What is the difference between sea salt and regular table salt?
I often sea sea salt sold in grinders to be used at the table, with comments about how it tastes better. What sort of taste differences would I notice using sea salt vs table salt, and what other differences might using one over the other impart?
I've also noticed people say that regular table salt is unhealthy, but that sea salt is somehow healthier for you.
Best Answer
I can say, as a salt snob, that sea salt is a far more flavorful product. I can't even use regular table salt anymore.
Sea salt is salt formed from evaporated sea water, is not iodized, and because it doesn't come from salt mines requires very little processing. Some people will say that because it's "natural", sea salt must be better for you. The mayo clinic seems to disagree: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sea-salt/AN01142
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Is sea salt better for you than regular salt?
Is there a health advantage to eating sea salt? Most sea salts don't offer any real health advantages. The minute amounts of trace minerals found in sea salt are easily obtained from other healthy foods. Sea salt also generally contains less iodine (added to prevent goiter) than table salt.Can you substitute regular salt for sea salt?
If you are substituting table salt for regular sea salt (not coarse or flaked) you can substitute one for the other in equal amounts. The majority of the difference will come when you use larger amounts.Which salt is best for you?
Which salt is best? At the end of the day, salt is salt. Other than the salt substitutes perhaps, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that any type of salt is better or healthier than any other.How is sea salt different than table salt?
As the name suggests, sea salt is made by evaporating seawater. The salt left over from evaporation is not processed, or processed very little, so it retains traces of minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The crystals are bigger than in table salt and add some crunch when sprinkled on food.What's the Difference Between Table Salt and Sea Salt? | The New York Times
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Answer 2
Iodine. Table salt has added iodine, and sea salt doesn't. Sea salt also tends to be a little coarser, but that's just cosmetic.
Sea salt isn't as refined as table salt, either, so it may contain traces of other minerals (magnesium, sulfur). Sea salt is also considered to be kosher.
Answer 3
As mentioned by Satanicpuppy, sea salt is largely regular, uniodized salt but with small amounts of different minerals from ocean water, and without the anticaking agent added to salt. So, at least chemically, they are very similar as sea salt is still ~85% regular salt. The presence of different minerals affects the taste and texture (maybe someone who uses it a lot can tell you how). You can also find iodized sea salt sold in case you want to substitute it completely for normal iodized salt.
Answer 4
It depends on what country you come from.
In many countries "table salt" is just their local sea salt, crushed, filtered, and sometimes iodized.
Not every country has "salt mines", but most countries with a coast line can collect or "farm" evaporated salt. See this PDF
Answer 5
In Italy we basically only use sea salt, in Romania they use mostly rock salt. Once the salt has been mixed into the food, I can't tell the difference. I don't taste salt by itself because... you would have to pay me for it.
Of course, if you did an A/B double blind test, perhaps you would get some effect. But do you care?
Healthwise, food safety agencies the world over seem to have no problem at all with rock salt and sea salt. Somebody befor ementioned iodine - that is something to keep in mind.
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