The Importance of Sea Salt and How It Is Used
- By James Harrison
- Published 06/3/2010
- Gourmet
- Unrated
Recently sea salt has become more than a commodity as gourmet chefs, those cooking at home and cooks in restaurants, have learned to appreciate and distinguish between the distinctive qualities of the many varieties of gourmet sea salts and the ways these salts enhance the flavors and finish of foods. Another reason for the use of sea salt are the added health benefits of natural sea salts that contain more minerals.
The various types of sea salts range from coarse, finishing, flake, Fleur de Sel and French Sea Salt to grey, grinder, Hawaiian, Italian, Himalayan salt and Kala Namak sea salt. There are also specialty salts such as Kosher, Organic, Smoked and Infused sea salts.
Beyond nutrition, salt is used for several necessary functions in food processing and cooking.
Salt is used to preserve foods by creating a hostile environment for certain microorganisms. Within foods, salt brine dehydrates bacterial cells and inhibits bacterial growth and subsequent spoilage. Salting fish made long-range explorations possible in the age of sailing ships.
Salt aids in strengthening gluten in bread dough, providing uniform grain, texture and dough strength. Salt improves the tender
ness in cured meats such as ham by promoting the binding of water by protein. It also gives a smooth, firm texture to processed meats.
In processed and formed meats salt extracts the proteins. In sausage making, stable emulsions are formed when the salt-soluble protein solutions coat the finely-formed globules of fat, providing a binding gel consisting of meat, fat and moisture.
Salt controls fermentation in baked products, by retarding and controlling the rate of fermentation, important in making a uniform product.
Color development in promoted by salt in ham, bacon, hotdogs and sauerkraut. Used with sugar and nitrate or nitrite, salt produces a color in processed meats which consumers find appealing.
Sodium Chloride, which is salt, can also be used as a treatment. In cases of glandular problems causing obesity, for instance, bath salts are very useful, even in cases of hypo function or hyper function of the thyroid. When dry or wet salt compresses are applied it reduces the excess liquid present in the tissues. Salt aids in the relief of swollen and sore feet when you immerse them in a basin of warm water with a handful of salt. To disinfect the mouth and to get rid of bad breath, gargling with salt and bicarbonate of soda dissolved in water has been proven effective.
The various types of sea salts range from coarse, finishing, flake, Fleur de Sel and French Sea Salt to grey, grinder, Hawaiian, Italian, Himalayan salt and Kala Namak sea salt. There are also specialty salts such as Kosher, Organic, Smoked and Infused sea salts.
Beyond nutrition, salt is used for several necessary functions in food processing and cooking.
Salt is used to preserve foods by creating a hostile environment for certain microorganisms. Within foods, salt brine dehydrates bacterial cells and inhibits bacterial growth and subsequent spoilage. Salting fish made long-range explorations possible in the age of sailing ships.
Salt aids in strengthening gluten in bread dough, providing uniform grain, texture and dough strength. Salt improves the tender
In processed and formed meats salt extracts the proteins. In sausage making, stable emulsions are formed when the salt-soluble protein solutions coat the finely-formed globules of fat, providing a binding gel consisting of meat, fat and moisture.
Salt controls fermentation in baked products, by retarding and controlling the rate of fermentation, important in making a uniform product.
Color development in promoted by salt in ham, bacon, hotdogs and sauerkraut. Used with sugar and nitrate or nitrite, salt produces a color in processed meats which consumers find appealing.
Sodium Chloride, which is salt, can also be used as a treatment. In cases of glandular problems causing obesity, for instance, bath salts are very useful, even in cases of hypo function or hyper function of the thyroid. When dry or wet salt compresses are applied it reduces the excess liquid present in the tissues. Salt aids in the relief of swollen and sore feet when you immerse them in a basin of warm water with a handful of salt. To disinfect the mouth and to get rid of bad breath, gargling with salt and bicarbonate of soda dissolved in water has been proven effective.
James Harrison
SaltWorks is a leading provider of sea salt offering a wide variety from Dead Sea salts to Himalayan salt. The company provides gourmet salts and bath salts at retail or bulk quantities.
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