Salt may just be the most commonly used seasoning in the world, and it’s also one of the oldest. We put it on popcorn, French fries, and other snacks. We use it to wake up our taste buds and bring out the flavor in sauces, soups, and all kinds of savory dishes. We even add it to chocolate and other sweet treats for that delicious sweet and salty contrast.
Salt is a naturally occurring mineral, composed primarily of pure sodium chloride, and it’s not only the world’s best flavor enhancer, but it also has many essential health benefits. There’s quite a variety of different types of salt, and when it comes to choosing the right one for your cooking needs, the choices can be overwhelming. Salt comes in a rainbow of colors and a variety of different grain textures and sizes. Depending on the variety, it can be either an inexpensive pantry staple or a rare gourmet delicacy.
Don’t know what to do with all the different types of salt? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with this handy guide. We’ll break down each variety and tell you about the texture, color, and flavor. Plus, we’ll tell you exactly how to use it so you can season with confidence. Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about the culinary uses for this essential seasoning.
Table of Contents
Table Salt (Iodized Salt)
Table salt is the granulated white salt that you’ll find in most restaurant salt shakers. It’s also sometimes called iodized salt, since it’s typically fortified with iodine (in the form of potassium iodate or potassium iodide), which is a mineral that’s critical to thyroid health. Table salt is one of the less expensive varieties of salt and you can find it at any grocery store. It’s also extremely versatile and has a fine texture that can be used in a variety of recipes. The main drawback to table salt is that it typically has an anti-caking agent added, which can give it a bit of a metallic taste. For this reason, table salt tends to work best in baked goods rather than savory recipes, as most baked goods usually call for only a small amount of salt. However, for those with an iodine deficiency, iodized salt can be a way to supplement.
Sea Salt
As you might expect from its name, sea salt is produced through the evaporation of seawater. Because it undergoes less processing than regular table salt, it retains some trace minerals which give it additional color, and it tends to have more flavor than table salt as well. Often described as having a hint of briny flavor, sea salt comes in both fine granules and coarse crystals, making it a versatile choice that can be used in all kinds of recipes. Use it to salt your pasta water, season meat before cooking it, or flavor all kinds of sweet and savory recipes. Like table salt, regular sea salt is widely available and affordable, although it’s typically more expensive than table salt. This variety is a great go-to salt for your everyday seasoning needs.
Sea Salt Flakes
Although flake salt is another type of sea salt, its uses differ quite a bit from regular sea salt due to its unique texture. Flake salt is thin and light with an irregular shape and tends to be more expensive than regular sea salt or other types of salt. Because of its high price point, it tends to be used primarily as a finishing salt – meaning it’s added to food after cooking. You can use a pinch of sea salt flakes to season just about any type of savory dish, but they’re also a delicious way to top off freshly baked brownies or chocolate chip cookies. This crunchy and flaky salt makes a delicious topping and it brings out the rich sweet flavor of the chocolate.
Sel Gris (Grey Salt)
Sel gris is a French term which literally translates to gray salt, referencing the slight gray color of the salt crystals. Like traditional sea salt, it can be ground into fine sea salt flakes or sold in large crystals. Also sometimes called Celtic sea salt, sel gris has a taste and texture that is similar to that of regular sea salt, but with a slightly richer taste thanks to its high mineral content. This versatile salt can be used anywhere you’d use regular sea salt or most other commonly used salts.
Kosher Salt
Kosher salt is a great option if you’re looking for a versatile and low cost salt variety that can be used for just about anything. This variety of salt gets its name from its use in the Koshering process – the Jewish process of preparing meat for consumption. This variety is loved by chefs and serious home cooks, as the size and light yet coarse texture makes it easy to control and hard to over season. It also dissolves easily so it can be used in all kinds of recipes, as well as for pickling. But another use that you may not have thought of is on your cocktail glass rims. Use kosher salt to give margaritas and palomas that perfect salty rim.
