There are two types of salt

General Cooking tips

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter

Stravaig
KG Regular
Posts: 868
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:59 am
Location: Kent, UK
Has thanked: 159 times
Been thanked: 105 times

OK, don't shout me down. :wink:

As a foodie freak I probably have about 50 different salts in my cupboard, eg kosher salt (which has nothing to do with Jewish people), oak smoked salt, Malden smoked and unsmoked (probably a favourite with Britain's chefs), kala namak - that's Indian/Himalayan so-called black salt which is actually a pinkish-brown colour and very sulphuric.

So, why would I say there are only two types of salt? Because, as far as I'm concerned - and many other chefs are too - there's cooking salt and finishing salt. Many chefs don't even use so-called table salt at all although I'll quite happily chuck a teaspoon of it into the pan in which I'm boiling spuds. But, on the table, I'll usually have a variety of larger grained sea salt (I have rock salt but don't use it as much) both smoked and unsmoked.

Once you get to know your different salts you can make the difference between good and great. Even garlic salt on a raw tomato can make a difference to the flavour.

Don't be shy! Why not try something different? M&S do a nice Oak Smoked Anglesy Sea Salt. Nice on scrambled eggs among other things.
User avatar
Geoff
KG Regular
Posts: 5582
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:33 pm
Location: Forest of Bowland
Been thanked: 135 times

Why waste your money - salt's NaCl end of story.
User avatar
Primrose
KG Regular
Posts: 8063
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:50 pm
Location: Bucks.
Has thanked: 41 times
Been thanked: 290 times

Interesting theory Geoff. It would be fun to do a blind test and see if one can taste the difference!
Breq
KG Regular
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:54 pm
Has thanked: 48 times
Been thanked: 24 times

I also have a collection of different salts (and peppers!) for different uses. I also use the larger grained/ flaked salts (e.g Maldon) as a finishing salt. Much less likely to over-salt, too.

I read a book years ago that said never use "table salt" (mined salt) as it tastes awful. I was surprised, as you said Geoff, salt is salt. The recc was to get some sea salt and "table salt" and do a blind taste comparison side-by-side. There was a unanimous decision in our home never use table salt again in our house - very acrid and metallic tasting :shock:
Stravaig
KG Regular
Posts: 868
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:59 am
Location: Kent, UK
Has thanked: 159 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Well, OK, if you're talking about the chemical composition of salt then mostly it is NaCl - but not always! It might have iodine added or if it's highly processed, such as fine table salt, it might be missing many of the usual nutrients.

The taste of salt is significantly affected by where it comes from and how it's been produced, eg sea salt, rock salt, Himalayan pink salt, French sel noir, etc, etc. If there was no taste difference then why does almost every chef have different types of salt which they prefer to use for various dishes? If you don't believe me look on your favourite search engine with famous chef name followed by favourite salt - or similar search.

As for "wasting money". I don't consider it a waste to buy ingredients to prepare wonderful food. I suppose I could eat gruel every day rather than enjoy lovely meals. It's an odd thing to say anyway. Do you waste money by lliving in a house with electricity, furniture and other things that make your life more pleasant and enjoyable? You could avoid such waste of money by living in a cave or a tent.

Do you NEVER spend money on what you enjoy? Perhaps plants, seeds, holidays, a magazine. Do you wear clothes? You could just wrap yoursef in an old sack instead of wasting money. :lol:

[Edit: This was a response to Geoff before I'd seen Breq's post. :D ]
Stravaig
KG Regular
Posts: 868
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:59 am
Location: Kent, UK
Has thanked: 159 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Breq, I have the Full Monty as well. Salts, peppers, oils, vinegars, mayonnaises. And booze to lift certain dishes - Pernod for fennel bulbs, Cognac for prawn cocktail, vermouth for some fish dishes, etc
Breq
KG Regular
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:54 pm
Has thanked: 48 times
Been thanked: 24 times

Ha, a kindred spirit!
Stravaig
KG Regular
Posts: 868
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:59 am
Location: Kent, UK
Has thanked: 159 times
Been thanked: 105 times

I also have plastic black boxes, you know the kind you get in Poundland. Each one is filled with specialist ingredients and equipment for different cuisines, eg Thai, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, Mexican, etc. In some cases a cuisine has more than one box :D
Breq
KG Regular
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:54 pm
Has thanked: 48 times
Been thanked: 24 times

Clever idea! :o

The first time a gf came too my house she said "OMG your spices and herbs are in alphabetical order!" But, hey, but I can find anything v quickly.

