Most people reach for the standard white salt grains when they need it for cooking and never consider trying a different kind. Your choice of salt can really enhance your food.

Salt Crystals.

Most recipes state: 'add salt' but they don't specify a particular kind of salt, so many people simply reach for whatever they happen to have in the kitchen cupboard. There are many varieties of salt to choose from and each adds its own flavor to the finished recipe. Experimentation is the best way to discover what works best for you. You can't ruin a dish, no matter what kind of salt you select as long as you don't add too much.

Sea salt is manufactured from sea water and involves an evaporation process which leaves behind salt crystals. The flavor of this is supposed to be stronger than rock salt but the extra iodine it contains makes no real difference to the taste.

You may thing this is all there is to sea salt but think again, there are different kinds with different, delicate flavors which can often make a real difference in the kitchen.

Smoked sea salt has an added flavor which goes well with grilled meat, or fish. The salt itself is lightly smoked over a fire burning fragrant wood. Hawaiian red salt contains red clay that gives it that lovely delicate color.

Other varieties include French sea salt which is white, or grey. This grey variety is very expensive and considered to be the very best for cookery uses.

Italian flaked salt which is used to decorate and finish off prepared dishes.

Black salt is an acquired taste in its own right. It is actually dark grey with a slight pinkish color and

tastes of sulphur. This is not commonly used but is found in kitchens which specialise in Indian cookery.

There is a whole range of rock salts including Himalayan pink and artificial sodium free varieties but I have found that sea salts are the ones that give the best results. However, this is very much a matter of personal preference.

The best way to find salt that makes a difference to your recipes is to try one or two different kinds until you discover the ones you like.

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