What is Kosher Salt?

I don't think there is such a thing in the UK. I am guessing the equivalent might be Sea Salt?! Or can I just use table salt.

Thanks!

KatieCooks
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11 Comments

innoabrd April 7, 2011
The kosher salt they have in the US dissolves really quickly and easily, which can be handy at the end of a dish, rather than the coarse sea salt. I've never seen the same kind of salt outside the US.
 
KatieCooks April 6, 2011
Thankyou everyone!
 
Hummusit April 6, 2011
Cooky was also right about the NaCl - Sodium chloride, common salt, which implies no additives. Of course, "table salt" depends on what you buy.
 
Sam1148 April 5, 2011
Remember that that the two major brands Diamond and Morton's have different weights.
That can really throw off a brine. Most recipes default to using the Diamond Brand unless specified.
 
amysarah April 5, 2011
There is indeed kosher salt that IS actually kosher, even if that's not where its name comes from. (No doubt there are kosher 'style' salts available too - no additives, flat grain, etc. - that aren't technically kosher.)

Look for the little 'U' symbol on the box - even the common supermarket brand, Morton's, has it - if it's there it means it's been produced/handled per kosher law, overseen by a rabbi and so on; it's not really just a matter of what's in it.
 
boulangere April 5, 2011
I use Kosher salt and sea salt in equal quantities, especially Kosher salt which consists of a hollow crystal.
 
friendlyoaks April 5, 2011
All (additive-free) salt is kosher. The reference to kosher salt simply means it is coarse salt which can be used for koshering (or kashering) as Kitchen Butterfly said.
 
nutcakes April 5, 2011
Bacause Kosher salt has such large crystals, be aware that 1 tsp of kosher is about equivalent of 1/2 teaspoon of fine grained salt and adjust your recipe accordingly. Kosher salt does not have additives such as iodine and anti-caking agents like table salt does. Sea salt is a fine substitute.
 
pierino April 5, 2011
Kitchen Butterfly is correct, and despite what some folks think it doesn't have to be blessed by a rabbi. It is indeed used for "koshering". It's not a sea salt, but a coarse sea salt is a perfectly good (and perhaps better) substitute.
 
Kitchen B. April 5, 2011
Kosher salt is additive-free salt, generally used for 'koshering' meat according to Jewish practices. Its grains are small, flat crystals and dissolve evenly in a mix
 
Cooky April 5, 2011
Kosher salt is just coarse table salt (NaCl).
 
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