Two special mixtures are employed to make it easy to add nitrites and nitrates in very low but sufficient concentration:
- Prague Powder #1, or curing salt, is a blend of 6 percent sodium nitrite and 94 percent sodium chloride, or regular table salt. It is colored pink so it will not be confused with regular salt, and thus is t is often called tinted curing mix (TCM). It is also sold under various trade names, such as InstaCure I.
- Prague Powder #2 is similar to Prague Powder #1 except that it contains nitrates in addition to nitrites. It is used in curing products that have a long curing and during period.