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Recipes => What's Cooking? => Topic started by: ccase39 on October 01, 2016, 11:05:19 PM

Title: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: ccase39 on October 01, 2016, 11:05:19 PM
Can someone explain,  in laymens terms, the differences and pros or cons of curing with each? Never fully understood it.
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: ibbones on October 02, 2016, 04:35:08 PM
 :-XMe too?  Not sure what is what.
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: Nimrod on October 02, 2016, 05:48:59 PM
I think I've read some explanations that you might search on this forum but here's link to a great article:

http://barbecuebible.com/2014/08/26/guide-nitrites-prague-powder-curing-salts/
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: DivotMaker on October 03, 2016, 08:29:19 PM
That BBQ Bible article is about as simple of an article as you're gonna get.  If you use any of these, please take the time to research how to use them properly.  Some of them can be quite toxic, if used in greater proportions than called for.  #1 is especially potent stuff, but is totally safe, in the right quantity.
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: SconnieQ on October 04, 2016, 12:04:28 AM
That is a GREAT article. Everything clearly explained all in one place. People here might not realize it because many of us have been smoking for some time, but home smoking is one of the latest food trends. Raichlen's Project Smoke series has brought a lot of accurate and simply explained information to the web. Written and presented in a professional manner. I especially enjoyed the reference to the smoke ring "hack" using TenderQuick. We love that here. Even though smoke rings are no longer supposed to be used as judging criteria in competition BBQ, I'm sure it is hard for the judges to overlook. Can you imagine a brisket without a smoke ring winning first place? Me neither.
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: DivotMaker on October 04, 2016, 09:44:56 PM
That is a GREAT article. Everything clearly explained all in one place. People here might not realize it because many of us have been smoking for some time, but home smoking is one of the latest food trends. Raichlen's Project Smoke series has brought a lot of accurate and simply explained information to the web. Written and presented in a professional manner. I especially enjoyed the reference to the smoke ring "hack" using TenderQuick. We love that here. Even though smoke rings are no longer supposed to be used as judging criteria in competition BBQ, I'm sure it is hard for the judges to overlook. Can you imagine a brisket without a smoke ring winning first place? Me neither.

+1!  Took me awhile to figure out the smoke ring "hacks!"  Wish I'd have seen this sooner! >:(
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: Nimrod on October 05, 2016, 02:23:06 PM
+1!  Took me awhile to figure out the smoke ring "hacks!"  Wish I'd have seen this sooner! >:(
Of course the writer is referring to the "Unscrupulous competitors on the barbecue circuit...painting a smoke ring" and not the honest, upright, smokin circuit folks of much higher integrity and moral standing who are merely perfecting their craft for sustenance and fellowship 8)
Title: Re: Sodium nitrate vs nitrite
Post by: DivotMaker on October 05, 2016, 07:59:08 PM
+1!  Took me awhile to figure out the smoke ring "hacks!"  Wish I'd have seen this sooner! >:(
Of course the writer is referring to the "Unscrupulous competitors on the barbecue circuit...painting a smoke ring" and not the honest, upright, smokin circuit folks of much higher integrity and moral standing who are merely perfecting their craft for sustenance and fellowship 8)

Hehe...yeah, he does point that out, Dave.  If I were a competitor, on the BBQ circuit, and limited to wood and/or charcoal fires like they are, I would also consider the use of TQ as unscrupulous!  Traditional BBQ makes traditional smoke rings (but many of us know even that is not always the case). 

I consider us part of the latter folks you spoke of. ;) 8)