Ash
A lab measure of a food's total mineral content.
What is Ash?
Ash is not something you eat on its own — it is what remains after a food sample is fully burned in the lab, leaving only the inorganic minerals behind. Because all the carbohydrate, fat and protein burn away, the leftover "ash" reflects a food's total mineral content, such as calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium.
Health benefits of Ash
- Indicates the overall mineral content of a food
- A higher ash value generally means more minerals
- Used in food labeling and quality testing
Top food sources of Ash
See full rankingMineral-rich foods such as seafood, leafy greens, legumes, nuts and seeds have the most. Values shown per 100 g.
Salt, table
99.8 g
Salt, table, iodized
99.0 g
Desserts, rennin, tablets, unsweetened
72.5 g
Leavening agents, baking powder, double-acting, straight phosphate
71.8 g
Leavening agents, baking powder, double-acting, sodium aluminum sulfate
67.3 g
Soup, beef broth, cubed, dry
59.3 g
Soup, chicken broth cubes, dry
54.7 g
Soup, beef broth or bouillon, powder, dry
54.5 g
Soup, chicken broth or bouillon, dry
49.2 g
Leavening agents, baking powder, low-sodium
46.4 g
CAMPBELL Soup Company, PACE, Dry Taco Seasoning Mix
38.0 g
Leavening agents, baking soda
36.9 g
How much Ash do you need?
There is no Daily Value for ash. Focus instead on the specific minerals — like calcium, iron and potassium — that make it up.
Ash deficiency
Ash is a measurement, not a nutrient, so there is no requirement or deficiency. What matters is the individual minerals it represents.
Nutrition data per 100 g from the USDA & FooDB databases. Daily Values follow the FDA 2016+ labeling standard for a 2,000-calorie diet. This guide is for general information and is not medical advice.
Related nutrients
Frequently asked questions
What does Ash do?
Ash is not something you eat on its own — it is what remains after a food sample is fully burned in the lab, leaving only the inorganic minerals behind. Because all the carbohydrate, fat and protein burn away, the leftover "ash" reflects a food's total mineral content, such as calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium.
How much Ash do I need per day?
There is no Daily Value for ash. Focus instead on the specific minerals — like calcium, iron and potassium — that make it up.
Which foods are highest in Ash?
Per 100 g, some of the richest sources are Salt, table, Salt, table, iodized, Desserts, rennin, tablets, unsweetened, Leavening agents, baking powder, double-acting, straight phosphate, Leavening agents, baking powder, double-acting, sodium aluminum sulfate.
What happens if I don't get enough Ash?
Ash is a measurement, not a nutrient, so there is no requirement or deficiency. What matters is the individual minerals it represents.