Pink Himalayan Salt
Known for its pretty pale pink color, pink himalayan salt is a type of rock salt mined from the Khewra Salt Mine – underground salt deposits in the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. It contains more natural minerals than any other type of salt, and has a steeper price tag than either kosher or sea salt. It tends to have more coarse and larger grains than sea salt or table salt. Because of this, it is often sold in grinders which allow you to adjust the size of the grains. Himalayan pink salt has a milder and slightly earthier flavor than sea salt. You can use this type of salt in recipes, but like sea salt flakes, it’s more typically used as a finishing salt.
Black Himalayan Salt
Black himalayan salt has one of the most unique and distinctive flavors of any kind of salt. Also sometimes called by its Indian name, kala namak, this interesting variety of salt is not naturally occurring. Instead, it’s made by cooking pink himalayan salt in a kiln with spices and charcoal. This causes the sodium chloride to undergo a chemical reaction which changes the flavor and smell of the salt in a big way. Himalayan black salt has a strong flavor of umami and eggs, and the color of this salt can range from black to deep purple and sometimes even has a deep pink hue. Because of its eggy flavor, you may not want to select this variety as your everyday salt, but it can be a great choice for vegan egg substitute dishes like scrambled tofu or vegan egg salad.
Black Lava Salt
One of the most striking of all varieties of salt, black lava salt is typically harvested from the coasts of Hawaii and Cypress. Also sometimes called black Hawaiian salt, this variety is mixed with activated charcoal from lava, giving the salt its distinctive black hue. With subtle earthy and slightly smoky notes, black lava salt has a distinctive flavor which makes it incredibly versatile and popular as a finishing salt. Try it sprinkled over fish, potatoes, vegetables, and egg based dishes. It also lends a wonderful smoky flavor to soups and other dishes.
Fleur de Sel
When you want a salt that’s extra special, give fleur de sel a try. Like regular sea salt, fleur de sel is harvested from sea water. Specifically, it comes from the delicate surface layer of salt marshes and is even harvested with a special tool. Fleur de sel has irregularly shaped crystals and is prized for its unique crunchy texture. It is also one of the most expensive varieties of salt that you can buy and tends to be used exclusively as a finishing salt. Look for fleur de sel in gourmet markets and specialty grocery stores.
Pickling Salt
If you’ve always wanted to try making your own homemade pickled vegetables, you’ll want to get familiar with pickling salt – also sometimes called canning or preserving salt. Picking salt is pure granulated salt that’s very similar to table salt, except that the gains are even finer than table salt, enabling them to dissolve easily in a brine. Pickling salt also does not contain anti-caking agents, which can turn your pickling liquid cloudy. Although there are other varieties of salt that will work, pickling salt is perfect for the job and is the perfect choice if you’re trying pickling for the first time.
Smoked Salt
As its name indicates, smoked salt is an aromatic salt that has been smoked with wood – typically for a period of between 7 and 14 days. Some of the most popular varieties of wood used for smoking salt are mesquite, applewood, hickory, and oak, each of which lends a unique flavor profile to the salt. Sprinkle smoked salt on meats, potatoes, or salmon to get that delicious smoky flavor or use it as a replacement for bacon crumbles in vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Infused Salt
Infused salt is any variety of salt that has been flavored with add-ins like herbs, spices, and seasonings. As you can imagine, there are endless possibilities for different types of infused salt. It can be made with fine or coarse salt varieties, and it’s incredibly easy to make your own. Popular seasonings for infused salt include smoked paprika and curry powder. Dried herbs and citrus zest are also wonderful additions, and truffle salt is a popular variety that can now be found in many grocery stores.
When used properly, salt really is the easy way to make everything taste better, and now you have our complete guide to using it. If you never knew what an amazing variety of different kinds of salt were available, I hope this guide has inspired you to try something new. Now that you know the best type of salt to use for any occasion, you can make sure your pantry is stocked with your favorites for cooking, baking, pickling, finishing, margarita making and more! Bring out the flavor in all your dishes with this everyday seasoning that’s anything but ordinary.
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