Does Old Bay Have Salt? – Answered

Old Bay is a seasoning made by the spice giant, McCormick. It is a popular choice used to liven up seafood like shrimp, fish, and crab. However. many people also prefer it to season other meats like chicken.

Here will help readers learn a little bit more about this seasoning. Specifically, whether it has salt. Let’s take a look at its ingredients.

Classic Old Bay Ingredients

Old Bay Classic Seasoning is made of the following ingredients:

  • Celery Salt (Salt, Celery Seed)
  • Spices (Including Red Pepper and Black Pepper)
  • Paprika

As you can see from the ingredients listed above, Classic Old Bay Seasoning has salt. It is at least partially derived from celery salt made from celery seed and salt.

Other Old Bay Seasoning Ingredients

In addition to Classic Old Bay, McCormick also makes Hot, Blackened, Lemon & Herb, Garlic & Herb, and 30% Less Sodium Seasonings. The ingredients for these products are reflected below.

In summary, all Old Bay products listed contain salt:

Old Bay Hot Seasoning – Celery Salt (Salt, Celery Seed), Spices (Including Paprika, Black Pepper) & Red Pepper.

Old Bay Blackened Seasoning – Spices (Including Paprika, Celery Seed, Red Pepper), Salt & Sugar.

Old Bay Lemon & Herb Seasoning – Salt, Spices and Herbs (Including Paprika, Celery Seed, Red Pepper, Bay Leaves), Citric Acid, Calcium Silicate (to Make Free Flowing), Lemon Juice Concentrate & Lemon Oil.

Old Bay Garlic & Herb Seasoning – Garlic, Salt, Spices and Herbs (Including Celery Seed, Red Pepper, and Bay Leaves), Paprika, Modified Corn Starch, and Natural Flavors.

Old Bay 30% Less Sodium – Spices (Including Red Pepper, Black Pepper), Salt & Paprika.

How Much Sodium in Old Bay?

As the table shows, all Old Bay seasonings have quite a bit of sodium considering the serving size is only 1/4 teaspoon. Be careful about adding additional salt when using Old Bay so that your meal is not overseasoned.

Furthermore, health organizations commonly recommend no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. Just consuming a teaspoon of Old Bay Classic, for example, will put your sodium at 560 milligrams for the day. If you monitor your sodium intake, you may wish to be careful about the amount of Old Bay you use.

SEE ALSO>>>How Much Sodium in Low Sodium Chicken Broth

SeasoningServing SizeSodiumCaloriesTotal FatCarbsFiberSugarProtein
Classic1/4 Tsp. (0.6g)140mg00g0g0g0g0g
30% Less Sodium1/4 Tsp .(0.6g)95mg00g0g0g0g0g
Hot1/4 Tsp. (0.6g)150mg00g0g0g0g0g
Blackened1/4 Tsp. (0.6g)45mg00g0g0g0g0g
Lemon & Herb1/4 Tsp. (0.8g)140mg00g0g0g0g0g
Garlic & Herb1/4 Tsp. (0.8g)100mg00g0g0g0g0g

Sources:
mccormick.com/old-bay
Walle, G. V. D. (2018, December 5). Daily Salt Intake: How much sodium should you have? Healthline. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sodium-per-day
Image – Artondra Hall/flckr