Salt is used in a wide variety of cooking and baking recipes and is sometimes added to foods such as bread, chips, dips, meat, seafood, and poultry. However, table salt, which is most often made from coarse sea or ground rock salt, can also be added to dishes that do not call for it. It is important to know the salt content of the dish being prepared so that one can judge the amount of salt needed to add or decrease the salt in the dish.
A teaspoon of table salt contains about 2,000 mg of sodium, while a teaspoon of kosher or sea salt can have even less sodium as fewer crystals fit in the teaspoon. Some varieties of table salt may actually claim to have more sodium than regular table salt. There are also several types of cooking and baking recipes that call for table salt.
Table salt is commonly used for cooking but can also be added to foods that would otherwise require cooking with other kinds of cooking salts, including baking and broiling. Table salt comes in various grades and can be purchased at any grocery store. There are some companies that specialize in making table salts for food manufacturers. It should be kept in mind, however, that table salt is not necessarily safe for everyday use. It may cause allergic reactions and is not recommended for people with hypertension, diabetes, kidney or heart problems, or for those with high blood pressure or heart arrhythmia.
People who have diabetes or are taking blood thinners are especially advised against using table salt when they are cooking, especially when they are cooking seafood. Table salt is not safe to use on fruits such as oranges or lemons, and may actually cause a burning sensation in the mouth or throat. People who are allergic to dust or pollen are particularly warned against using table salt when cooking. However, table salt is a good substitute for other types of cooking salt as long as the amount of salt in it is the same or lower than that in other types of salt.
In addition to being used as cooking salt, table salt can also be used as a natural preservative in preparing dairy products. It is often added to cheese to prevent spoilage and make it last longer, and to add flavor and thickness. It also prevents bacteria from forming on the surface of the cheese.
Table salt has other uses beyond cooking. Many companies offer packages containing table salt for use as an alternative to table salt when baking. However, table salt must be avoided during the baking process as excessive exposure can make the cookies or cakes difficult to cut into. Some commercial salt brands have additives such as flour, cornmeal, or other flour-like materials that will result in the formation of fine lumps.
When used in the salad dressing, table salt does not add flavor or color to the dish. Rather, it acts as a stabilizer, keeping the salad ingredients from becoming too acidic. It also helps keep the salad dressings from drying out and losing their color. The most common use for table salt is as a seasoning additive in soups.
Sea salt and table salt can be bought online, in health food stores, and at some supermarkets. It is recommended that one only purchase table salt and not sea salt for cooking purposes. This is because sea salt tends to have a bitter taste.
In addition, sea salt is harmful to the environment when used in showerheads, sprinklers, fireplaces, and water fountains. Table salt is recommended for use in such applications as these because it does not contain any salt.
Table salt is a natural preservative and is often used for making baby food. Table salt can also be used as a base for salad dressings in making chicken salads and meat dips.
Table salt can be very expensive when purchasing it in a package. When buying table salt online, consumers should take into consideration the shipping charges and if the package includes any other items because these costs may vary greatly.