Notes

The Difference Between Common Salt and Table Salt
Sea salt is sea salt which is created by the evaporation process of seawater. It's widely used for cooking, seasoning, beauty treatments and even for preserving food. It's also known as solar salt, red rock salt or just plain salt. Salt is one of the key elements in our kitchens since it contributes to the flavor and texture of foods we prepare.

Salt is formed from minerals which are dissolved in sea water, such as potassium chloride and magnesium chloride. Salt contains trace amounts of other elements, such as sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, calcium chloride and aluminum chloride. Salt's chemical makeup can be separated into two main categories: rock salt and evaporating seawater salt.

Rock salt contains trace amounts of magnesium, iron, and chloride. Evaporating seawater salt (also known as table salt) contains trace amounts of sodium, potassium, and chloride. All of these elements are common in sea water. The difference comes from the process which is used to transform seawater into salt. The conversion process also leaves behind sodium chloride and magnesium ions, which are vital for the body's various functions.

Most people know that sea salt is often healthier than table salt because it's frequently blended with baking soda to make it taste better. The type of sea water used to create sea salt also makes a significant contribution to its properties. Rock salt from the ocean contains a higher concentration of potassium chloride and sodium chloride, making it considerably healthier than seawater in general. In addition, the more pure forms of this salt - the ones that were originally mined from the sea - have been shown to contain a higher level of trace minerals compared to today's manufactured forms.

Salt's texture is one of its most unique characteristics. It ranges from the translucent, fine grain texture of sea salt to a coarse, brick-like appearance. Salt's texture can be affected by what it is stored in. When salt is exposed to air, its texture changes from light to dark. This happens because the salt absorbs carbon dioxide. When this happens, the salt's content changes from light to dark, from saltier to fresher, and from harder to softer.

Salt's taste can range from mildly salty to extremely salty depending on the mineral content of the salt itself and the production method. Common types of salt include rock salt (the best tasting of them all), kosher salt and table salt. Rock salt is generally the salt found in sea water and is most commonly used as table salt. Its mineral content is higher than the other types of salts, and it is often refined (made finer and generally less salty) for use in food. Kosher salt and table salt are both dehydrated salts produced from different deposits in the earth's crust; they have different mineral content than sea salt and can vary significantly in taste.

Another notable difference between common salts and table salt lies in their iodine content. Rock salt contains considerably more iodine than any of the other types of salts. Table salt on the other hand does not. Iodine deficiency is known to cause thyroid problems, so much so that the Food and Drug Administration has set a recommended daily allowance for iodine of 100 mcg for every person per day. Although this level is considerably higher than the recommended daily intake, many people still believe that table salt lacks iodine, since it does not contain amounts that would be sufficient to provide a person with the amount of iodine needed.

Table salt is made with an iodine-potassium combination. As previously mentioned, iodine is found abundantly in sea salt. Since sea salt is obtained by boiling water and adding substances like sulfur and magnesium to increase its hardness, it is the most common type of salt used today. Iodized salts are used in many processes, including the manufacturing of cookies, crackers, candies, and ice cream. It cannot be used as a dietary supplement because of its relatively small amounts of iodine. Iodine deficiency could still occur, however, because it is still being consumed in small amounts by people who do not know they are not getting enough.
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