What is Kosher Salt? The Difference Between Kosher Salt and Table Salt

Is Kosher Salt the Only Salt That is Kosher?

It is a common myth that kosher salt earned its name because it is the only type of salt that is allowed on the kosher diet. In truth, all salt is kosher, including kosher salt, table salt, and even rock salt. Because there are no animal products in salt, it is always considered kosher. (This is only true if it is not preserved or flavored with anything that may not be kosher, which is why various types of salt carry kosher certification.)

The Difference Between Kosher Salt and Table Salt

So what is kosher salt? And what is the difference between kosher salt and table salt? Practically, the only real difference between the two types of salt is the texture. The grains of table salt are much smaller, which means that they dissolve more easily. Table salt is always mined from underground areas, whereas kosher salt can come from either these areas or from areas deep in the ocean.

Bakers prefer table salt because it dissolves so easily and spreads throughout baked goods evenly. Cooks, on the other hand, often prefer kosher salt because of its unique texture. Sprinkling a small amount of kosher salt on foods at the end of the cooking process can give the dish a hint of a crunchy texture.

Why Is It Called Kosher Salt?

So where did kosher salt get its name? It came from the koshering process, or the rinsing and salting process that is required to prepare kosher meats. Because those on the kosher diet do not eat the blood from an animal, there is a special process that is required in order to remove all of the blood. Part of this process includes salting the meat, which draws out the blood from its surface. Table salt will dissolve on the surface of the meat and cannot be washed off easily. Medium grain salt, such as kosher salt, works best to draw the blood out of the meat effectively. Therefore, in countries other than the US, the salt is referred to as “koshering salt” rather than “kosher salt.”