Pink curing salt turned yellow - safe to use?
I have a bag of pink curing salt (Prague powder / instacure) #1 that has been in a cupboard since November 2019. It has been stored in its original packaging: a zip-lock style bag, which I have opened and resealed several times. The seal has been reinforced with a clip. The powder has now turned yellow, and I can't figure out why or whether it is still safe to use. Curiously, a plastic container containing a mix of the curing salt with sugar and 'regular' salt has kept its color, while being stored next to the bag of discolored salt.
I know the pink color comes from food coloring which could oxidise or be affected by light, but why would this only have happened to one of the two containers?
The discolored salt:
The mix of curing salt with sugar and regular salt:
Best Answer
That's our brand "Home Curing UK" or "Surfy's". The colouring used at that time was a natural colouring. Unfortunately the colour deteriorates over time due to the action of light and the nitrites, however the loss of colour does NOT in any way affect the efficacy of the product, 100% guaranteed.
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Quick Answer about "Pink curing salt turned yellow - safe to use?"
Yes. The pink is a dye to distinguish it from regular table salt. So no worries about safety.Can you use expired curing salt?
That said, cure #1 is mostly salt, plus 6.25% sodium nitrite. As long as you keep it dry and tightly sealed, it should be good for a long time. If the package is damaged or it clumps when you open it, though, something besides water may have gotten in, so toss it and get some new.How long is pink curing salt good for?
Storage. Keep Prague powder #1 in a cool dry location. Moisture will ruin the powder, so do not let it get wet. Some say the shelf life is indefinite as long as it is kept dry while others recommend a shelf life of one year.Can curing salt make you sick?
Pink salt is toxic to humans but is not present in finished, cured meats in a high enough dose to cause illness or death. Pink salt is dyed pink in color so it cannot be confused with table salt. This dyed salt imparts characteristic color and flavor to cured meats. Do not use pink salt like regular table salt.Why is pink curing salt toxic?
When added to meat for curing, the nitrites in pink curing salt are converted to nitric oxide during the curing process, a compound that is not harmful. In short, home cooks do not have to worry about using pink curing salt, as the amount of nitrite in cured meats is not harmful or toxic at all.Difference Between Sodium Nitrite, Nitrate \u0026 Pink Curing Salt
More answers regarding pink curing salt turned yellow - safe to use?
Answer 2
Yes. The pink is a dye to distinguish it from regular table salt. So no worries about safety.
Here are two of the folks from America's Test Kitchen discussing it from 1:00 to 1:50.
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