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Curing Salt Calculator

Calculate Prague powder #1 and #2 dosages for meat curing. Ensures safe nitrite levels within USDA guidelines.

Inputs

kg

Total weight of meat to be cured

#1 for bacon/ham/sausage, #2 for salami/prosciutto, equilibrium for precision

ppm

Target inbound sodium nitrite concentration (USDA max: 156 ppm for most products, 200 ppm for dry-cured)

%

Target kosher/sea salt as percentage of meat weight (typical: 2-3%)

Results

Curing Salt

12.48 g

Kosher Salt

113.3 g

Total Salt125.0 g
Actual Nitrite156 ppm

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Tips

1
Prague #1 (6.25% nitrite) is for short cures. Prague #2 (with nitrate) is for long-aged products like salami.
2
Never exceed 200 ppm ingoing nitrite — it's both a safety limit and a legal maximum.
3
Use a precision scale. Curing salt amounts are small but critical for food safety.

Open formula

Cure Salt (g) = Meat (g) × Target ppm / (Nitrite% × 10,000)

Calculates curing salt needed based on meat weight and target nitrite concentration. Prague #1 contains 6.25% sodium nitrite.

USDA maximum: 156 ppm for most products, 200 ppm for immersion cures.

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