The best celery salt substitutes

Celery salt is a food seasoning that you can use in a multitude of dishes and cocktails. It works best in savory dishes and has a unique flavor made up of a mixture of ground celery seeds and salt. 

Still, the flavor of celery usually has an underlying taste, which makes celery salt a lot like regular salt that stands out because of its celery-tinged aftertaste. 

If you’re looking for a celery salt substitute, you probably want to get a replacement with a similar peppery and green taste that ends with a mildly bitter taste. You might even want to use a combination of ingredients to getting the best celery salt replacement for your dish or drink. 

Here are some of the best replacements that you can opt for.

Summary Table for Article Introduction:

Substitute	Flavor/Aroma	Suggested Ratio
Celery Seeds and Salt	True alternative	Equal parts ground celery seeds and salt
Dill Salt	Similar herb family	Equal parts dill seed powder and salt
Fresh Celery	Strong celery flavor	Three celery stalks with regular salt
Caraway Seeds	Sweet, flavorful	Same amount as celery salt
Essential Oil from Celery Seeds and Salt	Celery-flavored salt	Small amount of essential oil with salt

Best Celery Salt Substitutes 

1. Celery seeds and salt

Naturally, the best substitute you can go for is a mixture of celery seeds and salt that you can make on your own. 

All you have to do is mix around the same amount of ground celery seeds and salt together. This is a bit different from store-bought seasoning, which has a higher salt content. However, with this homemade variety, you’ll get a stronger celery flavor.

You can grind the seeds in a spice grinder to get the same consistency. To add this mixture to your recipe, you can use the same amount as pre-made celery salt called for in your recipe. 

If you’re hesitant about the stronger celery flavor, you’ll want to start with a smaller quantity first.

• Truest alternative to celery salt.
• Suggested Ratio: Mix equal amounts of ground celery seeds and salt.

2. Dill salt

Dill salt or dill weed belongs to the same family of herbs as celery and coriander. This means it also has a very similar taste and works great as a substitute. 

Alternatively, you can make a mixture of ground dill seed powder and salt and create your own dill salt. You should use an equal amount of dill seed and salt to create the mixture.

This works best in salads and barbeque rubs. You can use the same amount of dill salt as the celery salt required in your recipe for the best results. In other words, if the recipe calls for two tablespoons of celery salt, you can add two tablespoons of dill salt to it.

• Similar family of herbs as celery.
• Suggested Ratio: Equal parts of dill seed powder and salt; use the same amount as celery salt.

3. Fresh celery

Celery salt is noted for the tinge of celery it brings to normal, everyday salt. That’s why using fresh celery isn’t a bad choice. 

The flavor of celery comes from its stalks, which is why you might have trouble adding it as a seasoning in your drinks, which require a powdered form of salt. 

However, you can use it in dishes such as soups, where the celery will blend in and bring the same unique flavor to the recipe.

Fresh celery is typically used in a recipe by dehydrating it in a dehydrator. You can also dry it in the toaster at 135 degrees F. 

When replacing it with celery salt, start with a smaller amount, like three celery stalks, and add regular salt to compensate for the difference in flavor. 

Keep in mind that the celery’s concentration is much more in this option, so it will ideally have a stronger taste.

• Stronger celery flavor.
• Suggested Ratio: Use three celery stalks with regular salt to taste.

4. Caraway seeds

Caraway seeds are another celery replacement. They have a sweet, flavorful taste that brings a unique twist to every dish. They are perfect for replacing celery salt in meat-based dishes, but are generally not used in drinks and making a Bloody Mary because of their slightly different taste. 

You can add the same amount of caraway seeds as the recipe calls for celery salt. For instance, if it requires a teaspoon of celery salt, you can add one teaspoon of caraway seeds instead.

• Sweet, flavorful taste.
• Suggested Ratio: Same amount of caraway seeds as celery salt.

5. Essential oil from celery seeds and salt

You can almost always just use regular salt to replace celery salt if you cannot find any other substitute. But if you’re craving the unique and slightly bitter celery flavor that comes with celery salt, the replacements mentioned above should help you out. 

Remember to start with a smaller quantity, especially if you’re working with an unfamiliar ingredient, and add more to your liking.

• Similar to using regular salt with a celery flavor.
• Suggested Ratio: Small quantity of essential oil with salt, adjust to taste.