What Is Sea salt and How Can I Use It?

If sea salt has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 483 recipes to try it in.

What is sea salt?

Sea salt is exactly what it sounds like: the salt left behind when seawater evaporates. That origin sets it apart from table salt, which is mined from underground rock and refined down to nearly pure sodium chloride.

Because seawater carries more than salt, sea salt keeps traces of other minerals. They give some sea salts a faint grey or pink tint and a rounder, less sharp taste, though once it dissolves into a dish the difference is hard to pick out.

The Forms It Comes In

The crystal size, more than the source, decides how you use sea salt.

Fine sea salt dissolves fast and measures much like table salt, so it works as an everyday cooking salt. Coarse crystals are built for a grinder or a brining bath, where they have time to melt.

The flaky kind is the prize. Pyramid-shaped flakes like Maldon crush between your fingers and perch on the surface of food, giving little bursts of crunch and bright salinity that a dissolved salt never can.

Smoked sea salt, cold-smoked over wood, brings a campfire note to the same trick.

This is where sea salt earns its place: as a finishing salt. A pinch scattered over Crispy Oregano Potato Thins or a plated Sage & Walnut Pesto Pasta right before serving lands far better than the same salt stirred in and lost.

A Note on Iodine

Most sea salt is not iodized. Iodine was added to table salt last century to head off deficiency, and sea salt usually skips it. If sea salt is doing your everyday seasoning and you do not get iodine elsewhere, such as from dairy or seafood, that is worth knowing.

Iodized sea salt is sold to bridge the gap.

Sea salt also costs more than table salt, so match the grade to the job: a cheap fine one for cooking, one good box of flakes for finishing.

For when to salt, how much, and swapping between salts by weight, see salt.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find sea salt: Sea salt is usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Sea salt is a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

海盐

British (UK) term

Sea salt

en français

sel de mer

en español

sal marina

How much does sea salt weigh?

Related

Spices and Herbs

Recipes using sea salt

There are 483 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Everything Bagel Seasoning

All-dressed bagel seasoning, so expensive in stores, can be easily made in a flash. It can be used on various dishes, such as avocado toast, eggs, roasted vegetables, and even popcorn. It adds a delicious and savory flavor to your favorite foods.

Black Olive & Sea Salt Focaccia

Black olive and sea salt focaccia is a classic Italian flatbread brushed generously with olive oil, scattered with chopped olives, and finished with coarse sea salt for that signature crunch.

Delicious Tabouli

Tabouli salad with bulgur wheat, juicy tomatoes, fresh parsley, lemon, and olive oil. The classic Middle Eastern parsley salad served at room temperature with optional black olives and mint.

Aloo Mathar Paratha (Sides)

The quintessential Indian-Singaporean meal accompaniment. Unfortunately, all too often it is made using highly processed white flour and margarine. Here, the parathas are made with whole-wheat flour (you could also try using spelt flour) and stuffed with peas and potatoes, for a lighter but more wholesome take on the original. Serve hot with yoghurt and herbs.

Toasts with Peanut Butter & Sea Salt

Everyone loves toasts with peanut butter, it's so quick and easy to make, and it's just good itself.

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

Vegan cream of broccoli soup uses blended raw cashews and potatoes for body, no dairy required. Silky, plant-based, and ready in 35 minutes.

Holiday Vegan Pumpkin Pie

A vegan pumpkin pie with a silky tofu-set custard, spiced with cinnamon, ginger and mace and sweetened with molasses, in a flaky from-scratch crust. An egg- and dairy-free holiday classic.

Sage & Walnut Pesto Pasta

Sage and parsley bring herbal, earthy, and outdoorsy notes to the forefront, walnuts bring meaty richness, and Parmesan brings home the umami. This simple recipe is all about technique. The pesto then coats the pasta dreamily. Best of all, it's super simple and quick to plate.

Whole Grain Spice Pumpkin Muffins

Whole grain spice pumpkin muffins with whole wheat pastry flour, bran, honey, dates, and raisins. Naturally sweetened, fiber-rich fall muffins with warm spices and orange zest.

