As we go through this journey of food and good eating, one thing we need to get straight right up is this whole issue of salt. Salt is a cornerstone of good food for good reason, and it has driven men to start wars. Modern cooks are fortunate to have an abundance of it, but many do not understand its use. For our purposes, we only need deal with a few key concepts:
- Salt is primarily used for the way it interacts chemically with other ingredients, not about making food taste salty. Generally, you just can’t skimp on salt and get things right. Particularly in baking.
- If one is disposed to high blood pressure due to salt intake, then by all means follow the guidance of your physician. But salt does not cause high blood pressure in the rest of us. If you don’t have high blood pressure, use it as specified - under no circumstances will you achieve any good by skimping on salt.
- Salt is salt. Variations do occur due to differences in trace mineral content. However, extensive research shows almost no one, outside of full time tasters, can discern any difference between Morton’s and $40/pound pink Himalayan. Buy the bid dollar brand is you like but do so for your own entertainment as the meal cares little. For our purposes, kosher salt is the preferred choice. There are times when other salts are advised - but this is strictly for the different shape of the salt particles; it has nothing to do with taste.
- Nearly all salt is Kosher in the strictest sense of the word. “Kosher salt” as in “Morton’s Kosher Salt” does not contain any iodine. We use not for this reason but because the particles are larger and do not dissolve as readily; used in food preparation, the larger crystals are excellent for drawing out moisture before dissolving. “Kosher salt gets its name from its use in the preparation of kosher meat, not because of how it is made.
We’ll talk much more about salt in the future. For now, go get a large box of kosher salt and use it with abandon.
Funny you should mention “salt”. For the best salt, you need Wicked Steak Salt…
Go to http://www.wickedsteaksalt.com to sigh up for my list and as soon as the next batch is perfected I’ll notify you so you can buy some for all your friends and family…
Only the finest mountain salts from the Salzkammergut in Austria– none of that sea salt with all the dead fish and who knows what else in it…
I’ll share the story of Wicked Steak Salt in the near future. THis has been a back-burner project for a while and it needs to be ready for Father’s Day and Grilling Season… If anyone is really into grilling and “Legendary Steaks” out there reading this, drop me a line and we can work together on this product.
Seize the Day,
Rob
For Legendary Steaks, You Need a Wicked Good Salt!
Have You Covered Your Assets?
Fascinating.
I’d always wondered about Kosher salt.
Now I know!
Thanks Christian. Great blog!
JJ Jalopy
Life Coaching and Home Business Advice with JJ Jalopy
Fascinating and very informative.
Salt in food and cooking does seem to be perceived by many as potentially lethal (I know it can be very harmful in very, very large quantities - you know what I mean).
Your point on its interaction with other ingredients is very well made.
Great information.
Philip
[The Consumer Behaviour Research Resource]
It’s funny you should bring up salt because I am working on bringing my blood pressure back down to normal since having my daughter 5 weeks ago. The docs said watch the salt and I have.
On a different note, I love that you have dispelled the ranking of salt…it’s all the same.
Jennifer
The Harwood Center - Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fers, Phobias, and Anxiety
You are starting with the basics (SALT) and yet doing it in such an entertaining way!! Cook with abandon! Yeah! Live with abandon! Yeah! and put on your fancy jewelry while you are doing it…and the music..and sip a lttle wine…and call your friends over…now we are cooking…
Sunny Marie
Glamour and Glitz
http://www.sunnymarie.wordpress.com
Sorry to disagree here about “Salt is salt”.
No all salt are created “equal”. Best two salt, to me, is Hamalaya Salt & Celatic Sea Salt.
My famly uses Hamalaya Salt is all our cooking and drink the brine prepared by using its chunky crystal blocks to get the right balance of minerals out of it.
Hamalaya Salt is now selling about A$10 a kg here in Melbourne. BTW, Hamalaya Salt Lamps are popular here for its healing and mood uplifting effects.
John Ho
Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress)
Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion (Vox Blog)
Very good to know. Salt can make a great deal of difference.
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
What an amazing post. Very clear and very informative.
Thank you for these explanations about salt. Who would have thought there was so much to know about such a simple but key ingredient?
All the best,
Yann
Who knew there are so many nuances to know about with regard to salt. You have me rethinking my spice cabinet. Occasionally I’ll use Kosher salt. I’ll have to try Hamalaya Salt.
Interesting post!
Pam
http://www.greatwealth.com
Great post. I’m a salt fan and actually have a variety of salts at my house. I prefer to purchase from the Maine Sea Salt Company, at least until Wicked Steak Salt comes out.
I am anxiously awaiting it Rob!
Steve
What a clear, concise and informative post Christian. I enjoyed it. A long time ago I had quite the problem with eating excessive salt, but now (after years of ‘baby steps to success’) I use it only in baking (for the chemical reaction as you mention) and on a few select foods.
Sue Crutcher, Life Empowerment Mentor
gret post i like how you get down to the fundamentals. i agree with you on the morton kosher. had it on my steak tonight.
Rob, i knew wicked steak salt would have to be mentioned in this post somewhere.
Don Shepherd
oregon or bust
I shall go forth treating salt with more respect!
Great! It’s fun learning such a wide variety of things
Thanks
JC JC
Christian, Thanks for the post. I love to cook and learned an amazing amount of info between your post and the replies. Mark
Glacier Marketing
Glacier Ice Cream
I don’t think I use much salt, but then again, so many things have salt in them already that I don’t need to add it. I cook with garlic salt but I never even put a salt shaker on the table. I do like salt and it almost always makes everything taste better, but I am so used to not using it that I don’t even think of it unless I see someone else using it. Every time we have company for dinner, I forget to put the salt and pepper on the table and I’m so embarrassed when they ask for it.
Lisa McLellan, Child Care Expert - Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
Christian,
Never new that about salt. Thanks for the info!
Regards,
Mitchell Rehaume
Your Mobile Exper
Arrh yes! Salt and the story of the wicked steak salt!!
Is a very good lesson in business indeed and in the speed of acting on an idea!!
I must admit…not adding salt myself to food I never realized that ther was so much to know? Or that wars had been started over it!!
Great post!
Duane
Learn Winning Persuasion
> Techniques that Work Like Magic by Tapping Into the Psychology of
> the Mind with Persuasion Expert Duane Cunningham!
Arrh yes! Salt and the story of the wicked steak salt!!
Is a very good lesson in business indeed and in the speed of acting on an idea!!
I must admit…not adding salt myself to food I never realized that ther was so much to know? Or that wars had been started over it!!
Great post!
Duane
Learn Winning Persuasion
Techniques that Work Like Magic by Tapping Into the Psychology of
the Mind with Persuasion Expert Duane Cunningham!
Thanks for the information about salt, particularly the bit about Kosher salt not having iodine in it.
-Pat
Business Owners Fast Track to Internet Profits
Good information about such a common ingredient
The DIY Lawyer
DIY Lawyer - Where you can sign up for our free living trust e-course
Good info on salt. Thank you for these insights.
Health, Fitness — Darryl Pace
Salt of life gives life FLAVOR. Excellent point about food and what makes sense and is wise.
All the best,
April Braswell
Dating Expert and Online Dating Coach
Salt is great for flavouring one’s food. however it is important that one keeps atrack of hwmuch is in our diet as too much can lead to high blood pressure!!!
Expert in Medical Hypnosis,Success Thinking and Practical Parenting
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