What is the difference between kosher salt and unprocessed sea salt?
I have read that the difference between sea salt and kosher salt is that sea salt is generally processed in that it has minerals added to it which were lossed during the evaporation process while kosher does not.
Somebody also told me sea salt is inefficient for brining and it contains impurities
I have also read that unprocessed sea salt and kosher salt is the same thing.
I am using saxa sea salt which on the box says is 100% natural and has no ingredients added. This being the case is it the same as kosher salt or not?
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Thank you for your answer. I would like to add a related question. You said sea salt does not stick very well to meat during brining. Does this point apply to dry brining only or does it apply to brining in a water solution where the salt is dissolved?
Best Answer
Kosher salt is pure, like table salt, but without any iodine and (usually) without any anti-caking agents.
Kosher salt crystals are also coarse, but flat, which makes them easy to dissolve or season/coat meat.
Unprocessed sea salt is simply coarse; the shape of the crystals (whole or ground) does not stick to meat particularly well and the impurities make it harder to dissolve properly in water. It doesn't usually have minerals added (unless it's a really cheap kind possibly made from pre-iodized table salt), it just doesn't have minerals removed like table salt.
Kosher salt and sea salt are definitely not the same thing. Kosher salt can come from seawater, like sea salt, but the "kosher" part is all about the size and shape of the crystals, not their source.
Sea salt is not a good idea for brining. It's expensive and inefficient, and by the time the meat is cooked, any distinctness of flavour will have completely disappeared. Some of the minerals may even burn, depending on the cooking method.
Instead, use kosher salt or table salt for brining and add sea salt as a seasoning afterward if you want. Using sea salt for cooking, brining, or other preparation is simply wasting it.
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Is kosher salt the same as sea salt?
Kosher salt is mined from underground salt deposits. What is sea salt? Sea salt is made from drying salt water from the ocean or salt water lakes into crystals. Because it's harvested from water, it has micro nutrients and other subtle flavors that aren't present in kosher salt.Is kosher salt unprocessed?
Kosher salt comes from land salt mines but, unlike table salt, it is less processed and contains fewer additives. Kosher salt has a coarse and flat grain size, which makes it easy to crumble over vegetables or pinch into pasta water. Its crystal size also makes it ideal for curing meat, a step in the koshering process.Which is better sea salt or kosher salt?
Sea salt is usually minimally processed, so it retains trace levels of nutrients like magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium. Sea salt has a coarser grain than table salt and is softer than kosher salt. It's notable for its crunchy texture and potent flavor.Why use kosher salt instead of Seasalt?
Kosher salt is coarse, less refined, and takes a while to dissolve; however, because it is composed of larger flakes, it's not as dense. That means you can use for more than table salt. The advantage of kosher salt is its versatility. It's also easier to distribute evenly because the grains are so sizable and rough.What's the Difference Between Kosher Salt, Table Salt, and Sea Salt?
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