Saltpeter can be replaced by a smaller amount of nitrite to get the same curing effect (most commercial cured meats do this), though a prolonged cure that converts nitrate into nitrite can develop more flavor. Tender Quick is not a direct substitute because it contains mostly salt.
What is saltpeter and where do you get it?
Where is saltpeter found? A compound with the chemical name potassium nitrate, saltpeter is also referred to as saltpetre. Historically mined for use in food preservation, gunpowder, fertilizers, pesticides, fireworks and herbicides, saltpeter is a naturally occurring nitrate that is found in caves.Dec 2, 2021
Can you buy saltpeter at the grocery store?
One of the most common sources of pure potassium nitrate is "stump remover." In the United States, you can find it at Lowes or Home Depot, among other places. Look for the Spectracide brand in those stores near the insecticides.Jun 3, 2020
Where do you find saltpeter?
Potassium nitrate, or saltpeter, is a naturally occurring mineral that is vital to the production of gunpowder. Found in limestone caves in the Arkansas Ozarks, it became one of the state's most important chemical industries during the Civil War due to the Confederacy's demand for arms.Apr 4, 2011
What is saltpeter used for?
Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) has been used in fertilizer and fireworks. It was also once used to cure meats. Although it has a reputation for lowering libido, this is a myth. Potassium nitrate can be dangerous if consumed.Sep 3, 2007
What happens if you eat saltpeter?
It was also once used to cure meats. Although it has a reputation for lowering libido, this is a myth. Potassium nitrate can be dangerous if consumed. It can cause kidney damage or anemia, as well as headaches and digestive distress.Sep 3, 2007
What is the common name for saltpeter?
The chemical compound potassium nitrate is a naturally occurring mineral source of nitrogen. It is a nitrate with chemical formula KNO3. Its common names include saltpetre (from Medieval Latin sal petrae: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt of Petra"), American English salt peter, Nitrate of potash and nitre.
Is pink salt the same as saltpeter?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mYMZqHqwzo
Is saltpeter the same as potassium nitrate?
Potassium nitrate is one of several nitrogen-containing compounds collectively referred to as saltpetre (or saltpeter in North America). Major uses of potassium nitrate are in fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants and fireworks.