Salt can do wonders for your dishes especially when it is lacking that extra flare but not all salts are made the same way nor should they be used in the same methods. If you are thinking to yourself, “well, how much difference can it make for cooking or baking?” then join us as we uncover the differences!
1. Table Salt
They are generally not suitable in savoury dishes and only used in small amounts because it has a metallic taste to it when used too much. They come in the form of fine grains and commonly known as iodized salt because it has potassium iodide.
Usage: Baking
Price: RM 8.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
2. Himalayan Pink Salt
Sourced from the Himalaya mountains of South Asia, it is unique for its pink colour and intense flavour that is used as the last step to a dish. Many believe that this is a better choice compared to table salt and used in regular cooking.
Usage: Cooking, sauces, marinade
Price: RM 5.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
3. Himalayan Black Salt
Himalayan black salt is created from cooking rock salt along with some herbs and charcoal for several hours in a furnace. Due to that, it creates a scent that mimics egg and can often be seen used in vegan dishes to have that egg taste.
Usage: Cooking
Price: RM 4.75
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
4. Black Hawaiian Sea Salt
This black salt is created from mixing charcoal with sea salt and you might have seen it being used in rituals or a skincare product. It is promoted as an ingredient that can rejuvenate or exfoliate your skin and is used as a finishing salt but try to learn more about it if you’re feeling cautious about having it in dishes.
Usage: Ritual, skincare, finishing salt
Price: RM 36.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
5. Smoked Salt
Smoked salt is made by smoking salt with wood and the type of wood used in this process can change the colour and flavour of the result. This is why you might find several options of smoked salts from the below links according to your preference in flavour.
Usage: Savoury cooking
Price: RM 6.85
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
6. Kosher Salt
Most of the time, kosher salt are affordable and it dissolves very easily during cooking due to its light texture. However, one thing to note about this is that different brands might taste saltier compared to others even if used in the same amount so be sure to familiarise yourself in case you are trying out different brands.
Usage: Cooking
Price: RM 5.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
7. Flake Salt
Immediately, you might notice that the shape and texture of this salt are different but it does have a good taste. The price could go higher for some purchases but you can still use it as a finishing salt and the shapes make it look interesting on top of a dish.
Usage: Finishing salt
Price: RM 4.40
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
8. Sea Salt
It is hard to pinpoint whether the sea salt you chose would be saltier in a small amount or not because it is dependent on the location that it was harvested from, but there’s no harm in trying it out until you figure out which one you’d like to buy. Luckily for us, the flavour is great with both savoury and sweet dishes.
Usage: Cooking, baking
Price: RM 4.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
9. French Sea Salt
Some people say that the salt itself reminds them of the sea and it is typically moist yet sticky so the saltiness might linger on even after you tasted it. Thus, it might be better as a finishing salt rather than your usual seasoning for a dish.
Usage: Finishing salt
Price: RM 6.30
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
10. Celtic Grey Sea Salt
Celtic sea salt is grey because of the minerals that remain even after the seawater evaporates but don’t worry about the colour if you think it would affect you. It would taste great if you sprinkle some on top of cooked meat and seafood.
Usage: Finishing salt
Price: RM 9.60
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
What to consider when using salt:
- Only use a small amount of salt that is good enough to season the dishes
- Some salt has intense flavours so it is important to know the types and use lesser of the intense types when seasoning
- Read food labels for the amount of salt used in it so you can either choose to continue using it then season accordingly or avoid the product in case of too much sodium
A good amount of salt including the right types being used in your dishes can help benefit you in ways like developing a healthy brain because of the iodine in salt. Other than that, salt can also help the body to absorb more water in terms of hydration if you just lost some water content in your body. Nevertheless, do not take too much salt because it can increase your blood pressure and create water retention in your body.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
