Kosher Sea Salt and Cooking
Kosher sea salt is sea salt harvested from the Dead Sea located in Israel. The Dead Sea Salt has been used for centuries as a medicinal cure all and has recently gained popularity as an alternative natural remedy for a variety of ailments. As kosher sea salt contains an increased concentration of minerals and trace elements (amins and trace minerals) when compared to table salt, it is ideal for the vitamins and mineral requirements of people on restricted diets or simply trying to live a healthier lifestyle. It can however cost more than table salt at times due to its unique production process.
kosher salt is actually a coarse salt harvested from the Dead Sea. Grains of kosher salt are compressed, making a denser, coarser flake which can’t be packed tightly like refined grains of sea salt. Look it under a microscope and you will see small, almost round cubes, shaped into wedges, allowing the minerals to pack more tightly together. K kosher salt is used as an essential ingredient in making sea salt, kosher salt pops, salt blocks, smoked fish seasoning and a host of other culinary recipes.
But did you know kosher salt can also help save you money? In most instances, the salt is certified kosher but it can still vary greatly from one kosher salt vendor to another. This is why it’s important to make sure you purchase your kosher salt from a reputable kosher salt manufacturer that is signed up to the International Kosher Substitutions Commission (ISCS). Kosher certification means the salt has been prepared in accordance with the highest Jewish standards of excellence. When purchasing kosher salt, you will want to make sure the kosher symbol is prominently displayed on the box. TheISCS is not a government regulated organization but it does maintain standardization of kosher salt.
Not only is kosher salt highly desirable for use in food and baking, it is also highly nutritious. There are two types of kosher salt: kosher salt chloride and kosher salt sodium. Kosher salt chloride is unrefined kosher salt that is usually sold in small crushed particles. Kosher salt chloride retains more of the vitamins and trace minerals than table salt, which makes it a healthier alternative for your family. Kosher salt is especially beneficial for use in cooking and baking.
kosher sea salt and table salt do have some common elements. Both have high levels of sodium and chloride. However, they differ primarily in the number of impurities that are removed. Sea salt contains up to 15 times more sodium than table salt, making it a healthier choice. Table salt, on the other hand, contains up to 90 times more sodium than kosher sea salt, making it a health disaster in more ways than one.
The kosher sea salt and table salt have different mineral and chemical compositions. The concentration of minerals in kosher salt varies significantly from one type to another. In fact, the most expensive kosher sea salts will still have relatively similar amounts of magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium – just a few percent more. This slight variation results in very subtle variations in flavor, texture, and overall quality of the salt.
In order to derive unrefined kosher sea salt from seawater, various methods are used. First, the water is brought to a boil, and the rocks are then added. Then, the water is allowed to cool, draining off all sediment. After this, the unrefined kosher salt and its minerals are harvested and then shipped to various manufacturers around the world. Although this harvesting and shipping process may seem harsh on the environment, it is far more eco-friendly than the natural extraction process used by traditional kosher salt makers.
There are many kosher salt manufacturers in the world today, but only a few brands really stand out. The most well-known kosher salt brand is Dolin & Friends, which is based in Israel. They have a reputation for using environmentally friendly processes and have become known as “world class” when it comes to the quality of their sea salts. Dolin & Friends sea salts are also available on the internet and at many other stores around the world. It is worth shopping around, because with a little bit of research you should be able to find affordable kosher salts at all good stores around the world.