Kosher sea salt is an artificial manufactured salt that is made by the evaporation of brine water. It's most commonly used as an ingredient in baking, cooking, hairstyling, and even for preserving food. It's also known as solar salt, white salt, salt block, sea salt or enema salt. Production of kosher salt dates back to prehistoric times when it was used for preserving meat and also for fishing. Today it's still used for preserving seafood, dairy products and also as an additive to recipes.
It takes several steps to convert kosher sea salts to a crystal clear, odourless salt solution which is then used for baking, cooking and even as a natural preservative. The first step is to remove all air from the solution. This is achieved by gently heating the solution to about 150 degrees Celsius, while simultaneously removing any air bubbles that arise. This is done by continually heating and then cooling down the solution.
As soon as the solution reaches its boiling point, it's cooled and then further heated until it reaches the final temperature which is below what the salt would be like if it was still fresh. This ensures that the kosher salt does not lose its original flavour and texture, which are vital to the taste of many foods. One of the great attributes of kosher sea salts is that they retain a high percentage of salt and minerals, which makes them ideal for use in recipes where the salt will need to retain some of its mineral content to retain the taste and integrity of the dish. This also ensures that they are ideal for those who enjoy having a salty taste in their food, particularly in their favourite seafood recipes.
Many kosher sea salts are available on the market in various forms. They can be purchased as rock salt (which is often used in conjunction with kosher salt), in bag form, in the form of crushed flakes, or in a simple salt block. All of these variants have the benefit of being 100% natural and coming straight from the earth. For this reason, the kosher varieties are said to have more pure taste than any other variety on the market today.
One of the most popular kosher sea salts today is the Kosher Sea Salt Flat. These beautiful kosher salts are ideal for use in a wide range of cuisines, with the notable exception of seafood recipes, which are said to be destroyed by the intense saltiness of the kosher sea salt. These beautiful kosher salts come in a wide array of shades and patterns, as well as natural shades of grey, blue or tan. Some have the natural flecks of iodine found in seaweed, while others feature tiny shellfish shell patterns reminiscent of sand dunes. These unique shades make the kosher sea salt very attractive to culinary enthusiasts for their beautiful natural beauty.
Like all the other natural stones used in baking, sea salt has its own unique flavour that some enjoy more than others. The texture is soft and salty, as well as having a diverse array of natural colours. These differences contribute to the wide range of styles of sea salts available on the market today. Each different style has its own unique flavour and can either be quite pleasant, or quite harsh. Kosher sea salts are among the gentlest of salts, so it is not recommended for cooking unless you're sure that your taste buds can handle the intensity of the salty taste.
Of course there is also the ever-popular table salt, which is available in many varieties to add variety to your salty intake throughout the week. As with the sea salt, table salt varies greatly in its quality and salt content. The less quality table salt you purchase, the harsher the taste will be, and therefore should be avoided at all costs by people who care about their diet. Most salt on the market today is very highly processed, and therefore it is no surprise that most people find their taste buds to be quite salty after consuming even the least expensive kosher sea salts.
When purchasing kosher salt or any other type of salt be sure to check the product for an eco symbol on the label. Green or Eco kosher salts are naturally mined from locations without using chemicals, and they are healthier for the earth because they replenish the sea salt over time, rather than being mined for each salt. When shopping for table salt or other types of natural salts, remember to read labels and choose the brand and variety that offer the most taste and health benefits for your family.