Explaining the Most Common Types of Salt

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Salt is an indispensable part of kitchens all around the world. This mineral, known scientifically as sodium chloride, is one of the five basic taste sensations that all humans have, and gives flavor to a big variety of foods and dishes.

Salt is enjoyed in various forms as a food additive, but do you know the differences between the most common types of salt?

Table Salt

Table salt is generally a highly-purified and refined version of the product, which sometimes contains iodine for health reasons. This type of salt generally has almost all impurities removed, resulting in a product that is almost entirely sodium chloride.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is obtained exactly how you probably think it is: sea water is evaporated, and the resulting product is sea salt! Small amounts of other minerals, like potassium and iron, are usually found in the more coarse crystals of this type of salt, which has a potent flavor.

Kosher Salt

Kosher salt’s name comes from its application in Jewish culinary customs. This type of salt is often used to extract blood from meat before its preparation, an important part of Kosher eating. It’s usually quite pure, containing few trace minerals, and comes in a flaky consistency which is good for sprinkling on food.