I have read about using saltpeter to cure ham and I was wondering what exactly is it and where can you find it?

-- mark vaughn (dormark3@midwest.net), February 21, 2000

Answers

Try your pharmacy - that's where I found it. Good Luck Brad

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), February 22, 2000.

Ask your pharmist , they will probally have to order it.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), February 22, 2000.

Go to Walton Feed Old Timer's page and look up "Salt curing meat" (and anything else that looks interesting - it all does). They have info about saltpeter as well (Prague mixtures), and if you can't find it elsewhere you could order saltpeter from them.

You don't NEED saltpetre to preserve the meat (salt is enough), but it makes it keep an appetising red colour, instead of going sort of greyish (N.B. the spelling is right - I spell Australian English, rather than American).

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 22, 2000.

You don't NEED saltpetre to preserve the meat (salt is enough), but it makes it keep an appetising red colour, instead of going sort of greyish (N.B. the spelling is right - I spell Australian English, rather than American).

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 22, 2000.

Saltpeter plays more than a mere cosmetic role in dry curing meats that are to be kept at room temperature (unrefrigerated). While it is possible to use only ordinary salt (sodium chloride) to cure meats you have to use a great deal more care to do so safely in regards to botulism. Saltpeter (or one of the more modern equivalents) prevents botulinum growth during the curing process.

Now the so-called "cured meats" that we commonly find in the refrigerator and freezer cases don't need saltpeter because they're kept at too low a temeperature for botulism to be a concern. Curing agents play only a cosmetic role to keep the meat an attractive pink color rather than the unappealing gray they would be otherwise.

In spite of kids playing kitchen chemists and the ATF I can still buy saltpeter at my local drug store, the more olf-fashioned ones anyway. Failing that you may have to order it from a chemical supply house or one of the meat curing companies. I have several cured meats and sausage supplies companies listed in the Prudent Food Storage FAQ which you may read or download for free from the Providence Cooperative web site listed below.

........Alan.

The Providence Cooperative - free preparedness & survivalism FAQ's

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), February 23, 2000.