Salt is an essential ingredient in our food, making it more flavorful, but it can also lead to health issues. There are various types of salt, with rock salt and sea salt considered healthier alternatives to common table salt. Although similar, there are key differences between rock salt and sea salt.
Key Takeaways
- Rock salt is mined from underground rock formations, while sea salt is formed through the evaporation of ocean water.
- Sea salt contains trace minerals in addition to sodium chloride, whereas rock salt occurs in the form of a mineral called halite.
- Sea salt is considered more flavorful due to the presence of trace minerals and has a lower sodium chloride percentage than table salt.
Rock Salt
Table salt is a refined version of rock salt, which is mainly sodium chloride. When it occurs as a mineral, it is called halite or rock salt. Rock salt has the same sodium chloride content as table salt but has coarser, chunkier crystals that take longer to dissolve, making it unsuitable for direct use in cooking. Rock salt is mined from underground rock formations and is used for various purposes, such as melting ice on roads after snowfall, making ice cream at home, and in preservation and pickling.
Sea Salt
Sea salt is formed through the evaporation of ocean water and contains sodium chloride as well as trace minerals such as magnesium, iodine, and sulfur. It is also known as kosher salt, approved for use in Jewish recipes. Despite containing 98% sodium chloride, sea salt is less salty than table salt and is considered more flavorful and healthier due to the presence of trace minerals.
