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Salts For CookingHelping You Find the Best
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Salts For CookingHelping You Find the Best
  • 10 Best Salts for Cooking of 2024 (Chef-Reviewed) 1
  • 10 Best Salts for Cooking of 2024 (Chef-Reviewed) 2
  • 10 Best Salts for Cooking of 2024 (Chef-Reviewed) 3
  • 10 Best Salts for Cooking of 2024 (Chef-Reviewed) 4
  • 10 Best Salts for Cooking of 2024 (Chef-Reviewed) 5

10 Best Salts for Cooking of 2024 (Chef-Reviewed)

No spice rack is complete without salt. In fact, it's the most used spice in the world, highlighting and enhancing the flavor of virtually all foods. But with so many different kinds, it’s important to know what features to look for when purchasing salt for seasoning or finishing your cooking. 


Luckily, we've done all the hard research and come up with a list of the 10 best salts for cooking. Take a look below to see all our picks, and read on to the buying guide for more shopping tips backed by an experienced chef!

Last updated 09/30/2024

Quick List - Top Salts For Cooking

1

Redmond

Real Salt® Fine
Real Salt® Fine

Unrefined, Natural Sea Salt Mined from Ancient Seabeds in Utah

2

Maldon

Sea Salt Flakes
Sea Salt Flakes

Pure, Hand-Harvested Sea Salt Flakes with a Unique Pyramid Shape

3

Diamond Crystal®

Diamond Crystal®Kosher Salt
Kosher Salt

Crafted Kosher Salt with Unique Crystals for Perfect Seasoning

4

Happy Belly

Happy BellyFine Ground Sea Salt
Fine Ground Sea Salt

Finely Ground Sea Salt for Convenient Cooking and Baking

5

Celtic Sea Salt

Celtic Sea Salt®Fine Ground (1/2 lb)
Fine Ground (1/2 lb)

Sustainably Harvested Sea Salt with Over 74 Trace Minerals

Danilo Specchiulli
Expert
Italian Chef
Danilo Specchiulli

Danilo is an Italian chef who has grown up cooking traditional dishes under his nonna and mamma's tutelage. He has also worked in Italian restaurants in various countries such as Australia and Japan. The skills he has acquired in a home and professional kitchen have enabled him to preserve and expound on Italian cuisine while dabbling in recipes from other cultures.

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Table of Contents

How to Choose Salt for Cooking - Buying Guide

Most salts will have a similar flavor, but there's still a lot to consider when choosing the right one for your cooking. Let's look at the different types, as well as how a salt's grain size affects your recipes.

1

Choose a Type of Salt for Your Type of Cooking

Salt can either come from evaporated seawater or the ground, and from there it can be divided into three main categories: table salt, rock salts including Himalayan, and sea salts.

Table Salt for Accurate Measurements

Table Salt for Accurate Measurements

Table salt is very fine, with regularly-shaped crystals, and usually contains anti-caking agents to prevent it from clumping. Some also have added iodine.


If you've ever tried to sprinkle salt from a shaker over a steaming pot, you know the futility of your task! The holes in the shaker will quickly get clogged up with salt. So, while it makes for accurate measurements of teaspoons and tablespoons, this salt's main use is for seasoning finished dishes at the table, and for baking.

Himalayan Salt Can Color From Minerals to Dishes

Himalayan Salt Can Color From Minerals to Dishes

When water from ancient inland seas evaporated, the salt in them crystallized, and became the salt deposits we mine today.


The most famous gourmet rock salt you'll find is Himalayan pink salt, which derives its color from trace minerals like copper and magnesium found in the crystals. However, any minerals in salt are in very small amounts compared to the rest of the foods in your dish, so nutrition shouldn't be a deciding factor in choosing.


Himalayan pink salt can also be carved into various shapes, such as a slab or block that you can cook on directly! These can be used to sear meats, cook pizza, or cook eggs. They can also be chilled to serve cold foods like sushi. It's hard to think of a more impressive way to add seasoning to your food.

Danilo Specchiulli
Italian Chef
Danilo Specchiulli

Despite its initial reputation that Pink Himalayan is healthier or the more bougie option, the pink hue is mainly due to the level of impurities in the salt crystals, including rust or iron oxide. Personally, I've never fallen for the marketing hype of this salt except for presentation purposes. 


Did you know that when you heat Himalayan salt with hot water and let it rest for some time to separate the rust and minerals, the remaining water will produce white salt


That's why I believe regular rock salt will suffice for your cooking needs. You can use rock salt for boiling pasta water, for crust on food, as chunks in ice cream, or boosting the flavor of fish and meats when baking or cooking, as long as it is not used directly on food for consumption.

