Salt
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SALT - Sodium Chloride
Most recipes that call for salt are referring to table salt, which has additives like iodine (to prevent a thyroid disease),
and an anti-caking agent so the salt won't get lumpy in humid weather. Salt connoisseurs, though, often prefer to use
Kosher salt for cooking, and sea salt for table use. They claim that both have a softer flavor than table salt. Exotic
salts include the expensive French and Hawaiian sea salts, the smoky, sulfuric Indian black salt, and the intensely
salty Korean bamboo salt. Specialized salts include pickling salt, which is free of the additives that turn pickles dark
and the pickling liquid cloudy, and rock salt, used primarily to de-ice driveways and make ice cream.
Tips: Though we need some salt in our diet, most Americans consume much more than necessary. Too much salt
can lead to high blood pressure.
• Adding salt to water will raise the temperature at which it boils and lower the temperature at which it freezes.
• Salt is a terrific flavor enhancer, helping to reduce bitterness and acidity, and bringing out other flavors in the food.
• Adding salt to bread dough controls the action of the yeast and improves the flavor. Bread made without salt will
have a coarser texture and a blander flavor than bread made with salt.
• Try sprinkling salt on citrus fruit, melons, tomatoes, and even wine to enhance flavor.
• Adding a little salt balances the flavor of sweets like cakes, cookies, and candies.
• Boiling eggs in salted water makes them easier to peel.
• Adding a pinch of salt (preferably non-iodized) to cream or egg whites before they're whipped increases their
volume and serves as a stabilizer.
• Salt is a mineral, so it can be stored indefinitely without going stale. It won't taste any fresher if you grind it with a
salt mill.
• Salt has been used for millennia as a preservative for meats, fish, cheese, and other foods. It works by absorbing
moisture from the cells of bacteria and mold through osmosis, which kills them or leaves them unable to reproduce.
• Salting slices of eggplants helps draw out the bitter juices.
• Sprinkling salt on meat before broiling or grilling it draws moisture from the center, making it browner on the outside,
but less juicy on the inside.
Substitutes: Citrus zest (for seasoning) or pepper (for seasoning) or herbs (for seasoning) or soy sauce (for
seasoning) or hatcho miso (especially in hearty soups and stews; 1 teaspoon salt = 2 tablespoons hatcho miso) or salt
substitute or kelp powder or omit (Reducing salt in a recipe reduces sodium, but doing so may impair flavor and, in the
case of baked goods, texture. Since salt enhances flavorings, use more of them if you reduce salt in a recipe.) or
marinades (marinating meats enhances their flavor)
Varieties:
• Bamboo Salt- parched salt - jukyom - jook yeom This is made by roasting sea salt in bamboo cylinders plugged
with yellow mud. The salt absorbs minerals from the bamboo and mud, which in turn leach the salt of impurities. Look
for plastic bags of it in Korean markets. Substitutes: sea salt
• Black Salt - kala namak - sanchal Look for this in Indian markets, either ground or in lumps. It's more tan than
black, and has a very strong, sulfuric flavor. Substitutes: table salt
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Salt
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• Butter Salt - This salt has extremely fine grains. It's used to salt butter.
• Coarse Salt - coarsely-ground salt - coarse-grain salt - gros sel Most recipes calling for salt intend for you to use
finely ground salt, though coarse salt is better for certain things, like making beds for oysters and salt crusts on meat
or fish, or for lining baking dishes or the rims of margarita glasses. Many professional chefs like to cook with it
because they can measure it more easily with their fingers. Kosher salt and sea salt often come coarsely ground.
• Fine Salt - finely-ground salt - fine-grain salt - fin sel Notes: This is salt that's been ground into small grains. Most
recipes calling for salt intend for you to use finely ground salt, though coarse salt is better for certain things, like
making beds for oysters and salt crusts on meat or fish, or for lining baking dishes or the rims of margarita glasses.
Table salt usually comes finely ground. Substitutes: coarse salt (Grind it using a salt mill, mortar & pestle, or rolling
pin.)