Chipotle Shrimp

Plump shrimp tossed with smoky chipotle butter and piled onto warm corn tortillas. Mexican-style shrimp tacos with creamy avocado and ranchero sauce in 40 minutes.

Quick Hummus

This tasty spread is easy to make and tastes amazing when used in sandwiches.

Turkey with Apricot Chardonnay Glaze

A delicious recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

Vegan Sour Cream-Eggplant Meatballs

Moist and Delicious These Vegan Sour Cream-Eggplant Meatballs Are Great Tasting In My Homemade Sauce!! ..Topped Over A Bed Of Spaghetti Pasta!

Avocado, Radish & Edamame Salad

A simple salad with big health credentials: avocados are an excellent source of good fats, and more recently have been shown to also inhibit inflammation when eaten in combination with foods that typically trigger it. They are also a rich source of potassium (which balances sodium to keep blood pressure levels stable) and vitamin E, an important antioxidant.

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Muffins

Wholesome whole wheat peanut butter muffins sweetened with molasses, not sugar, and quick to mix in one bowl. Crunchy peanut butter and whole wheat pastry flour make a hearty, lightly sweet breakfast or snack.

Jimmy's Butternut Squash Chowder

Vegan butternut squash chowder made creamy without a drop of dairy. Blended squash, sweet potato, and carrot form a velvety base, brightened with garlic, rosemary, and thyme and topped with toasted almonds.

Wholegrain Waffles with Flaxseeds

A breakfast staple made with organic spelt flour, coconut oil and natural sweetener. Serve with maple syrup on the side and fresh berries or bananas or organic yoghurt. Another option is to soften some apple slices in a little bit of water, vanilla and dash of maple syrup until the liquid reduces and the apples are soft. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon – reminiscent of apple pie!

Hot Dogs with Homemade Sauerkraut & Pickles

Classic hot dogs are served with homemade sauerkraut, pickles, yellow mustard and ketchup. An easy and delicious summer meal.

Vegan Enchilada Corn Tortillas

Melt In Your Mouth Vegan Corn Tortillas! Yellow Corn Tortillas Were Used In This Dish!! Quick And Easy To Make!5

Holiday Dinner Rolls

Honey-sweetened dinner rolls with a half cup of potato flakes for a tender crumb. Whole wheat and white flour blend, soft and slightly sweet, ideal for holiday tables.

Lemon Cashew Rice (Nibu Daar Pullao)

This delicious side dish made of cashew nuts and basmati rice is a great companion to any meal.

Roasted Spiced Pumpkin Maple Soup

Nothing is better than a warm pumpkin soup at your Thanksgiving menu.

Edamame, Carrot, & Avocado Salad

Edamame, carrot, and avocado salad tossed in a bright orange-lime and ginger-sesame dressing with black sesame seeds and cilantro. A fresh, protein-rich vegan, gluten-free side.

Edamame, Carrot, & Avocado Salad

Edamame, carrot, and avocado salad tossed in a bright orange-lime and ginger-sesame dressing with black sesame seeds and cilantro. A fresh, protein-rich vegan, gluten-free side.

Vegan Rancheros Spaghetti

Bright In Color!! ..Great In Taste! ..This Delicious Mexican Style Spaghetti Dish Is Flavorful And Fun To Make!! Served Warm or Room Temperature.. It's Great!! Anytime.. Summer Or Winter!!

Fudgy Rocky Road Brownies

Adapted this recipe from Foodnetwork magazine, I made a few changes to make it a little healthier but still taste decadently delicious.

Basic Focaccia

There are quicker versions of this recipe but this is a classic that's reasonably easy and works perfectly every time.

Basic Focaccia

There are quicker versions of this recipe but this is a classic that's reasonably easy and works perfectly every time.

Whole-Wheat Chinese Scallion Pancakes 葱油饼

Crispy, savory whole-wheat scallion pancakes, a Chinese restaurant favorite, made healthier with whole-wheat flour. Perfect as a side or appetizer, these pancakes are flaky, golden, and packed with green onion flavor. Make the dough ahead and freeze for quick meals.

Garbanzo Potato Pancakes

Garbanzo potato pancakes blend chickpea flour, instant potato flakes, grated zucchini, and onion into vegan, gluten-free pancakes that griddle up tender and savory. Five ingredients, 20 minutes start to finish. A protein-packed side or breakfast.

