Using sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride) for salting fish
Has ammonium chloride have ever been used in any culture/cuisine instead of regular salt for salting fish, or for curing meat in general? How about pickled vegetables or any other food?
If no, why not?
I was wondering because I like the taste of salty liquorice, and the sal ammoniac itself tastes a lot like regular salt. Could it then be used in place of regular salt?
Best Answer
A cursory internet and pubmed search did not yield any historical/traditional/cultural food-ties to this quaternary ammonium salt compound for me. Personally, I would not feel comfortable using this in a home setting because it can be toxic in small quantities.
To my knowledge, ammoniac is used in agriculture (with pesticides and as an industrial equipment "cleaner") in salt form, it can be also be seen as a gas. Please remember, the industrial applications for NH4Cl are implemented in conjunction with other stringent regulations. The end consumer contact level of NH4Cl cannot exceed 48ppm in the US.
Being able to test the end product for NH4Cl residues requires lab equipment and an understanding of how to run liquid chromatography-tandem mass spec, or other specialized tests.
NH4Cl is also administered as part of medical treatments for metabolic alkalosis(acid-base balance issues), and is primarily absorbed in the GI tract. Patients undergoing treatments using NH4Cl are very closely supervised in the hospital because of the potent effect is has on the human system. Check out the pubchem site on this chemical. Look at the side effects of overdoses, they are NOT FUN. It really takes less than you think. http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=25517#x332
I fear that if you used this to cure meat or in a way that leaves more than 48ppm in the final product, that you may begin to experience serious health complications.
You also mention in your question that you like the taste of salty licorice/liquorice?, and the wiki source does say that it is used as a flavoring agent in liquorice...but there is no mention of the final concentration of this compound in the candy. If the anstringency/tounge numbing is what you are after, USE SOMETHING ELSE. Honestly, I would tell anyone I care about to NOT USE QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALTS AT HOME, IN FOOD PRODUCTS.
Perhaps incorporating karela (bitter melon) in a brine? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_chloride
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Is sal ammoniac and ammonium chloride same?
ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), also called sal ammoniac, the salt of ammonia and hydrogen chloride.Is sal ammoniac poisonous?
Exposure to Ammonium Chloride is moderately hazardous, causing irritation, shortness of breath, cough, nausea, and headache. Most exposure is a result of contact with the fume form of this chemical (Ammonium Muriate Fume and Sal Ammoniac Fume), which is a finely divided particulate dispersed in the air.Is ammonium chloride safe to eat?
Compounds such as ammonium hydroxide, ammonium phosphate and ammonium chloride are considered safe in small amounts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted ammonium hydroxide status as a GRAS, or Generally Recognized as Safe, substance in 1974.What is sal ammoniac used for?
In its naturally occurring mineralogic form, it is known as sal ammoniac. The mineral is commonly formed on burning coal dumps from condensation of coal-derived gases. It is also found around some types of volcanic vents. It is mainly used as fertilizer and a flavouring agent in some types of liquorice.Sal Ammoniac How To!!!
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Answer 2
Just because the word "salt" is in the name does not mean it is meant to be edible by humans. In chemistry, the term refers to the product of a neutralization reaction between an acid and a base. These will take many forms and are, in general, inedible.
I would not use an unknown compound just because it is in an ingredient list. After all, silicon dioxide is in many foods as an "anti-caking agent," but laymen commonly call it "sand."
The answer to your question is no, I can find no instances of it being used in cooking or recipes.
Answer 3
Naturally occurring Ammonium Chloride is vey safe in small quantities indeed it is useful for human consumption and in some Asian countries it is used to treat Liver diseases its called Naushadar in India and in Europe Norway, Sweeden, Gemrany it is used in candies as salmiak or Salty Licorice. (Its Not available in US, US Salmiak Candies are made with Sugar) So why not with fish, it can be used to make it salty and sour flavor, but must be used in small quantities.
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