• Curing Salt -Also known as: Tinted Curing Mixture - TCM - Prague Powder #1 - FLP - Modern Cure - Insta Cure.
This is used to cure meats and fish. It's usually dyed pink so that it won't be mistaken for ordinary salt. It consists of
93.75% table salt and 6.25% sodium nitrate.
• French Sea Salt - sel marin This expensive French salt comes from sea water that's pooled into basins and then
evaporated. Unlike most American sea salts, it's unrefined, so it retains more of the minerals that naturally occur in
seawater. There are several varieties. Gray salt - grey salt - sel gris gets its color from the clay lining the basins. La
fleur de sel (the flower of the salt) is whiter, but has a similar flavor.
That trendy gourmets are willing to shell out $5 for a small packet of French sea salt drives chemists crazy, since
almost all of it is just plain salt, sodium chloride, NaCl. Salt aficionados counter that French sea salt has a much softer
and fresher flavor than ordinary table salt, and that the difference is worth it.
These salts comes either coarsely or finely ground. Since salt is an inorganic mineral, there's no point in grinding large
crystals with a salt mill so they'll be "fresh." Salt, unlike pepper and spices, never goes stale. It's best to use these
salts after the food is cooked, or their subtleties will be lost.
Substitutes: Sea salt or kosher salt or sea vegetables (even richer in minerals)
Hawaiian Salt- Alaea salt - Hawaiian Sea Salt - 'Alaea sea Salt
This unrefined sea salt gets its pinkish-brown color from Hawaiian clay, called 'alaea, which is rich in iron oxide. The
clay also imparts a subtle flavor to the salt. The salt is expensive, and hard to find on the mainland. Substitutes:
French sea salt or sea salt or kosher salt
Kosher Salt
This salt was developed for the preparation of kosher meats, but many cooks prefer it over table salt. It has coarser
grains, so it's easier to use if you, like professional chefs, toss salt into pots with your fingers, measuring by touch.
Most kosher salt is also flaked, giving each grain a larger surface area. This helps the salt adhere better, so it's great
for lining margarita glasses, and for making a salt crust on meats or fish. Kosher salt also is preferred over table salt
for canning and pickling. Like pickling salt, kosher salt is free of iodine, which can react adversely with certain foods.
Some brands of kosher salt contain yellow prussiate of soda, an anti-caking agent, but unlike the anti-caking additive
in table salt, it doesn't cloud pickling liquids. The only drawback to using kosher salt for pickling or canning is that the
grains are coarser and flakier, and can't be packed as tightly into a measuring cup as pickling salt. This raises the risk
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Salt
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that the salt won't be properly measured. To get around this problem, measure by weight instead of volume. With its
large grains, kosher salt isn't a good choice for baking. Look for boxes of it in the spice section of your supermarket.
Substitutes: pickling salt or Margarita salt or table salt (smaller grains, use half as much; doesn't cling as well to food;
iodized salt can cause pickles to cloud.)
Margarita Salt This is used to salt the rims of Margarita glasses. To apply, fill a saucer with the salt, then moisten the
rim of an empty glass with lime juice and dip it into the saucer. Substitutes: kosher salt or sea salt or table salt or
sugar (This is the preferred rim liner for fruit Margaritas.)
Pickling Salt - canning salt - canning and pickling salt
This is similar to table salt, but lacks the iodine and anti-caking additives that turn pickles dark and the pickling liquid
cloudy. Pickles made with table salt would still be good to eat, but they wouldn't look as appetizing. Pickling salt is
available in large bags or boxes in supermarkets, but it's hard to find in cities. In addition to pickling or canning with it,
you can also use pickling salt just as you would ordinary table salt, though without the anti-caking agents it may get
lumpy if exposed to moisture. To prevent lumps, put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker. To get rid of lumps,
spread the salt on a cookie sheet and bake in an oven. Don't substitute reduced-sodium salt for pickling salt when
making pickles.
