The Amazing World of Specialy Salts

When you need a little seasoning on your food do you automatically reach for your standard shaker of salt? After all, there's nothing special about salt. Right? Nothing could be further from the truth. There's an exciting world of specialty salts out there that will make your taste buds sing with flavor. Here are some of the different types of salts available to shake up your taste buds.

Specialty salts: Crystalline sea salt

This type of salt can be found at gourmet shops and in some grocery stores and food markets. It can be used in place of regular salt to season almost any food you place on your table from meats to hot vegetables. It can be found in both fine and course textures. It has a variety of minerals and natural impurities which give it a distinctive flavor depending on the brand. Some crystalline sea salt has sweet undertones while others tend to be more bitter. You may want to experiment a bit with different brands to see which suits your taste. Crystalline sea salt can add a gourmet touch to any meal.

Specialty salts: Flaked sea salt

This type of salt has an interesting texture and somewhat briny undertones. It's composed of light, delicate flakes which adhere readily to food and dissolve quickly in any type of solution. Because it sticks so well to foods, it's ideal for use in salad, hot vegetables, and French fries.

Specialty salts: Kosher salt

Kosher salt is a relatively easy to find gourmet salt composed of course, rather rough granules. Because of the size and shape of the granules, it's ideal for curing meats. Another popular use for Kosher salt is to salt the sides of a Margarita glass. Don't limit yourself to meats and Margaritas, sea salt can be used in a variety of gourmet dishes from meats to fresh salads. Gourmet cooks will rejoice with how easy it is to grasp the course granules and add them pinch by pinch to flavor a recipe.

Specialty salts: Rock salt

If you have one of the older ice cream makers, you probably know all about rock salt. This salt is composed of large, hard, chunky crystals which often have a gray coloration due to its mineral content. Rock salt is often used to regular the temperature when making ice cream in an ice cream maker. This is one of the few salts you can actually find in your local hardware store since it's also used to melt ice on sidewalks and roads. Rock salt is also sometimes used on the plate when serving some types of shellfish.

Specialty salts: Seasoned salts

There's a whole world of different types seasoned salts available for the gourmet cook and spice lover. These consist of standard table salt mixed with a variety of dried herbs such as garlic, onion, basil, oregano or any of a number of other dried herbs. These can add a delicious taste kick to gourmet meals and is sure to be a favorite of serious cooks. Many grocery stores carry a nice variety of seasoned salts although an even wider selection is available online.

Specialty salts: Fleur de Sel

This is a specialty salt that is less well known. It originates from the coast of France and is harvested completely by hand under very specialized conditions. This salt is claimed to have the highest mineral content of all salts and very pleasing taste. Some brands also have a faint smell of the ocean making it a delightful experience for the senses. You'll likely have to go to a gourmet store or online source to purchase this salt but it may be worth the trip.

With so many different types of salts available today, you can have fun experimenting in your kitchen while discovering new ways to flavor your food.