How to Make Smoke Salt at Home

Smoked salt can be used to give a smoky flavor to food without having to undergo the long, arduous process of smoking. You can make smoke salt at home using only sea salt, a grill and wood chips. This method yields 2 cups of mesquite smoked salt, costs only a few dollars, and takes about 1½ hours to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Mesquite wood chips
• Charcoal grill
• Charcoal
• Lighter fluid
• Aluminum pie pan
• Sea salt
• Mason jar

Instructions

1. Soak 2 cups of mesquite wood chips in cold water for one to two hours. Fill the left half of a charcoal grill with coals and leave the other side empty.

2. Pour some lighter fluid on the coals and ignite them. Allow them to burn until they turn white, then drain the mesquite wood chips and pour them on top of the coals.

3. Place the grill rack back in its normal position. Fill an aluminum pie pan with 2 cups of sea salt and place it on the side of the grill opposite the coals.

4. Close the lid on the grill and adjust the vents so that they are half way open. Allow the salt to cook this way for one hour.

5. Remove the salt from the grill and allow it to cool to room temperature. Pour the smoke salt in a mason jar and secure the lid tightly. Use in all your favorite dishes to add a smoked seasoning.

Tips & Warnings

• Coarse kosher salt can be used in place of sea salt. Hickory, applewood, oak or any other wood chips can be used. Experiment with several different kinds to have the perfect smoked salt for every recipe. Alternatively, smoked salt can be prepared by marinating sea salt in smoke flavored oil.

• When removing the salt from the grill, never touch the pan with bare hands. It will be very hot and an oven mitt should be used.