Let's Talk About Salt

[ncredbird]

I just came back from the grocery store. One of the items on my list was kosher salt which they did not have. However, I was appalled to see that good old regular salt was $1.18 a pound! Canning and pickling salt was 4 pounds for $1.18 and rock salt was the same. Now in the scheme of things that probably wouldn't break the bank but the last time I bought salt we lived in the Phoenix AZ metro area and I could get salt any day for no more than $.59 a pound. If it was on ad you would see it for 4/1.00 or 3/1.00.
I assume, and correct me if I am wrong, that rock salt would not necessarily be clean enough to consider it to be of food quality. But it is about the same texture as kosher salt. Canning and pickling salt on the other hand I assume would be consumable but I have never used it. When I shook the package it sounded like it is much finer than table salt. What is the texture and how would you adjust its usage in cooking as compared to table salt? I don't use iodized salt as it can add a bitter taste in some applications and I don't want to have to remember which kind to use. I look forward to your comments. AK

[Canice]

I've never seen canning or pickling salt (or rock salt for that matter) so I can't help with that. I use kosher salt for pretty much everything, though I do keep a small quantity of table salt on hand for baking. I pay around 2 bucks for a 3-pound box of kosher, and I know that table salt is around 59 cents a pound where I live. Most things seem to cost more here, so I'm surprised salt is twice the price in NC. But a pound of the stuff will last many years, no? $1.20 is just not that much money.

[ncredbird]

Actually I am in NC. I use kosher salt for everything, baking, table, cooking, and pickling. I couldn't understand why I couldn't find it here but had been using the box I brought when we moved here three years ago. So, no I wouldn't need it often but I sure would like to be able to get what I wanted. Right now I am doing alot of baking for the church bazaar which is why I ran out in the first place. I like to use salt in a grinder and was wondering if I could use rock salt and if I can't get that if canning and pickling salt can be used interchangably with table salt. AK

[Robyn1007]

Are you sure they weren't just temporarily out of the kosher salt? Morton's now has a sea salt out and I've been using that in everything. I can usually taste it a bit more and have to be careful but I like it.

[Cherise]

Here's some info on pickling salt from cooks thesaurus. There's info about the other types of salt here (http://www.foodsubs.com/Salt.html) too.

pickling salt = canning salt = canning and pickling salt Notes: This is similar to table salt, but lacks the iodine and anti-caking additives that turn pickles dark and the pickling liquid cloudy. Pickles made with table salt would still be good to eat, but they wouldn't look as appetizing. Pickling salt is available in large bags or boxes in supermarkets, but it's hard to find in cities. In addition to pickling or canning with it, you can also use pickling salt just as you would ordinary table salt, though without the anti-caking agents it may get lumpy if exposed to moisture. To prevent lumps, put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker. To get rid of lumps, spread the salt on a cookie sheet and bake in an oven. Don't substitute reduced-sodium salt for pickling salt when making pickles. Substitutes: kosher salt (Since it's not as dense as pickling salt, you'll need to use more, but how much more varies by brand. 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of Morton Kosher
Salt = 1 cup Morton Canning & Pickling Salt. For other brands, it's best to measure by weight rather than volume.) OR table salt (The iodine in table salt may turn your pickles dark, and the anti-caking agents may turn the pickling liquid cloudy.)

Sounds like you could sub the pickling salt for the same measurement as table salt.

[funniegrrl]

It is my understanding that rock salt is not meant for consumption. Salt grinders are usually used with coarse sea salt.

I would bet the store was temporarily out of kosher salt as well. Never been in a supermarket that didn't have it, and I've lived in the South all my life.