- Table salt is the most common style; it is finely ground rock salt. Rock salt is mined from underground deposits left by previous oceans. Table salt usually has additives, especially iodine and anti-caking chemicals. These additives can give it a relatively sharp or chemical taste. Because the grain surface is smooth, table salt adheres poorly to food and dissolves slowly. Table salt is inexpensive.
- Kosher salt is also rock salt, but it is ground coarsely and is additive free. Due to its large, jagged grain surface, Kosher salt adheres well to foods. The Diamond brand (not Morton) also dissolves quickly due to a difference in the grinding process. Without additives, it is pure tasting and is also inexpensive.
- Sea salt is made from allowing seawater to evaporate, leaving the salt crystals behind. It can be finely or coarsely ground, and is usually additive free. Sea salt retains some of the minerals found in seawater. Some users claim it tastes fresher and is more flavorful than rock salt. Although sea salt will always be more expensive due to the difference in harvesting costs, the difference in cost can be moderate to large. Some sea salts have become designer salts, (i.e. branded based on their origin), and can be very expensive. "Fleur de sel" from France is a popular item in gourmet catalogs. Fans of sea salt often claim that the mineral content makes sea salt healthier, but as it contains only trace minerals, this is debatable.
Most professional chefs use Kosher salt for almost all their needs, except where fine measurement is useful, as in baking. Its large crystals make Kosher salt easy to pick up and add by hand. Because it dissolves fast, the cook can taste for salt almost immediately. For table usage or baking, finely grained sea salt has a pure taste, and it need not be one of the expensive brands. Use a taste test to see if brands make a difference.
Since these salts are additive free, keep them in a cool, airtight container. If caking is a problem, add a few grains of rice. Salt, however, does not go stale, so it can be stored indefinitely.
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