Pantry Quick Bites By Mark / March 15, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Share So few spices can make the difference between a bad meal and a good meal as salt. Whether the dish is savory or sweet, enhance them with the addition of salt. Salt makes sweet items taste sweeter and savory items more flavorful. There are many types of salt on the market as home cooks and chefs alike now have access to so many different options. There are three basic categories. Table Salt We all know, grew up on it, and see it everywhere. Many chefs feel the addition of Iodine and anti-caking agents, cloud sauces and clear broths. It is inexpensive but the cube shape of the grains can cause over-salting and table salt added at the table results in a flat salty taste to the food. Sea Salt This is probably the largest selection of salts available. They range from the now famous Himalayan Pink Salt, to the chef’s favorite Maldon Sea Salt. There are literally hundreds to choose from. Table salt can be used interchangeably with dry versions of sea salt. Just remember to consider the weight and volume differences. Kosher Salt The preferred cooking salt for most avid home cooks and professionals alike is Kosher salt due to the clean consistency and large flake pattern. This flake offers a wider surface area for the same amount of salt than does table salt. Kosher salt is rarely mixed with unwanted additives, providing a cleaner salt taste with less needed for a bright flavor. Flavored Salts Flavored salts consist of two main varieties. The first category contains the blends we all see on the shelves like Garlic Salt, Onion Salt, and the like. Usually made with table salt they do not offer nearly the same taste as separate spices and herbs. The second category contains the mixtures of real herbs or flavor additions such as smoke and other minerals. These finishing salts, are usually added right at the end of cooking or even at the table. My personal new favorite is an amazing salt made from the Gulf of Mexico in Saint Petersburg, Florida called Black Garlic Sea Salt from a small boutique company. This salt adds an AMAZING deep garlic flavor when used as a finishing salt. It keeps getting closer and closer to my plate after each meal. Black garlic salt also adds a great depth to eggs, stuffed peppers, pasta, and even garlic bread. I highly recommend it. Although more expensive than regular salt, a little goes a long ways and as a foodie, my fans are worth it. Be sure to check out our article – Salt – A Weighty Choice to learn about the single biggest mistake many cooks, chefs, AND bakers make when it comes to the stuff.