OH never looks for anything in the kitchen, he just asks and I can tell him from the other room.

(and yes I have a garden journal with everything I do, buy, sow, plant listed)

Yup, one of THOSE people. :D
Stravaig
KG Regular
Posts: 868
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:59 am
Location: Kent, UK
Has thanked: 159 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Whatever works for you. I like my box idea because I just grab the box(es) according to what I'm making that day. They can be stored out of the way too when not in use, eg under a bed or on a bedroom windowsill (out of the sun), rather than taking up prime real estate in the kitchen (which is supposed to also be the living room). No way! We don't need a living room. :lol:

I'm not very good or diligent at keeping gardening records. Husband is better. I just want the stuff as ingredients, which are mostly hard to get.

Yeah, my husband doesn't know where anything is - even if it's right in front of his nose! :roll:
Breq
KG Regular
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:54 pm
Has thanked: 48 times
Been thanked: 24 times

LOL, I have a large kitchen/ dining area so I am very spoilt.
The ceiling, however, is v low and even shorty me can touch it. Hubby ducks for the beam!
Stravaig
KG Regular
Posts: 868
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:59 am
Location: Kent, UK
Has thanked: 159 times
Been thanked: 105 times

We were very grateful to be able to rent this flat after being having such difficulty finding somewhere suitable. It's nice enough but it's smaller than we're used to - and there's no loft!

Never mind, just over three months to go and we can reclaim our house.
.
Oh, the reason I came back wasn't to discuss our accommodation. I found an interesting article about different types of salt. Funnily enough I have all the ones mentioned - Persian blue, Celtic, etc - and more. I didn't know that H&B sold these. I generally get my specialist ingredients online from SousChef (co.uk).
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-h ... -sea-salt/
Westi
KG Regular
Posts: 5950
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:46 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Has thanked: 721 times
Been thanked: 261 times

Not everyone has a passion for cooking & Geoff is one of these but for all intent & purpose he could be healthier than any of us & technically he is right & lets face it any nutrients or additives are minuscule & unlikely to affect his dietary intake.

I had lots of bits & bobs but I only follow cuisines I actually like now, which is still wide & varied; so I had a good clear out only keeping those related to these cuisines. I top these up as & when; as the prices drop dramatically when the 'next best thing' comes along. The first Himalayan sea salt was pretty pricy - it is now at the £ shop in a huge bottle for example.

My pet hate is TV chef's making derogatory comments about if you don't like this or that, you are insane. Clearly wrong, our tastes are defined by our upbringing, memories & your palette & how you perceive things you taste. Coriander comes to mind as lots of people including me to an extent, find the leaves taste soapy when fresh, but I grow it specifically for the fresh seeds to grind.
Westi
User avatar
Geoff
KG Regular
Posts: 5582
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:33 pm
Location: Forest of Bowland
Been thanked: 135 times

Not sure how you work out I have no interest in cooking, admittedly I don't do it but my wife is a good cook. We almost exclusively purchase ingredients not finished products, for example she makes all our bread, cakes and biscuits and uses large amounts of the vegetables and fruit that I grow. We both hate "cheffy" nonsense particularly things like using sauces to do little more than dirty the plate and creating helpings that would leave most people still hungry. I stick by my contention that salt is salt, it is used in such small quantities (or should be) that the trace elements that are claimed to make the difference are in virtually homeopathic concentrations in the finished dishes, if you believe that particular brand of nonsense I feel sorry for you.
Breq
KG Regular
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2019 6:54 pm
Has thanked: 48 times
Been thanked: 24 times

Yes, coriander (leaf) is not something I ever want to taste again. The reaction is a genetic olfactory receptor difference, not a personal preference as some believe. Just one or two leaves ruins a whole dish for me. I wish shops/restaurants would not use it so profusely or just make note of its presence on menus. It really is like eating a bar of soap… :shock:
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic