Celery salt is a seasoned salt used to flavour food. The primary ingredient is table salt and the flavouring agent is ground seeds from celery [1] or its relative lovage. [2] It is also sometimes produced using dried celery or seed oleoresin. [3] [4]
Celery salt normally contains an anticaking agent such as silicon dioxide [1] or calcium silicate. [2]
As a vegetable, celery seeds have potassium as the dominant ion over sodium (ninefold more). [5]
Celery salt is an ingredient of the Bloody Mary cocktail and the Caesar cocktail. [6] It is also reported to be an ingredient in KFC's secret spice mix. [7] It is also commonly used to season the Chicago-style hot dog, the New York System wiener, salads, coleslaw and stews. It is a primary ingredient in Old Bay brand seasoning. [8]
Because sodium nitrate, a chemical that serves as a food preservative, occurs naturally in celery, celery salt is often used by food producers to prevent spoilage while avoiding listing sodium nitrate on the ingredients list directly. [9][ citation needed]