How do rock salt and table salt differ?
Rock salt and table salt are both salts in that they both consist mostly of sodium chloride. Because they are composed of the same chemical, rock salt and table salt provide the same flavor; however, there are quite a few differences beyond that. For starters, there …show more content…
While table salt consists almost entirely of sodium chloride, there are other components. One of those components is iodine. Iodine is an element that is included as a way to prevent iodine deficiency. In addition to iodine, table salt may contain anti-caking agents to keep the crystals from sticking together. Because of these additives, table salt is said by some to have a mildly bitter flavor that is detectable to people with very finely tuned taste buds. Food grade rock salt will contain no additives, which means that its composition and taste are more similar to those of kosher salt.
Can you use rock salt in place of table salt and vice versa?
Rock salt’s main drawback is the fact that it consists of large crystals. The size of the crystals means that rock salt cannot be used as a finishing salt since the crystals take too long to dissolve. They are not flaky like sea salt. That said, you can grind rock salt to a finer consistency using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. You can use ground rock salt just as you would table salt. You can also use rock salt in dishes where the salt will dissolve in liquids. For example, you can use it when boiling or braising. In these dishes, rock salt will dissolve in liquids just like any other