Sea salt is salty salt that is created by the evaporation off of seawater into a solution. Its most common use is as cooking seasoning, cooking aids in cosmetics, adornments, and for preserving foods. It's also known as black kosher salt, sand salt, or marine rock salt. Its manufacture is dated back to prehistoric times when natural evaporation took place.
The process of sea salt evaporation can be described as an environmentally friendly and effective method of mass production. The water is evaporated at very high temperatures and is collected as salt droplets on the floor of a closed container. The temperature is reduced further and the droplets are formed into crystals. When the crystals reach a certain size they start collecting light energy which then converts to heat.
Evaporated sea salt contains two chemical substances which are necessary for the process of trans-saltification. One chemical is sodium chloride and the other is calcium chloride. Sodium chloride is often used for the purpose of deodorizing, flavoring, and as an artificial sweetener. Calcium chloride is often used for the purpose of making white sugar. If you like table salt and like the taste, it's probably because it contains a considerable amount of sodium chloride.
Deionized table salt does not contain sodium chloride. Its composition is made up of various elements. Some of them are not included because they would significantly alter the sodium content of the sea salts. These elements are often called "free trace minerals".
Today you might be eating sea salts in large quantities. There are still people who prefer eating kosher salt. Their belief is that the trace mineral amounts found in these products are far more beneficial than any amount of artificial sweetness.
Certain types of metal are found in trace amounts in sea salts. For example, lead is found in higher amounts in coastal salt. Another example is titanium. Most people believe that the trace minerals found in this type of sea salt are not healthy. This is partly true because many prescription drugs, such as the medication methotrexate, and some cancer drugs are manufactured with trace amounts of titanium.
However, the trace amounts of these trace minerals found in sea salt come from living organisms. So, there's no harm in taking a small amount of sea salt on a daily basis. It's a healthy and natural source of nutrition. In fact, sea salt helps to lower blood pressure and decreases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. And, it's a great alternative to table salt as a dietary supplement.
Evaporated sea salt has an oily texture. The process of evaporation increases the oil content in the product making the product taste musty or stale. It has a smooth flavor, similar to table salt. However, it has a much better texture and smell. Many people prefer the taste and texture of evaporated sea salt over table salt.
Most sea salt has a coarse texture, similar to rock salt. However, they are usually harvested from brine pools which contain high concentrations of salts. The brine water is mixed with the sea salt and fermented. The resulting mixture is then cooled to about 160 degrees Fahrenheit and is used as food. This coarse salt is often combined with other ingredients to make a fine crunchy texture.
There are two main types of coarse sea salt available. One is prepared by forcing the water from the sea surface into a mold. The mold is then dried and cracked to release the fine crystals. The other type of coarse sea salt is prepared by using natural processes and is generally available in stores. It is generally recognized as coarse because it contains a less-than-ideal amount of sodium and magnesium, as well as lesser amounts of calcium and potassium.
Sea salt and table salt differ primarily in the number of minerals they contain. Table salt tends to have more magnesium and less sodium than sea salt. Sea salt tends to have more magnesium and less sodium than table salt. Generally, sea salt contains more magnesium than table salt. However, this is only true when it is not combined with other minerals. When it is, table salt tends to have more sodium and less magnesium than sea salt.
Evaporated sea salt does not contain any nutrients and can therefore not enhance the flavor or nutritive value of foods. In fact, many sea salt manufacturers use evaporated salt in order to improve the taste of processed foods like ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt, sauces, and soups. It is not clear why this is, but it is often used as a marketing ploy. Evaporated salt is also sometimes added to organic foods in order to improve their taste.
