Does Sea Salt Go Bad or Expire?

Sea salt often has coarse crystals.

Sea salt is extracted from sea water by evaporation. Its grains are usually larger than those of regular table salt, and it can be more flavorful. It's used in gourmet cooking and can be expensive.

Composition

Sea salt, like regular table salt, is made up mostly of sodium and chloride. Sea salt may also contain trace amounts of other minerals from the sea water. Because salt is a mineral, not an organic substance, it does not spoil or go bad.

Storage

If kept dry, sea salt will last for an indefinite amount of time without going bad or expiring. To prevent sea salt from absorbing moisture, keep it in a tightly-covered container.

Added Ingredients

Salt that contains extra ingredients may eventually go bad or expire. For example, adding iodine to salt may limit the shelf life of the salt to five years. Check the salt's label for any added ingredients; most sea salt does not contain added iodine.

References

• MayoClinic.com: Is Sea Salt Better for Your Health Than Table Salt?
• Survival Center: Food Storage FAQs
• Still Tasty: Food Storage -- How Long Can You Keep Sea Salt?
• Morton Salt FAQs: Does Salt Expire?