What is Kosher Salt anyway? A kosher salt is simply a powdery form of salt harvested from the kosher salt mines of Germany and Eastern Europe. The way it's harvested greatly determines its chemical makeup. For some varieties, the crystals are coarse, and for others, they're shaped more like miniature, hollow shells. The larger crystal crystals are easier to pinch and manipulate with your fingertips.
Today, most of the world's kosher salt supplies come from the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea contains over two million years' worth of trace minerals, many of which are depleted due to water pollution and environmental contaminants. Although Israel and certain other countries have restricted access to the Dead Sea's mineral wealth because of fears of weapons proliferation, mineral samples have been taken and tested there for decades. In fact, Israel has even created a whole industry based on testing sea salt samples for trace minerals.
The fine lines and subtle variations in kosher salt create a wide range of "grades", or qualities. You may notice that different varieties have different textures are some grains can be coarse and crunchy, some smooth and waxy, some rock-hard, and so on. To further complicate matters, kosher salt is also often available in different thicknesses from one and a half millimeters to three millimeters.
So how can you use kosher salt to increase the savor and taste of your food? First, let's look at the differences between coarse and finer grains. Coarse kosher salt tends to be more coarse and salty, with a less intense salt flavor. By contrast, fine kosher salt tends to be softer and has a more subtle mineral flavor. For example, one and a half millimeter fine crystals of sea salt will have the same saltiness as two and a half millimeter coarse crystals. Fine crystals may appear to have smaller crystals, but this is only because these crystals have not been heated to a high temperature as the coarse crystals.
So how do you know whether coarse or fine kosher salt will work for you? Generally speaking, sea salt has a more abrasive texture, which works well with foods such as tomatoes, spring onions, squash, and similar vegetables. In contrast, table salt, or table real salt, tends to be more neutral and does not have as much of an aggressive texture. This is especially true when purchasing kosher salt online, where many suppliers use the same brand name to provide the salt but vary the actual kosher salt grade.
The actual process of kosher salt production is quite complicated. The salt is created by passing water through an electrically charged plate. After the water passes through this electrically charged plate, the resulting salt has a very coarse texture (the ions are trapped in the plates, reducing the amount of available space for each molecule to travel through). To improve upon the fine texture of the raw kosher salt, various processes are employed in order to increase the kashua, or quality of the salt.
Although kosher salt can be purchased at most grocery stores and Jewish food stores, it is best to purchase kosher salt from a reputable kosher salt supplier. In addition to being guaranteed authentic kosher salt suppliers often offer a selection of different salts, each with its own distinctive style and recipe. When purchasing sea salt or baking salt online, you must make sure that the package clearly states which type of kosher salt it is. Not all kosher salt suppliers sell all of the same products, which means you will want to find a kosher salt provider who offers sea salt, baking salt, and even kosher dal and toyne to choose from.
Kosher salt's most common uses are for seasoning and sprinkled on food to add flavor. However, there are a few other interesting uses for kosher salt that should not be overlooked. Like many of the other types of natural ingredients used in cooking today, kosher salt contains elements that may either negatively or positively affect human health. As with all substances consumed in the diet, it's always important to pay attention to possible interactions with your body. By using kosher salt in moderation and monitoring your reactions, you'll ensure a healthy, balanced, safe eating plan for yourself and your family.