In recent years, Salt has come a long way. It has been considered one of the basic commodities of humankind since ancient times, prized in all corners of the world for its cooking, preservation, and medicinal properties. It has become ubiquitous that, until recently, it was rarely given a second thought: salt was just salt.
The salt’s industrialization also meant that all kinds were created equal for the most part. Manufactured and shipped to grocery stores, the tiny white grains found in kitchens worldwide are similar.
The most common table salt is refined, kiln-dried with anti-caking agents, a far cry from the kind harvested by hand by artisans. This refining process removes any extra trace minerals found in the salt, like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, derived from the environment from which the salt is harvested.
While these minerals are found in small amounts only, they’re what give some salts their character, just as different environmental elements produce different-tasting wines and cheeses. In salt processing, it is removed down to its original chemical composition: sodium chloride (NaCl). It’s okay for basic cooking, but what when you want a little more?
Today, professional chefs and home cooks have started to differentiate between salt and its unique properties for various uses in the kitchen. Gourmet salt is nothing like your usual table salt, which varies from crust size and texture to flavor and color. They are distinctive salts and perfect for enhancing an otherwise simple dish.
Benefits of Gourmet Salt—Are You Using Good Ingredients?
Salt has always gotten a bad rap because we use it on almost everything. “Table” salt doesn’t have nutritional value, and while junk food contains loads of sodium throughout the day, there’s no need to salt your food. Gourmet salt may be the way to go. Even though they’re still high in sodium, eating a little and using a pinch to taste can benefit health. They’ll flavor your foods, add minerals to your diet that you might not get otherwise, and are a great way to season all your favorite dishes with gourmet salt.
Salt is naturally formed in the earth, and its color is pink, red, white, even black. There are over 100 different types in different textures and flavors. They are high in iron and mineral content. Regular table salt usually removes the iodine we need for T3 and T4, your thyroid hormones. Your thyroid hormones, in turn, affect every cell in your body. It includes giving energy, helping maintain healthy body weight, stabilizing body temperature, brain development and function, emotional health, and keeping your hair, nails, and skin healthy. You will never meet a chef who wouldn’t admire a Gourmet salt and how well they enhance their dishes or how much they like to cook different types.
Himalayan pink salt is the purest salt on earth. It’s known to lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and detox your body from heavy metals. Here are some benefits of adding Gourmet salt to your diet and cooking.
Hawaiian Algae Sea Salt: This salt is cooked in Hawaiian red clay. The clay enriches the salt with iron oxide and is most commonly used in traditional Hawaiian cuisine.
Flaky Sea Salt: This salt evaporates the seawater. Using the sun and wind, it makes a brine; then it is fed into an evaporator pan, forming salt crystals when heated. This salt is excellent for fish and vegetable dishes.
Cyprus Black Lava Salt: From the island of Cyprus. A natural detoxifier that is charcoal absorbs toxins in the body. Activated charcoal gives its deep color.
Smoked Sea Salt: This salt is smoked over a wood fire and is excellent for roasting and grilling. Perfect for summer to give your food the best smoky flavor.