Learning when to use the various types of salt correctly can be somewhat challenging when they all seem pretty similar. However, knowing the difference can make all the difference between an average and outstanding dish. So, if you find yourself overwhelmed and unsure whether you should use sea salt or Kosher salt, and if you can substitute one for the other, we’re here to help.
Chemically speaking, sea salt and Kosher salt are both sodium chloride. Sea salt is made from drying saltwater; it has micronutrients and subtle flavors lacking in Kosher salt. Kosher salt comes from underground deposits, it is a coarse and flat-grained salt without additives and a pure taste.
Sea salt and Kosher salt are mainly sodium chloride, but are they the same? Give this article a read to clear up the confusion by providing everything you’ll need to know about identifying and using sea salt and Kosher salt.
Are Sea Salt And Kosher Salt The Same?
While sea salt and Kosher salt have no chemical difference, they are mainly sodium chloride (NaCl). They have slight distinctions worth noting. However, the primary difference between sea salt and Kosher salt lies in the size and shape of the salt crystals.
Sea salt offers a slightly different taste to Kosher salt as it contains more minerals.
The distinction between the two salts and using the correct type will significantly improve your next dish as the number one ingredient that chefs use to enhance the flavor and add depth to a plate of food is salt.
What Is Sea Salt?
Sea salt is dried saltwater crystals derived from the ocean or saltwater lakes. Since sea salt is minimally processed, it contains trace amounts of healthy minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron, making it nutritionally superior to regular table salt.
Sea salt, also known as “bay salt,” is available in fine, clear granular crystals, flakes, or tiny coarse grains. Although it can have a rough texture, it isn’t a dense salt due to its irregular shapes and sizes.
When To Use Sea Salt?
Flaky sea salt is a delicate salt primarily used as a finishing touch on a dish due to its price difference from other salts. So, consider using these premium salt flakes to add texture and zhuzh up a green salad, hot steak off the grill, or wield it as a gourmet flourish to your homemade caramels and other desserts.
In comparison, the refined granular sea salt is more budget-friendly and perfect throughout cooking. Before cooking, you can season your meats, toss the salt into pasta water, or mix it into doughs.
What Is Kosher Salt?
Kosher salt is mined from salt deposits in underground caves; it mainly consists of sodium chloride. Its name derives from the ancient Jewish practice where they used coarse-grained salt to drain the excess blood from the meat.
Kosher salt undergoes minimal processing in comparison to regular iodized table salt. Therefore, it lacks the slightly bitter aftertaste of table salt. Instead, Kosher salt offers a clean and gentle taste, providing a subtle season to foods.
Kosher salt has the most significant and coarsest grain of salts, hence its nickname “rock salt.” Although it is mainly sold as large, uneven, rough crystals, you can find finely ground Kosher salt in selected stores.
When To Use Kosher Salt?
Thanks to its versatility, it is becoming increasingly popular in home kitchens during the last decade. Chefs and home cooks appreciate Kosher salt for its light flakes that do not dissolve immediately. As a result, it is perfect for seasoning and curing significant cuts of meat, adding brine and crunch to your savory dish.
Lastly, Kosher salt is the most versatile salt as it is ideal for before, during, and after cooking any dish.
The benefits of Kosher include:
- It lacks bitter-tasting additives like iodine and fluoride. Instead, it provides a pure and subtle taste compared to regular table salt.
- The sizeable, coarse grains allow you to evenly measure and distribute Kosher salt.
- You can use Kosher salt throughout all phases of the cooking process.
What Is The Difference Between Sea Salt And Kosher Salt
The table below will provide the main differences between sea salt and Kosher salt.
Difference | Sea Salt | Kosher Salt |
Source | Sea salt is sourced from the ocean or saltwater lakes by evaporating the saltwater. | Mined from salt deposits. |
Composition | Sea salt is primarily sodium chloride with traces of minerals like potassium, calcium, and iron. It usually is not iodized. | Mostly pure sodium chloride and usually not iodized. |
Color | The color varies between white, gray, and pink. | White |
Grain | Uneven flakes or finely ground | Sizeable, coarse flakes or crystals. |
Culinary Use | Cooks mainly use the flakes as a finishing seasoning for dishes. Others prefer to use sea salt to cure meat. | Kosher salt has versatile uses but is famous for seasoning dishes before, during, or after cooking. It is excellent for curing and smoking meat, or pickling and brining. |
Can You Substitute Sea Salt And Kosher Salt?
Fortunately, you can interchangeably substitute flaky sea salt and Kosher salt while cooking. You can easily use sea salt in your recipe that calls for Kosher salt and vice versa.
However, you’ll want to note that Kosher salt will provide the most consistent flavor as the minerals found in sea salt can add different colors and tastes to it.
Lastly, if you plan to use finely ground sea salt instead of flaky sea salt as a replacement for Kosher salt, you’ll want to alter your ratios as the fine granules naturally mean that you’re using more salt. For example, if the recipe requires one teaspoon of Kosher salt, use ¾ of a teaspoon of finely ground sea salt to prevent an overwhelming salty taste.
Final Word
Sea salt is a minimally processed salt that adds flavor to foods. Cooks predominantly use the larger flakes to garnish or season dishes after cooking. Kosher salt is a common ingredient in many kitchen cabinets due to its versatility, subtle taste, and coarse texture.
Kosher salt is rising in popularity thanks to its pure flavor, large grains, and coarse texture.
This versatile salt offers a wide range of culinary uses, including seasoning dishes before, during, or after cooking, curing and smoking meat, or for pickling and brining, making it a flavorsome and versatile spice to sprinkle over your favorite dishes.
Related Articles
- Can You Substitute Table Salt for Kosher Salt In A Brine?
- Should You Brine A Brisket Before Smoking?
- How to Smoke Salt In A Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Sources