What Is Sea salt and How Can I Use It?

If sea salt has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 483 recipes to try it in.

What is sea salt?

Sea salt is obtained by the evaporation of seawater, is used in cooking and cosmetics.

Historically called bay salt or solar salt, its mineral content gives it a different taste from table salt, which is pure sodium chloride, usually refined from mined rock salt (halite) or from sea salt.

Generally more expensive than table salt, it is commonly used in gourmet cooking and specialty potato chips, particularly the kettle cooked variety (known as hand-cooked in the UK/Europe).

Taste and Health

Gourmets often believe sea salt to be better than ordinary table salt in taste and texture , though one cannot always taste the difference when dissolved. In applications where sea salt's coarser texture is retained, it can provide different mouth feel and changes in flavor due to its different rate of dissolution.

The mineral content also affects the taste. It may be difficult to distinguish sea salt from other untreated salts, such as pink Himalayan salt, or grey colored rock salt. Sea salt is purified less than the high mineral pink salt.

Varieties

Flaky sea salt - flaked Flaky sea salt

Coarse sea salt

Smoked flaky sea salt

Fine sea salt

Iodized

Because sea salt generally lacks high concentrations of iodine, an element essential for human health, it is not necessarily a healthful substitute for regular iodized table salt, which is usually supplemented with the element, unless another source of dietary iodine is available (such as dairy products or regular processed foods).

Iodized forms of sea salt are now marketed to address this concern.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup (292g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 0Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 113173mg 4716%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 0.0g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 7% • Iron 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Where found

Sea salt is usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Sea salt is a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does sea salt weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 cup	292 grams
1 tbsp	18 grams
1 teaspoon	6 grams
1 dash	0 grams

Spices and Herbs

Allspice 904 Allspice berries 37 Star anise 178 Aniseed 23 Bay leaves 2049 Caraway seeds 321 Cardamom pods 100 Cardamom seeds 317 Celery seeds 283 Chervil 65

In Chinese:	海盐
British (UK) term:
en français:	sel de mer
en español:	sal marina

Recipes using sea salt

There are 483 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Everything Bagel Seasoning

All-dressed bagel seasoning, so expensive in stores, can be easily made in a flash. It can be used on various dishes, such as avocado toast, eggs, roasted vegetables, and even popcorn. It adds a delicious and savory flavor to your favorite foods.

Black Olive & Sea Salt Focaccia

Black olive and sea salt focaccia is a classic Italian flatbread brushed generously with olive oil, scattered with chopped olives, and finished with coarse sea salt for that signature crunch.

Delicious Tabouli

Tabouli salad with bulgur wheat, juicy tomatoes, fresh parsley, lemon, and olive oil. The classic Middle Eastern parsley salad served at room temperature with optional black olives and mint.

Aloo Mathar Paratha (Sides)

The quintessential Indian-Singaporean meal accompaniment. Unfortunately, all too often it is made using highly processed white flour and margarine. Here, the parathas are made with whole-wheat flour (you could also try using spelt flour) and stuffed with peas and potatoes, for a lighter but more wholesome take on the original. Serve hot with yoghurt and herbs.

Toasts with Peanut Butter & Sea Salt

Everyone loves toasts with peanut butter, it's so quick and easy to make, and it's just good itself.

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

Vegan cream of broccoli soup uses blended raw cashews and potatoes for body, no dairy required. Silky, plant-based, and ready in 35 minutes.

Holiday Vegan Pumpkin Pie

A vegan pumpkin pie with a silky tofu-set custard, spiced with cinnamon, ginger and mace and sweetened with molasses, in a flaky from-scratch crust. An egg- and dairy-free holiday classic.

Sage & Walnut Pesto Pasta

Sage and parsley bring herbal, earthy, and outdoorsy notes to the forefront, walnuts bring meaty richness, and Parmesan brings home the umami. This simple recipe is all about technique. The pesto then coats the pasta dreamily. Best of all, it's super simple and quick to plate.

Whole Grain Spice Pumpkin Muffins

Whole grain spice pumpkin muffins with whole wheat pastry flour, bran, honey, dates, and raisins. Naturally sweetened, fiber-rich fall muffins with warm spices and orange zest.

Chipotle Shrimp

Plump shrimp tossed with smoky chipotle butter and piled onto warm corn tortillas. Mexican-style shrimp tacos with creamy avocado and ranchero sauce in 40 minutes.

Quick Hummus

This tasty spread is easy to make and tastes amazing when used in sandwiches.

Turkey with Apricot Chardonnay Glaze

A delicious recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

Vegan Sour Cream-Eggplant Meatballs

Moist and Delicious These Vegan Sour Cream-Eggplant Meatballs Are Great Tasting In My Homemade Sauce!! ..Topped Over A Bed Of Spaghetti Pasta!

Avocado, Radish & Edamame Salad

A simple salad with big health credentials: avocados are an excellent source of good fats, and more recently have been shown to also inhibit inflammation when eaten in combination with foods that typically trigger it. They are also a rich source of potassium (which balances sodium to keep blood pressure levels stable) and vitamin E, an important antioxidant.

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Muffins

Wholesome whole wheat peanut butter muffins sweetened with molasses, not sugar, and quick to mix in one bowl. Crunchy peanut butter and whole wheat pastry flour make a hearty, lightly sweet breakfast or snack.

Jimmy's Butternut Squash Chowder

Vegan butternut squash chowder made creamy without a drop of dairy. Blended squash, sweet potato, and carrot form a velvety base, brightened with garlic, rosemary, and thyme and topped with toasted almonds.

Wholegrain Waffles with Flaxseeds

A breakfast staple made with organic spelt flour, coconut oil and natural sweetener. Serve with maple syrup on the side and fresh berries or bananas or organic yoghurt. Another option is to soften some apple slices in a little bit of water, vanilla and dash of maple syrup until the liquid reduces and the apples are soft. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon – reminiscent of apple pie!