Kosher salt is kosher sea salts that has been reduced to a fine, white powder. Kosher salt has become more popular over the years due to its high salt content and wide variety of uses. It is a great alternative to table salt, which contains many contaminants that the body cannot process properly. More specifically, kosher salt (Kosher) is a salt made by reducing the amount of potassium, magnesium, and calcium found in rock salt, thereby reducing or eliminating its ability to bond with other elements. The increased content of these vital minerals makes kosher salt more beneficial than regular table salt.
Kosher salt is coarse kosher salt with no common additives like iodine. Often used in the kitchen and not on the table, it usually consists of sodium chloride and does not contain anti-caking agents like regular table salt. Used mostly for cooking and seasoning foods, this fine salt is used for curing fish, chicken, and egg yolks and has even been found as a treatment for some medical conditions. Today, kosher salt can be found in most groceries and health food stores as well as specialty stores where it is used in recipes and sprinkled on certain foods to make them more flavour rich.
Though kosher salt was historically created to improve the flavour and texture of foods, today kosher salt is used as a healthy alternative to table salt. It can help lower blood pressure and lowers cholesterol, which are both important to your good health. It helps control your appetite, stimulates your sense of taste and increases your energy levels during extended cooking sessions. It also contains high amounts of magnesium and calcium which help to balance the body's fluids and reduce the risks of heart disease and hypertension.
It is very common for kosher salt, on the other hand, to be paired with fish and poultry as a means of enhancing the flavour and texture of these meats. This pairing is not a coincidence. Fish and poultry contain iodine, which is a vital mineral that must be included in your diet if you want to stay healthy. Iodine plays an important role in helping keep your thyroid gland functioning properly as well as regulating the production of salt in your body.
If you ever had trouble finding table salt at your local grocery store, kosher "cheesing" is the solution. Just make sure that you use kosher salt (known as kassa in Hebrew) in any recipe calls for table salt. Even if you've read the recipe and know that table salt is not kosher, just make sure you have kosher salt on hand when you go shopping so that you can double-check for the correct mix.
One of the reasons that kosher sea salts is a popular choice is because it can withstand high temperatures. While this may sound great in theory, many restaurants and cookbooks do not specify a temperature range for recipes. For example, if you are looking to season beef or pork in a Cajun style dish, it may be necessary to use a different type of salt than you would if you were looking to season a baked potato recipe. It is important to remember that you are making an investment in your health and cooking should always be considered a family affair. Using regular salt may end up costing you more in the long run.
Kosher salt also has its advantages over table salt. It does not react with liquids, such as soups or sauces, nor does it make a mess when mixing or stirring it. Using kosher salt in your cooking makes the food taste better because it has a higher concentration of minerals. This is a great benefit over using regular table salt because your food will have a higher concentration of nutrients.
Finding a substitute for kosher salt is quite simple. The next time you are looking to season meat, consider switching to a kosher salt product instead. You will be amazed at the new flavour you can add to many recipes with this type of seasoning.