Celery powder facts for kids

Celery powder is a special kind of powder made from fresh celery. It's created by drying celery and then grinding it into a fine powder. People use it in two main ways: as a seasoning to add flavor to food, and as a natural way to keep food fresh, especially in organic meat products. You can buy celery powder from stores, or sometimes people even make it at home using a food dehydrator. Some types of celery powder are made from celery juice instead of the whole plant.

How Celery Powder Helps Preserve Food

Celery powder is really useful because it contains something called nitrate, which is found naturally in celery. To make it even better for preserving food, this powder is often treated with tiny bacteria. These bacteria change the natural nitrate into nitrite.

In places like the United States, this treated celery powder is often used to "cure" organic meat products. Curing is a process that helps preserve meat and gives it a special flavor and color. The USDA, which sets rules for food, allows celery powder to be used in organic meats because the nitrate and nitrite come from a natural source (celery). They don't allow artificial nitrates or nitrites to be added directly to organic foods.

You might find celery powder used to cure popular foods like hot dogs and bacon. When celery juice is used to make celery powder, it can have a good amount of nitrate, sometimes around 2.75%. This natural ingredient helps keep your food safe and tasty!