Crockpot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes wit apple cider, cinnamon and bacon for your slow cooker.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Macarons

Chocolate shells are sandwiched with salted and creamy peanut butter, these macarons belong to the chocolate and peanut butter lovers.

Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Gluten free apple muffins made with chickpea flour and oats, naturally sweetened with honey and grated apple. Egg-free, dairy-free, and high in fiber, with optional raisins for extra chew.

Vegan Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

These Light And Fluffy Muffins Are Delicious!! Moist and Just A Hint Of Fruitiness From The Blueberries Leave You Wanting More!!

Easy Alfredo Tortellini with Garlic for Two

So easy, so simple, and so deliciously creamy. An easy alfredo sauce enriched with garlic coats the tortellini. Best of all, it's ready in 20 minutes flat!

Sour Cream Apple Pancakes

Sour cream apple pancakes with grated apple, whole wheat flour, and a hint of cinnamon. Tender, lightly sweet breakfast pancakes with a tangy buttermilk-style crumb.

Fudgy Rocky Road Brownie Frozen Yogurt

Adapted this recipe from Foodnetwork magazine, I made a few changes to make it a little healthier but still taste decadently delicious. Then I made a frozen yogurt with these brownies, heavenly delicious!

Rye Not Bread

One day I was in the mood for rye bread but I had no rye flour, so what did I do? I made a loaf of bread that tastes so much like the real thing, I am not sure I will mess with real rye (and the extra gluten) anymore.

Chorizo & Black Olive Pizza

Recipe made by the ambassador for Olives from Spain José Pizarro. Spain is the largest producer of olives in the world. The four main varieties of Spanish table olive available from major supermarkets in the UK are: Manzanilla, Gordal, Hojiblanca and Cacereña. Spanish table olives can be served in a different number of ways including: whole, pitted, stuffed with one or more ingredients such as pimento, onion, tuna, anchovy, salmon, almond, etc. It is a healthy seasonal ingredient, with the Spanish olive harvest running from September-March.

Easy Gluten Free Pancakes

Gluten-free pancakes made with a blend of rice flour, soy flour, and cornmeal. A simple wheat-free breakfast batter you can stir together in minutes for a celiac-safe pancake stack with real flavor.

Broiled Tofu With Cilantro Pesto

This Tofu Gets It's Brillant Color and Delightful Flavor From An Easy Cilantro Pesto And Lime Juice!! Great Side Dish!!

Best Potato Soup with Roast Garlic

Roasted garlic potato soup with 35 cloves slow-roasted in olive oil, blended into a silky, dairy-free pure with carrots and onion. Vegan, low-fat, high-fiber, and intensely flavorful.

Easy Dilled New Potatoes

Quick and easy way to dress up the baby new potatoes.

Onion, Sage & Mozzarella Focaccia

This focaccia turns out crusty outside and fluffy inside, onion and sage add the deliciously refreshing flavor, mozzarella gives the mildly cheesy flavor, and olive oil brings the tang to the bread. Eating it plain is absolutely tasty and it can be made into a delicious sandwich!

Heirloom Tomato Taco

This is called the Giuseppe Taco, we got the recipe from El Gastronomo Vagabundo taco truck.

Beef & Zucchini Stuffed Tomatoes

Paleo friendly. Tomatoes stuffed with beef, pesto and topped with an egg.

Comfy Winter Squash & Apple Soup

Vegan winter squash and apple soup with butternut squash, sweet potato, apples, and a Chinese five-spice kick. Eight ingredients, naturally creamy, perfect fall comfort food.

Braised Fennel With Onions & Red Potatoes

With It's Wonderful Smell Of Licorice And It's Fresh Sweet Taste.. This Braised Fennel Is Very Tasteful!!

Very Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Creamy vegan butternut squash soup blended with blanched almonds for a dairy-free silky texture, finished with curry powder and topped with pepitas, parsley and cherry tomato halves. No cream, no dairy, all velvet.

Tofu Salmon Croquettes

These Little Croquettes Are Light And Delicious!! Great For Side Dish!!

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