Substitutes: Kosher Salt (Since it's not as dense as pickling salt, you'll need to use more, but how much more varies
by brand. 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of Morton Kosher Salt = 1 cup Morton Canning & Pickling Salt. For other brands, it's
best to measure by weight rather than volume.) OR table salt (The iodine in table salt may turn your pickles dark, and
the anti-caking agents may turn the pickling liquid cloudy.)
Popcorn Salt
This table salt has very fine grains, which adhere better to popcorn, potato chips, and French fries. Substitutes: table
salt
Pretzel Salt
These opaque salt crystals are used to coat pretzels. Substitutes: kosher salt or sesame seeds
Rock Salt- ice cream salt - halite - sidewalk salt - land salt
This is the cheap, non-food grade salt that we throw onto icy walkways and use to make ice cream. It doesn't actually
go into the ice cream, as some have learned the hard way, but rather into the wooden ice-filled tub that surrounds the
bucket of ice cream. The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, which causes it to melt. As it melts, it absorbs heat
from the ice cream, helping it to freeze more quickly. Use a ratio of one part rock salt for every five parts of ice. If
you're out of rock salt, other kinds of salt will also work, though you should use less since finer grains of salt can can
be packed more densely into a cup than large chunks of rock salt. The biggest danger is that you'll use too much salt,
which will make your ice cream freeze too fast and become crusty. When using salt other than rock salt, start with a
modest amount and check the ice cream after you've churned it for ten minutes. If the ice cream is just beginning to
firm up, you have the right amount of salt. If it's not yet firming up, you need to add more salt. If it's crusty along the
sides of the bucket, then you've added too much salt. Substitutes: Kosher salt (more expensive) or table salt (more
expensive)
Salt Substitute
Some salt substitutes are herbal blends, which enhance the flavor of food without salt. You can buy these in the spice
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Salt
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26 Lyerly St. Houston, TX 77022 713-691-2935 800-356-5189 Fax: 713-691-3250
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section of your supermarket or make your own--the Internet abounds with recipes for homemade salt substitutes.
Other commercial salt substitutes, like No Salt®, Salt Substitute®, Cardia®, and Lite Salt®, replace some or all of the
sodium chloride (ordinary salt) with potassium chloride, which has a slightly bitter taste. These substitutes are
sometimes recommended for people on sodium-restricted diets. It's recommended that you consult a physician before
using these products, especially if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or if you're taking diuretics or potassium
supplements, or if you're on a potassium restricted diet. Look for them in the spice section of your supermarket, or in
pharmacies.
Sea Salt- Bay Salt
This salt comes from evaporated sea water, and contains minute amounts of magnesium, calcium, and other
minerals. Since the government requires that salt sold for table use in the United States contain at least 97.5% pure
salt, these minerals don't amount to much, though some pricey French sea salts have higher concentrations.
While tossing a teaspoon of sea salt into a half gallon of marinara sauce isn't going to have an appreciable effect on
its nutritional value, some gourmets say that they can taste the difference and that sea salt has a cleaner, saltier flavor
compared to table salt. Don't use sea salt for canning or pickling - the trace minerals may discolor the food. It's also
not the best choice for baking--the grains are too large.
Substitutes:Kosher salt (cheaper) or table salt (cheaper)
Sodium Bisulfite This is used to prevent fruit from darkening and losing flavor and vitamins while it's being dried. Use
one tablespoon per gallon of water, mix well, and put freshly cut fruit into the solution. Slices should soak for at least
five minutes, halves for at least fifteen. Next, remove the fruit, rinse well with cold water, and dehydrate. People with
asthma, respiratory problems, or sulfur allergies should avoid eating fruit treated with this. Look for it in pharmacies or
wine-making supply stores. Don't confuse this with sodium bisulfate, which is a different chemical. Substitutes: sodium
sulfite (use two tablespoons per gallon of water) or sodium metabisulfite (use four tablespoon per gallon of water) or
ascorbic acid (This is the recommended substitute for people with asthma, respiratory problems, or sensitivities to
sulfites. Use 3000 mg per two cups of water, and soak the fruit for 3-5 minutes, then drain. Add additional ascorbic
acid to the soaking solution after every two uses.) or fruit juice (This won't be as effective as the other substitutes, and
may alter the color and flavor of the fruit. Use a juice high in vitamin C, like orange, lemon, or cranberry juice, as a
soaking solution. Soak fruit for 3-5 minutes, replacing the soaking solution after every two uses.) or salt water (This
isn't as effective as the other treatments. Use 4 tablespoons table salt per gallon of water, and soak the fruit for no
more than 10 minutes.)
