Ah, the magic of curing salts. If you are someone who is inclined to cure meat at home, curing salt can not only dry out moisture but also add flavor and extend shelf life. Sadly, it’s not always readily available in grocery stores.
When available, you can find it in the seasoning or spice section of the grocery store. But what should you do when you can’t locate it and all you get are blank stares upon inquiry?
This article discusses where to find curing salt in a grocery store. It also mentions the most popular supermarkets and online stores that sell it as well.
Looking For Curing Salt? Check This Aisle In The Supermarket
When checking your local grocery store for curing salt, head straight for the salt and seasoning aisle (where they stock the salt, seasonings, and different spice rubs). If lucky, you will find what you need right next to regular salt.
However, if you live in a small town, you may have to go to a few different stores to find curing salt. Luckily, there is a large variety of curing salt available online. So, if you cannot find it in-store, you can order some to be delivered to your doorstep.
Popular Grocery Stores And Unlikely Places That Sell Curing Salts
This article has already mentioned that many well-stocked grocery stores might not have curing salts, but there are many that do. Most of these come with the option of ordering them online as well.
Here is a list of the most likely places to find curing salt. Have a look.
Walmart
This may not come as a surprise that Walmart is on the list. You can find curing salt at Walmart in the herbs, spices, and seasoning mixes section.
If you do not have a Walmart store nearby, you can use the online store locator to find your nearest one. And, of course, you can buy curing salts from Walmart online. You can get it at a reasonable price too, as you will only require 1 ounce of curing salt for 25 pounds of meat.
Amazon
If there is one place where you can find curing salts of different brands relatively easily, it’s Amazon. The best thing about Amazon is that you can order curing salt #1 and curing salt #2 with just a few taps on your keyboard.
Curious about curing salt #1 and #2? We’ll get to those later.
World Spice Merchants
If you live in Seattle, stop by World Spice Merchants to pick up your curing salt. They also have a Montana outpost.
However, you do not have to be living in Seattle or Montana to cure meat using this particular brand. You have the ability to order their products online.
Kroger
Another excellent option to buy curing salt is Kroger. You can locate it in the same section as table salt in-store. You can also order it online from the spice and seasoning tab.
Wegmans
Wegmans is also an excellent option to explore when looking for curing salt. You can order your product online and pick it up in-store or opt for curbside pick-up.
On their website, you can enter your location and check the availability of the curing salt as if you were to shop for it in-store. This is a great feature that saves you a trip to the supermarket should your desired brand not be available.
Note: In both Kroger and Wegmans, the brand you will most likely find is the Morton Tender Quick meat cure. If you cannot find any other brand, including Morton Tender Quick, you can use their website to find a store near your location that stocks this product.
Local Butcher Shop
This may not be obvious to many consumers, but the best place to locate both types of curing salts (#1 and #2) is your local butcher shop. It makes sense; you can buy the meat and the curing salt from the same place. Thus, going to your local butcher might be your best bet to cure meat on your own.
Is Pink Curing Salt The Same As Himalayan Pink Salt?
While we are talking about curing salt and its availability, it is essential not to confuse it with Himalayan pink salt.
Pink curing salt is made by mixing sodium chloride (table salt) and sodium nitrite. It is usually dyed pink for a distinctive color so as not to be confused with regular salt. You can use it to make cured meat such as bacon, ham, and corned beef. The Himalayan salt variant is a Halite, which is almost 99% sodium chloride. It has trace elements to thank for its pink hue.
Types Of Curing Salts And How To Use Them
Curing Salt #1
This type of salt is also sold as Prague powder #1. With 6.25% sodium nitrite mixed in with table salt, this type is suitable for a shorter curing process. This is a good choice for any meat that will be eaten quickly after it is cooked like bacon, poultry, and fish.
Curing Salt #2
Meats like country ham and hard salami, which require a rather long period of curing, should be cured using curing salt #2, also known as Prague powder #2. This is used to dry cure meats, ones that do not require any cooking, like dried sausage or pepperoni.
Along with 6.25% of sodium nitrite, this contains about 1% of sodium nitrate. The rest is table salt. The reason it is used for a slow cure is that by the time you consume the meat, all the sodium nitrate should be broken down.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the information mentioned above will help you find curing salt at your local supermarket. All in all, if you cannot find curing salt in the salt and spice section of your grocery store, there are several popular supermarkets and online stores where you can locate it. Otherwise, you should check your local meat market or your local butcher shop.
When buying curing salt, make sure you check the label for the type and follow packet instructions to cure different cuts of meat.