The Salt of life : Rooftop Views

Rooftop Views

The Salt of life

This article is by Kirk Leins who has been cooking his entire life. No stranger to professional kitchens, he currently devotes most of his time to cooking instruction, food writing, and producing television.

Salt – it is a simple word, yet a complicated subject, well kind of. Scientifically speaking, it is a very basic compound. Historically, however, we are talking about one of the world's oldest and richest resources, with applications ranging from food to textiles. So, do yourself a "flavor" and follow along as I apply a little reasoning to the world's greatest seasoning.

What is salt?
It doesn't seem prudent to begin our examination of salt without first addressing what it actually is. In terms of chemistry, salt is the combination of two elements, sodium and chloride. It is not only one of the most basic molecules on earth it is also one of the more abundant. Salt can be found in seawater, as well as in the form of evaporite minerals (rock salt), typically the result of enclosed waterbeds having evaporated.

The compound known as salt is absolutely crucial to life as we know it. Our bodies actually require it in order to regulate fluid levels. Salt also happens to be pretty important to the world's economy, as it has literally thousands of commercial applications. Paper, dyes and detergents all contain salt. Think about how many products and services utilize at least one of the three. It is also used to soften water, deliver trace minerals to livestock, keep our roads free of snow and ice, and preserve food.

Salt even has a deep meaning within many religions. In Catholicism, its use as a purifier dates back to the Old Testament. It is believed that the word "salvation" actually stems from this practice. In Judaism, salt was used historically as a temple offering on the Sabbath. To this day, salt water is part of a traditional Passover dinner, symbolizing the tears of Jewish slaves. In eastern religions such as Buddhism and Shintoism, salt is thought to drive away evil spirits.

If you haven't already figured it out, salt is such a large subject that a complete examination would require a doctoral thesis. My goal, rather, is to impress upon you one idea - salt is hugely important to the body, mind and soul.

3 types of salt
Before we go any further, I think it's important to talk about some of the more popular types of salt for cooking, as well as their more common uses.

Iodized Salt (table salt)
This is the stuff that's found in most saltshakers. It is made by filling salt deposits with water and allowing it to evaporate. The crystals left behind are then refined and iodized. If you're asking why the iodine, it was an attempt on behalf of the Morton Salt Company in 1924 to reduce the number of goiters in Americans. Strangely enough, it worked!

Personally, the only time I ever utilize table salt is if I'm at a restaurant and my food comes to me under-seasoned. I hardly use it at home as I don't cook with it, and rarely do I bake with it. It's considered to be very salty in flavor and due to its superfine texture it is difficult to determine how much you're actually using without measuring it first.

Kosher Salt
Aside from iodine not being added, Kosher salt differs from table salt because it is raked when harvested. This process yields larger and more square-shaped grains. While the salt itself is Kosher, its name actually reflects its use in the process of Koshering meat. That being said, Kosher salt happens to be an awesome everyday salt. Aside from being inexpensive, it is less salty than its iodized cousin and the larger grains allow for easy handling. It can be used for cooking and as a tableside condiment.

Sea Salt
Available in both fine and coarse grains, as well as flakes, sea salt is obtained by evaporating seawater. Since there are many seas, it shouldn't be hard to imagine that there are many types of sea salt, ranging from cheap to costly. The inexpensive stuff can be used just like Kosher salt. The more expensive sea salts should either be used for smaller applications, or as a finishing touch to a special meal. Sea salt has become a diverse business, as many are now being infused with wonderful flavors, such as truffles and various herbs.