Kosher salt and sea salt are almost identical, except for one critical factor. Because of its fine and dense structure, a very little goes a very long way, actually more than half in actuality, table salt by definition is about six times as potent as kosher salt. This information should help you decide whether to go with kosher or sea salt on your next kosher food shopping trip. It should also make you aware of why it is not as beneficial as table salt.
You see, sea salt and kosher salt are similar in many ways. For instance, both are highly refined, coarse, and do not contain the essential minerals and nutrients that are necessary for human consumption. Therefore, the only reason to use sea salt or coarse kosher salt in any recipe where you will be adding additional ingredients to your food is to season and/or enhance the taste.
There are two major differences, however, between kosher salt and sea salt, and these major differences are one of availability and usage. Sea salt and kosher salt are both available in stores and online and are often used interchangeably with each other. The first and most obvious difference is in the actual ingredients used in the process of cooking. Kosher salt is simply made from kosher salt blocks and sea salt is made using fresh kosher salt purchased from a kosher salt dealer.
Another key distinction is in the actual massaging of meats before cooking. In general, regular table salt does not dissolve well in fat, and when used in salting meat, it tends to solidify (becomes a gel). In contrast, kosher salt dissolves easily in fat, because it contains a very high concentration of potassium and magnesium, therefore, it is perfect for melting butter or cooking foods that require long periods of exposure to the heat. Regular table salt also contains a fair amount of sodium, which is very salty indeed!
Kosher salt and sea salt both have distinctively different effects on the flavor and texture of food, but they also have complementary effects on our health. Sea salt has long been recognized as an effective natural sea remedy and healing agent. As an effective sea salt, kosher salt has similar healing properties to sea salt. In fact, sea salt is sometimes referred to as 'regular table salt' due to its close resemblance to regular table salt.
It has long been known that sea salt has a number of antibacterial properties that can help prevent food poisoning, especially if taken at the right amounts and during the right times. Some researchers believe that sea salt has the power to neutralize dangerous bacteria that cause food poisoning. It is this close relation to conventional sea salt that makes kosher salt such a convenient addition to a healthy diet. Sea salt not only has its uses beyond table salt, research indicates that sea salt is effective in treating a wide range of conditions, from sore throats to athlete's foot.
Because it contains so many of the same beneficial properties as sea salt, kosher salt is often used in conjunction with conventional table salt. Because it is so similar to the salt on your kitchen table, you may be reluctant to make the switch, but doing so will have a number of positive benefits for your overall health. Not only will eating kosher salt provide a healthier diet, but regular consumption of kosher salt can also reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. In fact, some researchers believe that regular consumption of kosher salt could even cut the risk of prostate cancer down to half.
Unlike regular table salt, kosher salt contains a higher concentration of iodine. This concentration gives kosher salt a rich flavor, which makes it particularly suitable for incorporation into recipes where the meat must be cooked in order to add flavor and texture. Because kosher salt contains a higher concentration of iodine, it is also less likely to leave any aftertaste in the food. In fact, because the flavors of kosher salt tend to be so rich, many people prefer to use it as a taste supplement before using meat in recipes rather than adding meat salt to their dishes.