Calcium chloride as substitute for sodium chloride
My husband is on a low sodium diet. I have been thinking that Calcium chloride might work for making pickles, smoked fish, etc, because the sodium is the bad actor, not the chloride. Who knows about this?
Best Answer
This is an interesting idea. I have heard of using some potassium chloride to make reduced sodium pickles, but never calcium chloride. So I did some googling:
Here is a PDF from OragonState that says you can use potassium chloride it for quick pickles, but not brined pickles. I'm assuming calcium chloride can technically do the same, but I don't know what the conversion ratio from table salt is. They say:
Reduced-sodium salts (such as potassium chloride) may be used in quick pickle recipes. However, the pickles may have a slightly different taste. Don't use reduced-sodium salt in brined pickles or sauerkraut - these products need a specific amount of sodium to control bacterial growth and to give a firm texture.
Also, I found several recipes for "no salt pickles" that are just brined with pickling spices with no salt at all.
As for smoking fish: it should work but I would be VERY CAREFUL. Calcium chloride is extremely hygroscopic. It is used as an industrial desiccant. You may end up with petrified fish.
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Quick Answer about "Calcium chloride as substitute for sodium chloride"
Calcium chloride is substituted for sodium chloride in foods to provide a salty flavor while reducing the foods' sodium content. In food processing, calcium chloride provides a longer shelf life for fruits and vegetables and also tenderizes meat.Is calcium chloride the same as sodium chloride?
Summary \u2013 Calcium Chloride vs Sodium Chloride Both these compounds contain chloride ions in their structure, but in different ratios. The key difference between calcium chloride and sodium chloride is that one calcium chloride molecule has two chlorine atoms whereas one sodium chloride molecule has one chlorine atom.Why is calcium chloride used instead of sodium chloride?
Summary. Calcium chloride is an effective deicer, working at temperatures below most competing products, and is significantly more effective than sodium chloride because of its ability to extract moisture from its surroundings and to cause exothermic or heat generating reactions.What can I substitute for sodium chloride?
Using other mineral salts as substitutes for sodium chloride is possible including potassium chloride, potassium sulphate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulphate, magnesium chloride, concentrated dairy minerals, and reduced sodium sea salts.Is calcium chloride healthier than sodium chloride?
In a paper published in the Journal of Food Science, Ross and colleagues looked at salt blends that use less sodium chloride and include other salts like calcium chloride and potassium chloride. Both of those salts have no adverse health effects on people, Ross said.What Happens If You Switch From Sodium Chloride (Salt) to Potassium Chloride? | The Cooking Doc®
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Answer 2
The wikipedia article of CaCl2 lists it as generally regarded as safe by the FDA and mentions the exact use you are going for. However, it may taste significantly saltier than sodium chloride by mass so you'll want to be careful about amounts.
Answer 3
you can go to the commercially available low sodium salt. Using calcium chloride alone in substitution of sodium chloride is a bad idea.
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