Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Salt to Taste

Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that I love to cook, but somehow I have been too busy with other things so I stopped doing it for a while... until last weekend when I decided enough was enough and got myself back in the kitchen.


One of the things that cannot be missing in my kitchen is salt. I have these restaurant sized containers {given to me by a friend who's a chef!} with fine and coarse sea salt that I love because I used them very differently. The fine one I use when I'm done with a dish and the coarse as I cook so dissolves slowly are help release the flavors that I want to enhance.


When using salt make sure to start with a pinch or two and then taste your food and if you think it needs more add little by little until you reach the desired level of saltiness. Also, remember to use it in moderation and to enhance the flavor of your foods... your body needs just a little bit of sodium {helps in the transmission of nerve impulses} but too much can have bad effects of your body like water retention {see more info HERE}.


If you are adding salt to raw foods before cooking them like salmon or meat, do it right before you put them in the grill that way it won't lose any moisture, instead the flavor will be enhanced. 


A common use of salt is to encrust meats, vegetables and fish. This technique is ideal when you want all the flavors to be contained inside the salt and egg white crust and at the same time steam is created inside allowing the meats to cook faster in it.


There are several varieties of salt and their flavor depends on where they come from {like Pink Himalayan}, or where they are extracted {like Sea Salt or Rock Salt}, and their textures which is the main difference between Kosher {preferred by cooks everywhere!} and fine table salt.


Have a great day!

43 comments:

  1. I like your post so much! These recipes are really gorgeous!
    I’ve just wrote a new post, tell me what do you think about it!
    Take a look and if you want we can follow each others: Cosa mi metto???

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  2. great post!!! love it!!!

    http://profdrskinnybitch.blogspot.de/

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  3. Wow! This is an informative post..
    Now I know more about salt after reading this post..
    actually besides for seasoning the food, I also use salt to recover my bruise..
    it helps a lot :)

    Have a great day :)

    - Mr. Vhallah -

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  4. This all looks awesome - and now I´m hungry..! :-)

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  5. Mm...what yummy images and insight about salt! xo

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  6. I adore your insightful posts. This is so interesting!

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  7. Definitely need salt. I often use a "herb salt" which gives a great flavour at the same time... xo

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  8. You seriously helped me look at salt differently. Love the idea of using a pinch on sweet items x

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  9. Such great tips! I love my Himlayan sea salt because it's pink. Haha- I should probably use it more wisely.

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  10. The last one there may be my favourite use of salt!

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  11. Oh I completely agree. Salt is the must have in my kitchen.

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  12. Such great tips!!! I love the containers you have. Hope you're having a great week so far! xo

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  13. And now I'm hungry... :)

    I'm also guilty of getting away from cooking lately- been super busy, so much so that cooking a proper meal hasn't happened in too long. Need to get back in the kitchen!

    -Ashley
    http://lerougestylo.blog.com

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  14. such an essential spice to have in the kitchen for sure! thanks for the tips :)

    www.beckspick.com

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  15. I kind totally love this post! I am a salt loving girl all the way and use a touch of H'awaiian sea salt in special dishes!

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  16. Excellent post. I heard sea salt is really good.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  17. Great tips about salt! I need to make those chocolate truffles asap :-)

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  18. This is way too funny because for the first time ever I brought a sandwich bag filled with sea salt to work today. J made some chicken soup over the weekend and we ate it yesterday but it wasn't salty enough so I had to bring some in for the rest of the soup that I'll eat today. :)

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  19. Salt on sweets is a favorite of mine!! I actually grew up adding salt to fruits (especially citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit) it brings out the flavors, juices and enhances sweetness! Xox <3 hautepinkpretty.com

    PS Don't forget to enter my easy *GIVEAWAY* for a $30 e-gift card!

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  20. Wow, you make salt sound like so much more than seasoning! Love it! Everything looks so yummy! We need more of these posts on food!

    Barbara

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  21. I don't use salt at all with the exception of baking, but you have sure made me rethink that!
    Those chocolate truffles look beyond yummy, and they will definitely be on my "to do" list.
    Thank you so much for sharing the recipe here, and for all the information on salt.
    Sending you wishes for a wonderful day!
    xo.

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  22. Love salt - it brings the food & sweets alive - just a pinch :)
    Have a great day
    Axx

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  23. thank you so much for the comment!
    i really love this post! <3
    S

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  24. Very intersting post!
    I didn't know all these different uses of salt, especially on sweets!
    Salmon at salt is one of my fav food! :9
    xxx

    Shttp://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.com

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  25. Dear Salt,
    I love you very much. When I forget to use you, my heart breaks and my food tastes awful!
    xo
    Robin

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  26. Interesting post - I recently tried chocolate with a hint of salt and it was really tasty!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/

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  27. I didn't know half of the things you wrote about salt! Cheers!

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  28. Love those pics! Great post about salt.

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  29. Great post! I love sea and kosher salt!
    Thank you for sharing.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  30. I love to cook too and this post is very interesting! Thanks!

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  31. I love the combo of salty sweet

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  32. Mmm, these recipes look delicious! I just sent a box of homemade salted caramels to my Mama for her birthday today!

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  33. Sea salt makes everything better - I swear!

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  34. All of the pictures look delicious! I want a treat now!

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  35. Hi dear, thanks so much for this focus on salt post. As bad as it is for me, I use a lot of salt in cooking. I found your post so informative and useful!

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  36. WOW! This is impressive! I am always in awe of those who can cook because I cannot. I rely on frozen lean cuisine.. It's so bad!

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  37. Now I'm craving salty food! haha. I really wish I cooked more!

    xo,
    Angela
    headtotoechic.blogspot.com

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  38. I may just have to use a couple of these ;) Thanks for sharing!

    XX,
    Miranda

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  39. thanks for the post :) I had no idea how great salt was!

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  40. I've always wondered about the different types of salt. The pink himalayan is always gorgeous to me - it looks like something I could gift for a birthday with a recipe or something! :)

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  41. I'm sure you're an amazing cook. And I'm definitely bookmarking this post.


    <3 Marina
    Fashion.MakeUp.LifeStyle

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  42. ooh such a good post!
    although i have such an aversion to salt. everything seems to taste too salty to me.
    and one of my biggest pet peeves is when people grab the salt shaker, and salt their food without first tasting their meal.....drives me bananas!!! {i'm smelling a katie blog post on the horizon}...
    so typically i don't like to use salt....although i will make a giant exception for truffle salt. mmmm. love me some truffle salt over my scrambled eggs.

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