Question for ice cream people

[honeygirl1971]

Hi all--I buried this question in another message a few days ago, but no one answered it. If you use an ice and salt ice cream maker, can you use regular salt, or do you have to use rock salt? I can't find rock salt and I've looked tons of places (grocery, drug, and hardware stores). My mom says she thinks regualar salt will work, but I'd like to hear from someone who has done it...I'm dying to try last year's strawberry-buttermilk gelato while strawberries are in season.
Thanks!
:)

[Sami]

yes you can use regular salt. but you will need almost a whole package because as the ice melts you need to keep adding more ice and salt. Rock salt doesn't dissolve quite as quickly.

You probably can find rock salt in a farm store (not for veggies but where farmers shop for machinary) or a hardware store.

Sami

[Jill123]

Regular salt, because the grains are so tiny, will melt like crazy. You'll need a ton.

I'd suggest any large-grained salt -- check in the housewares section of your grocery store, a hardware store, or at Wal-Mart or Target. (You've probably already done this, but check next to the ice cream makers -- most of the stores around here have the makers, the salt and ice cream mixes right next to each other.)

[honeygirl1971]

Hmmmm. I have looked at Target, Dominick's (grocery store chain), my local co-op grocery, Walgreen's, and Ace Hardware, but maybe I should try a larger hardware store, a different grocery etc. Do you think kosher salt would work better than table salt?

:confused:

[Jill123]

Kosher salt would probably work better, but if it is as expensive where you are as it is here, I'd keep looking.

I had this problem before (trying to find rock salt), and I ended up buying Morton's safety salt (like you'd put on your icy driveway or steps). It comes in a big bag and it lasts forever -- I bought some two summers ago and I still have it. (But since finding salt was such a big deal, I bought official ice cream salt the first time I saw some.

I bought my safety salt at Cub Foods (regular old grocery store) in the housewares department, by the water purifier tablets and such.

[ClaraB]

You could also try pickling salt if you can't find any rock salt - it has bigger grains than table salt, so it shouldn't melt quite as fast.

[honeygirl1971]

THANKS to everyone who helped me with suggestions! Today I was in the suburbs so I went to a Walmart (no Walmarts in the city) and they were out of it, and so I went to a nearby Cub Foods and they didn't have it at all, but then I went to a Target (different from the one I went to before) and THEY HAD IT!!! I bought 3 bags! Enough for 12 batches heh heh heh... This weekend after I go to the farmer's market I am going to make STRAWBERRY BUTTERMILK GELATO! YAY!!!!