Types of Salt

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Have you ever wondered how there are so many different kinds of salt and how to use them? Here are 12 different kinds of salt that all have various flavors and uses. You can find these unique salts underground, in the oceans, or even harvested off Hawaii's volcanic islands. 

12 Different Kinds of Salt

Salt is one of the main ingredients in many different foods and recipes. Salt is a great flavor enhancer that can help with adding other minerals and elements to dishes that are necessary for human health.

You can find salt in many foods you use daily, like salted butter and most seasonings. If you're wanting to try out a new seasoning, be sure to read the back to see if there is salt included in it. If your seasoning already has salt in it, be sure not to over-salt your dishes. You can always add more in, but you can never take any out. 

There are so many different places where salt can be found. There are also times when salt is man-made and is purposely flavored a certain way. 

We all know and love how much salt can really add to the flavor of a dish. Personally, I think both sweet and savory dishes can benefit from this excellent flavor enhancer. Some of my favorite recipes are Coconut Macaroons, Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Basil Butter Corn. 

Different Kinds of Salt

Table Salt

This is the most common type of salt. It is found underground and is highly refined and finely ground. It is also one of the best salts to use when baking because it has an anti-caking agent that helps with clumping. Iodized, which means that it is used to prevent an iodine deficiency - which can cause multiple health issues. 

Kosher Salt

Another popular salt is kosher salt, which is very similar to table salt but is a little more coarse and dissolves quickly. This is great for adding on top of red meat, like a steak, once it is done cooking because it looks nice and because it helps bring out the flavor. This isn’t the best salt to use if you’re planning on baking because it is a bit chunky. 

Smoked Salt

Smoked salt gets its name from the salty flavor that this salt has because it usually spends about two to three weeks over a wood fire. The smoke can add a very strong flavor that tastes smokey and woody, depending on the wood that is used. The most common woods are hickory and mesquite. Add this salt to any dishes that you’re wanting a little smokey flavor, so different meats and chilis. 

Flake Salt

Another great finishing salt is flake salt. It is also harvested from Evaporated sea Water. It is thin and oddly shaped but has a light and fresh flavor. This salt should be used as a finishing salt on top of sweets, like chocolate and caramel.

Pickling Salt

Did you know that there is a specific salt that is used for pickling? Picking salt is one of the few salts that does not contain iodine, other minerals, or caking agents. 

Celtic Grey Sea Salt

Celtic Grey Sea Salt, or “Sel Gris,” is French for grey salt, which can be found at the bottom of the Celtic sea near France. This sea salt is perfect for baking and adding on top of meats, seafood, and veggies. 

Fleur De Sel

This is another salt that is harvested from France. This “flower of salt” is very thin and is incredibly expensive, but that probably has to do with the fact that it can only be harvested on a sunny day. It has a greyish-blue tint to it and is a great finishing salt for different kinds of seafood, meats, veggies, and sweets. 

Sea Salt

Sea salt is simply made from evaporated seawater, which gives is reflected in its name. It is coarse, unrefined, and contains some essential minerals like zinc, potassium, and iron. Since it is a little more coarse, it is great to add to cookies or on top of meat because of its light and fresh flavors. Sea salt is very versatile because it works well with both sweet and savory foods. 

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

This form of sea salt has become one of the most popular salts in the past few years due to how many minerals can be found in it. It contains 84 elements and minerals that are found in the human body and is 100% pure. It adds a bold salt flavor to food while cooking, and you can find it added to many different spa or self-care treatments. 

Black Himalayan Sea Salt

This black salt is a man-made salt that is also known as “Kala Namak” is created using charcoal and different herbs and seeds and stays in a furnace for around 24 hours to get its intense flavor. This causes it to have an “eggy” flavor, which makes it perfect for vegan recipes. 

Black Hawaiian Salt

One of the most common sea salts that are found in Hawaii is Black Sea salt, or lava salt as some of the locals like to call it. They harvest this salt from the islands, which causes it to be black in color due to the charcoal found in the islands. This earthy-flavored salt can be added to seafood, pork, and other meat. 

Red Hawaiian Salt

Another salt that is found in Hawaii is its very own red salt. The red color comes from volcanic clay, which has a red tint to it. Hawaiians use this salt in many different ceremonies for cleansing, purification, and blessings. It’s wonderful for adding to traditional Hawaiian dishes, like poke and pipi kula (Hawaiian jerky), and even different kinds of seafood. It’s known for its beautiful red flavor, which is very uncommon for salts. 

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• First published: 3/25/2023

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Allison Lancaster

Allison Lancaster is a blogger and work-at-home mom. She has always had a passion for writing and after becoming a mom in 2015, decided to turn her passion into her career. Her writing has been featured in the Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and more. She resides in Tennessee with her husband and two children.

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