Sodium Metabisulfite
This is used to prevent fruit from darkening and losing flavor and vitamins while it's being dried. Use four tablespoons
per gallon of water, mix well, and put freshly cut fruit into the solution. Slices should soak for at least five minutes,
halves for at least fifteen. Next, remove the fruit, rinse well with cold water, and dehydrate. People with asthma,
respiratory problems, or sensitivities to sulfites should avoid eating fruit treated with this. Look for it in pharmacies or
wine-making supply stores. Substitutes: sodium bisulfite (use one tablespoon per gallon of water) or sodium sulfite
(use two tablespoons per gallon of water) or ascorbic acid (This is the recommended substitute for people with
asthma, respiratory problems, or sensitivities to sulfites. Use 3000 mg per two cups of water, and soak the fruit for 3-5
minutes, then drain. Add additional ascorbic acid to the soaking solution after every two uses.) or fruit juice (This won't
be as effective as the other substitutes, and may alter the color and flavor of the fruit. Use a juice high in vitamin C,
like orange, lemon, or cranberry juice, as a soaking solution. Soak fruit for 3-5 minutes, replacing the soaking solution
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after every two uses.) or salt water (This isn't as effective as the other treatments. Use 4 tablespoons table salt per
gallon of water, and soak the fruit for no more than 10 minutes.)
Sodium Sulfite
This is used to prevent fruit from darkening and losing flavor and vitamins while it's being dried. Use two tablespoons
per gallon of water, mix well, and put freshly cut fruit into the solution. Slices should soak for at least five minutes,
halves for at least fifteen. Next, remove the fruit, rinse well with cold water, and dehydrate. People with asthma,
respiratory problems, or sensitivities to sulfites should avoid eating fruit treated with this. Look for it in pharmacies or
wine-making supply stores. Substitutes: sodium bisulfite (use one tablespoon per gallon of water) or sodium
metabisulfite (use four tablespoons per gallon of water) or ascorbic acid (This is the recommended substitute for
people with asthma, respiratory problems, or sensitivities to sulfites. Use 3000 mg per two cups of water, and soak the
fruit for 3-5 minutes, then drain. Add additional ascorbic acid to the soaking solution after every two uses.) or fruit juice
(This won't be as effective as the other substitutes, and may alter the color and flavor of the fruit. Use a juice high in
vitamin C, like orange, lemon, or cranberry juice, as a soaking solution. Soak fruit for 3-5 minutes, replacing the
soaking solution after every two uses.) or salt water (This isn't as effective as the other treatments. Use 4 tablespoons
table salt per gallon of water, and soak the fruit for no more than 10 minutes.)
Table Salt
Varieties include iodized salt, which contains the flavorless additive potassium iodide to prevent goiter (an
enlargement of the thyroid gland), and non-iodized salt. Some recipes call for non-iodized salt, since iodine can impart
a bitter taste and adversely react with certain foods. For example, iodine darkens pickles and inhibits the bacterial
fermentation needed to make sauerkraut. Table salt also contains small amounts of calcium silicate, an anti-caking
agent, and dextrose, a stabilizer. The anti-caking agent in both iodized and non-iodized salt doesn't dissolve in water,
so if you pickle or can with it, it will turn the liquid cloudy or else settle on the bottom of the jar. The preserved food will
taste the same, mind you, but it won't look as appealing. This is more of a problem for pickles, which are immersed in
lots of liquid, than for other canned goods. To prevent the cloudiness, use pickling salt, which contains no additives.
Substitutes: Kosher salt (This is more flavorful, and great for cooking. Since it's less dense, grind it first or use up to
twice as much.) or sea salt (more expensive)
