On 2005-04-27, Hunibal > wrote:
> I need help,
> I Keep reading about different kind of salts:
> Table salt
> Sea Salt
> Kosher Salt
> I thought, Salt - is - Salt! What is the difference?

Well, there are some differences in flavors and crystal size.

Unless I need a fine grind, I've started using kosher salt for almost
everything (particularly rubs, etc). I think the flavor is slightly
superior (doesn't taste, I don't know... as "iodized", maybe), but the
real advantage is the crystal size.

With larger crystals, you get more defined "bites" of flavor (sort of
like the difference between fine-ground and coarse-ground pepper), and
a more granular texture. Since the crystals have more surface area, a
"pinch of salt" is a bit bigger and more manageable with kosher salt
(you can pick up a nice big pinch and drizzle it in a nice
distribution). Subjectively, the larger flakes seem to "grab" meat a
little more definitively when used in a rub.

If you are applying salt to the external part of a dish (like salting
bread or pretzels, or a salt rind on meat), the extra size of the
kosher flakes makes for not only a nicer visual presentation but also
a nice bit of crunchy texture.

(as an aside, the large crystals of kosher salt give it another great
use in the kitchen--when you're done with cooking in your cast-iron
skillet and have just bits of grime left, drop in a half-handful of
kosher salt and scrub the heck out of it with a paper towel; the edges
of the crystals act like a great abrasive, and you can clean the pan
pretty darn well without ever immersing it or getting soap near it.
Mind you don't burn yourself if you try this with bare hands and a hot
skillet, though--and of course wipe out all the salt after it's done
its cleaning duties; leaving salt in an iron skillet wouldn't be too
wise if moisture got involved).

So for me, kosher salt is a major improvement over table salt. I
don't really see the need/niche for sea salt yet; I imagine it's taste
(and there are even "gourmet salts" like the French "fleur de sel",
which I just don't understand at all).


-->VPutz