I have finally found prague salt here in mexico but the place I bought it from didn't believe me that there are 2 types!
I assume that it number 1.
Is there a way of testing it or something to find out which one it is?

Make no assumptions. No, you do not have an easy way of telling which it might be, what is in it, or in what concentration(s). You need to know where it came from, see the original label, and contact the manufacturer. There are a number of providers of sal praga/sal de nitro/sal de cura in Mexico. None of the discussions I've seen, so far, discuss nitrite/nitrate concentrations, at all.

[senorkevin]

I asked but they didn't know. All they said was it is salt for conserving. So I might have to go back and find out. Another 4 hours travelling!

[senorkevin]

Does the concentration make a difference because I have seen many different rates of sodium nitrite depending on the make

[JerBear]

Yes, it makes a difference. If for instance you get the US style it has a fairly high amount of nitrite as compared to the EU version. If converting a recipe you'd want to adjust the salt vs. cure amounts to compensate for the difference.

[JerBear]

By the by....is the curing stuff you got pink? I've noticed that Cure #1 is dyed pink and Cure #2 often is not. I won't guarantee that's the case with your purchase but might help with the sleuthing.

[captain wassname]

What are you intending to use it for?

Jim

[senorkevin]

For anything that says cure #1

[wheels]

If they can't tell you or give you a spec for it, then I'd put it down to experience.

I thought that you'd found a US supplier that will ship it? With them, there'll be no problem, it'll be 6.25% nitrite.

Phil

[senorkevin]

.pI spoke with them but they can't guarantee that it will get through customs. The Prague salt I bought is 1 pound 50 per kilo! I will have to go back to the shop but it takes 2 hours to get there.
I might give the salt a go tomorrow and see what happens.
What is the worst that could happen?

[wheels]

What is the worst that could happen?

That's one that I'll leave to others. I don't calculate cures or advise about products unless I know what they are - I've tried to help people in the past in similar situations. It's alright until things go wrong!

Phil;