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Salt

Salt, a simple mineral known scientifically as sodium chloride, plays an outsized role in our kitchens and lives. From the ordinary shaker on the table to its role in culinary and preservation techniques, salt has the power to enhance flavor, transform textures, and even add visual appeal.

What Salt to Use if Your Recipe Doesn’t Specify

If your recipe does not specify what kind of salt to use, feel free to use what you have available while selecting between table salt, kosher salt, sea salt, or pink salt.

Types of Salt

Salt comes in an astonishing variety, each offering its own unique characteristics.

Table Salt

  • This is the familiar white salt found in salt shakers everywhere.
  • It’s fine-grained, often contains iodine for nutritional purposes, and may have anti-caking agents to prevent clumping.
  • Read more here.

Kosher Salt

  • A culinary favorite, kosher salt is coarse-grained and free of additives.
  • It’s loved by chefs for its ease of use, precise control, and pure salty flavor.
  • Read more here.

Sea Salt

  • Derived from evaporated seawater, sea salt comes in a range of textures and colors.
  • It often contains trace minerals that impart subtle flavor nuances compared to regular salt.
  • Read more here.

Pink Salt

  • Often referred to as Himalayan pink salt, this visually appealing salt gets its pink hue from trace minerals.
  • It is available in various grain sizes and offers a milder flavor profile than other salts.
  • Read more here.

Specialty Salt

  • This category includes a wondrous array of salts like smoked salt, infused with the essence of wood smoke, and black salt with its distinctive sulfurous flavor profile.
  • Read more here.

Decorative Salt

  • This encompasses salts with unique colors, shapes, and textures.
  • It includes salt crystals and flavorful pretzel ‘M’ salt.
  • Read more here.

Salt for Preservation

  • Specialized salts like curing salts, containing nitrites and nitrates, play a key role in safely preserving meats.
  • Pickling salt, pure and free of additives, is ideal for creating clear, crisp pickles.
  • Read more here.

Salt: Beyond the Shaker

Salt’s uses extend far beyond seasoning a dish:

  • Texture Enhancer: Coarse salts add a satisfying crunch as a finishing touch or within recipes.
  • Food Preservation: Salt has been used as a preservative for centuries, inhibiting the growth of microbes responsible for spoilage.
  • Beauty: Salt is a common ingredient in DIY scrubs and bath soaks for gentle exfoliation.
  • Household Uses: Salt offers abrasive properties useful for certain cleaning purposes.

A World of Flavor

From the basic table salt to the exotic range of specialty salts, this humble mineral adds depth, complexity, and visual appeal to our food and our lives. Whether you’re sprinkling a bit on a salad or venturing into the world of curing meats, salt reminds us that even the simplest ingredients hold the potential for extraordinary flavor experiences.