Both celery seed and celery salt can provide your food with a concentrated celery flavor. In both cases, you will be able to get an intense burst of flavor but without the fibrous bulk of celery leaves and stalks. If you are trying to choose between these two spices, you may be wondering if their flavors are the same or if you can use one in place of the other. Let’s compare celery seed and celery salt to help you decide which to use.
Table of Contents
- How do celery seed and celery salt differ in flavor?
- Can you use celery seed in place of celery salt and vice versa?
- Do celery seed and celery salt provide the same or similar nutritional benefits?
- What are the best uses for celery seed? Celery salt?
- Must-read related posts
How do celery seed and celery salt differ in flavor?
Celery seeds are ground and combined with salt to make celery salt. This results in celery seed and celery salt having similar flavors, except that celery salt offers the flavor of two spices instead of one.
It is also important to remember that the celery flavor in celery salt is less concentrated than in pure ground celery seed. You will have to use more of it to increase the celery flavor in your dish. Of course, this means using more salt as well.
Can you use celery seed in place of celery salt and vice versa?
Celery seed can be used in place of celery salt with no trouble whatsoever. All you need to do is blend it with salt in the correct ratio, ranging from 1:1 to 3:1, with the higher number representing the salt.
Using celery salt in place of celery seed is more problematic since it involves adding more salt to your dish, along with the celery seed. If you want to increase the celery flavor, you cannot do so without also increasing the salt content. As long as you are not on a sodium-restricted diet, celery salt should be a fine celery seed substitute in most cases; however, you should adjust any other sources of salt in the dish to compensate.
Do celery seed and celery salt provide the same or similar nutritional benefits?
Celery seed provides a range of nutrients that includes flavonoids, coumarins, and linoleic acid. This spice also provides a range of minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc. Celery seeds are thought to be beneficial for reducing cholesterol, inflammation, and for liver protection.
Celery salt contains all of the nutrients in celery seed, but in lower quantities per serving. A teaspoon of McCormick brand celery salt provides 290 mg of sodium per 1/4 tsp serving, which is about 12 percent of your recommended intake of sodium per day.
What are the best uses for celery seed? Celery salt?
Celery seed’s flavor pairs well with creamy dishes like coleslaw and potato salad. Because it offers a purer and more concentrated burst of celery flavor, celery seed can be used as a substitute for celery in many dishes. For example, use ground celery seeds alongside onion and bell pepper to make a version of the Cajun trinity. Use it in vinaigrettes to provide the flavor without the bulk that celery leaves and stalks would bring.
Celery salt can be used in all of the above applications if you make adjustments for the salt contained in the blend. Celery salt is preferred over celery seed powder for Bloody Mary cocktails though you can use the latter to make a low-sodium version of the drink.
Must-read related posts
- Celery Powder Vs. Celery Salt: How do they differ?
- Discover Tasty Celery Seed Uses: Want new ways to use this spice? Start here.
- What’s A Good Celery Seed Substitute? What are your options when you have none in the spice rack?