Pros & Cons of Unrefined Sea Salt

Sea salt is obtained through the evaporation of seawater, and is used in cooking and cosmetics. The mineral content in sea salt gives it a slightly different taste from table salt, and its texture is suited to different uses than table salt.

Geography

Sea salt is produced in areas that are bounded by salt water seas, like Greece, France, Ireland, Sicily, Hawaii, Cape Cod and the San Francisco Bay, among others. Today, sea salt is almost exclusively an industry of Mediterranean countries and other areas that have warm, dry climates.

Production

Sea salt is produced by scraping up the concentrated salt slurry that remains when the diluted brine of the sea is evaporated by the sun. Before it is collected by scraping, the slurry is washed with clean sea water, causing any impurities to settle. The concentrated slurry is poured into shallow pans or in-ground containers for the final process of evaporation. Traditionally, the slurry is evaporated in pans baked from local marine clay, set over peat fires. The dried salt is then collected and packaged for sale. In contrast, table salt, which is pure sodium chloride, is refined from mined rock salt.

Pros

Sea salt is less processed than table salt, and is often touted as the "natural" alternative. Gourmet cooks contend that sea salt has a better taste and texture than ordinary table salt, although it is difficult, if not impossible, to detect the difference between the two when they are dissolved. Where salt is not dissolved, sea salt's coarse texture is appealing and its large granules contribute to an uneven rate of dissolution which creates subtle changes of flavor when used in foods. The slight mineral content in sea salt also creates a minute difference in its taste. It is less highly processed than table salt, and does not contain additives to prevent clumping.

In cosmetics, the primary function of sea salt is exfoliation--the gentle removal of dead, dry surface skin cells. Sea salt's coarse texture makes it particularly suited to this application, where table salt would not be. The trace minerals in sea salt may contribute to its effectiveness in penetrating the skin surface, which facilitates the absorption of other cosmetic agents when used in conjunction.

Cons

The key difference between table salt and sea salt is that table salt contains iodine, which is essential for human health. Sea salt does not. It is not recommended as a complete substitute for table salt. Sea salt is also more expensive than regular table salt.

Expert Insight

Consisting of two minerals, sodium and chloride, sea salt and table salt have the same nutritional value. By weight, sea salt and table salt contain the same amount of sodium chloride. Sea salt is often marketed as a natural, healthy alternative to table salt. There is little if any health advantage to using sea salt over table salt. The notable differences between the two are minimally in taste, and primarily in texture and processing.

Considerations

Kosher salt is available as another option when selecting a salt. Kosher salt is named for its use in kosher recipes. Kosher salt is derived from either underground sources or from seawater, and contains no preservatives. It consists of large crystals, similar to sea salt, that are designed to enhance the flavor of meat in kosher cooking.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Nutrition and Healthy Eating
• Food Network
• BathSalt.com