What Salt Should I Use For Cooking?

Salt is used in most recipes and people often ask what salt should I use for cooking? We will look over some of the most popular salts used for cooking.

Even though salt is considered a basic ingredient, there is more to salt than you would realize.

Most salts may look similar, but they have slight differences.

You would be surprised to know that not all salts are the same.  Some dissolve easier, some are more concentrated, and you even get some salts that should only be used to finish a dish.

Next time you go to the supermarket don’t just purchase the cheapest salt.  After reading this article you will have a clearer understanding, which salt you should use and why.

So how do you know which salt you should be using? 

Below we have a list of different types of salts that are commonly used in cooking.  It will give you an idea of which salt you should be using.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is one of the most popular salts you can find at the supermarket.

It is created by evaporating seawater, which produces the crystals you find in sea salt.

Some high-quality sea salts can take many years to create because they use a very slow evaporation process but on the other hand, you also find some cheaper sea salts that are produced using a faster evaporation process.

So from this, we can tell which sea salt we are purchasing, if it was expensive the chances are that a slow evaporation process was used and vise versa.

When Should You Use Sea Salt?

Sea salt packs less sodium per teaspoon than your regular table salt for this reason sea salt is good for the following circumstances.

• Finishing off a dish.
  • Sprinkling over roasted vegetables.
  • Seasoning for meat/fish.
  • Adding to salads.
• Baking (ground sea salt.)

Iodized Salt

Iodized salt also known as table salt is the most popular salt that can be found in homes.  But is it the right type of salt to be using?

It is known to usually contain anti-clumping agents that give a slightly metallic taste to a dish, for this reason, it is not a favorite choice of salts amongst professionals.

Iodized salt isn’t the best choice for many reasons including that it is highly processed and has a weaker salinity.

It’s fine to use when you only need a small amount for your recipes however using alternative salts such as sea salt and kosher salt would be better.

When Should You Use Iodized Salt?

• When a recipe doesn’t specify what type of salt to use.
• Only when a small amount is needed.
• When you are out of other salts.

Himalayan Pink Salt

Himalayan pink salt originates from the Himalayan mountains and is usually handpicked.  It is considered the purest form of salt in the world because it has been buried in the earth for many years and has remained isolated from contaminants.

You can easily spot this type of salt because of its pink color, which makes it stand out.

Himalayan pink salt is classed as a rock salt that gets its color from minerals such as:

• Calcium
• magnesium
• Potassium

This type of salt is not only used in the kitchen, but it is often used in beauty spas as well.

When Should You Use Himalayan Pink Salt?

• Sauces and Marinades
• Seasoning meal
• Preserving foods
• Bath salts

Kosher Salt

Kosher salt is an edible salt without any additives added, It is a coarse and flat-grained salt.

Kosher salt is used for a process called koshering meat, which basically means to rinse, soak and salt meat.  This type of salt is popular amongst chefs.

One key advantage of using Kosher salt is that it has a lower salinity, which makes over-salting more difficult to do.

We have all done it, used too much salt.

Kosher salt is great to enhance the flavors of a dish instead of making it taste salty.  It is perfect for bringing out the flavors of ingredients as flavor disperses quickly.

The crystals are usually bigger which makes it perfect to draw out moisture from meats.

Also because the crystals are bigger they can be pinched and replaced on a dish.

When Should You Use Kosher Salt?

• To prepare the meat before cooking.
• To enhance flavors without making a dish taste salty.

Flaky Salt

Flaky salt is not only used for its flavor but also for its texture.  It gives any dish that is used a crispy crunchy texture to it.

This type of salt costs more than most other salts.  For this reason, it’s not a salt you use for everyday cooking unless you can afford it.

If you are looking to impress your guests with your cooking skills, then this type of salt will definitely help with that.

When Should You Use Flaky Salt?

• Great on salads
• Roast or boiled vegetables
• Special occasions

Coarse Salt

Coarse salt is another salt that comes from the sea however compared to sea salt it is more concentrated and doesn’t dissolve as easy.

This type of salt is formed into large crystals and it is used for finishing and garnishing dishes cooked by chefs.

These crystals are used to complement dishes such as salmon, mixed salads and roast meats, etc.

When Should You use Coarse Salt?

• Finishing & garnishing meat dishes.
• Complementing fish dishes.
• Salads

Final Thoughts

One type of salt we all know is table salt.  It can be found in every supermarket and every kitchen.  However, it’s not always the best choice for your cooking.

We are so used to using table salt that we don’t think outside of the bubble, but there is a whole new world out there where a variety of salts exist.

Salt comes in many forms:

• Finely ground
• Crystals
• Flakes
• Coarse

There are many salts available depending on the dish you are making.  Here are some of the salts we covered in this article.

• Sea Salts
• Kosher Salt
• Himalayan Pink Salt
• Iodized Salt

Consuming too much salt in your diet is a BIG no, for this reason, consider using the best-suited salt for the dish you are preparing.  Try to avoid purchasing the cheapest salt you can find, a mistake many people have made including me.

What salt should I use for cooking? We hope you have found your answer in this article and it has inspired you to try other types of salts.

If you use a different salt or if you have any tips or advice on the topic, please share them in the comments.

Let’s share and learn together.

Happy Cooking!