Sea Salt Is Great for Finishing and Adding Texture

Sea Salt Is Great for Finishing and Adding Texture

Sea salt is another form of salt that has trace minerals. They can include potassium, iron, and zinc. However, because it is sourced from seawater, it will usually also contain microplastics. We don't really know if consuming the tiny bits of plastic in our oceans is harmful to human health, but it's something to be aware of.


Sea salts are typically flakier in texture than rock salts, creating a crisp mouthfeel for enhancing dishes. The grain size can vary, from fine-textured salts that are great for seasoning during cooking, to larger crystals that add crunchy saltiness to a finished dish.

Danilo Specchiulli
Italian Chef
Danilo Specchiulli

Although rock and sea salt are almost the same chemically and nutritionally, how they are processed may affect your decision. Rock salt is derived from old ocean sea beds that have dried up. They are mined in their solid rock form, so you get a coarser texture that often includes impurities from the refining process. 


On the other hand, sea salt is an all-natural process of using the sun and wind for evaporating seawater. Therefore, there are a bit more of the essential oligo-elements (namely, iron, zinc, and iodine in salt) found in sea salt. The briny taste of sea salt reflects the leftover minerals from the ocean, creating a more complex flavor.

2

Take a Look at Grain Size

Take a Look at Grain Size

Kosher salt is the most popular grain shape and size, and it can be made from sea or rock salt. The reason it's so useful is its grain size and texture. Its grains are flaky, unevenly-sized and coarse, making it more effective at drawing the blood out of meats, which is what koshering means. It doesn't contain many trace minerals and usually doesn't have added iodine, but it might sometimes contain anti-caking agents.


The large grain size makes it easy to add a pinch of salt to a dish while you're cooking. It's popular for adding to boiling pasta water, brining, and just about any other use. But the uneven grains produce unreliable measurements by volume, so it's not good for baking.


Salt is prized for its texture and visual appeal just as much as its taste and ability to enhance the natural flavor of foods. Depending on how you plan to use the salt, you'll want to pay attention to the size of the crystals you buy.


Fine-grained salts are able to dissolve and mix well into soups, batters, and other dishes. You generally won't be able to see the grains after using it. However, some fine-grained salts, such as Fleur de Sel, add light, crunchy texture to dishes as a finishing salt.


Coarse salts also add texture, and you can use a grinder to break up the chunks into smaller pieces. These are best for finishing dishes where you want the salt to hold its shape and not dissolve.

3

Consider Specialty Salts for Unique Flavors

Consider Specialty Salts for Unique Flavors

If you're looking for additional seasoning, you can find many salts that are blended with herbs or infused with other flavors. There's an almost endless array of these in various combinations for any type of cuisine, and it's easy to make your own by mixing dried herbs or other ingredients in a food processor with salt.


Smoked salt provides extra flavor while not containing additional ingredients. Salt can be dried while absorbing the smoke from any number of woods. Smoked salts offer a strong aroma and work best as rubs or finishing salts.


Indian black salt contains sulfur as part of the manufacturing process, which gives it the distinctive aroma and taste of eggs. It's popular for vegan dishes. Moshio is a Japanese salt produced using seaweed, which imparts a subtle umami flavor.

Danilo Specchiulli
Italian Chef
Danilo Specchiulli

Speaking of sweets, salt is a crucial ingredient in bringing out the flavor of the other ingredients. I have tried baking cookies or a cake without the salt, and weirdly enough, the finished recipe didn't taste as complete, full, or right. 


When using salt on bread, it helps contain yeast activity and the dough rising too quickly during the crucial proofing step. You can consider salt as the essential agent that controls and enhances the components of the ingredients you use in desserts and bread. 


To skip the risk of your finished dish having a slightly bitter, unpleasant taste, you can go for salt with minimal to zero iodine.

Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best Salts for Cooking

Here is our curated list of the 10 best salts for cooking. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.
Popularity
Filter
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
Details
Type
Kosher
Grain Size
Volume
1

Redmond

Real Salt® Fine

Redmond Real Salt® Fine 1

Unrefined, Natural Sea Salt Mined from Ancient Seabeds in Utah

Sea Salt

Fine

16 oz

2

Maldon

Sea Salt Flakes

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 1

Pure, Hand-Harvested Sea Salt Flakes with a Unique Pyramid Shape

Sea Salt

8.5 oz

3

Diamond Crystal®

Diamond Crystal®Kosher Salt

Diamond Crystal® Kosher Salt 1

Crafted Kosher Salt with Unique Crystals for Perfect Seasoning

Fine

3 lb

4

Happy Belly

Happy BellyFine Ground Sea Salt

Happy Belly  Fine Ground Sea Salt 1

Finely Ground Sea Salt for Convenient Cooking and Baking

Sea Salt

Fine

16 oz

5

Celtic Sea Salt

Celtic Sea Salt®Fine Ground (1/2 lb)

Celtic Sea Salt Fine Ground (1/2 lb)  1

Sustainably Harvested Sea Salt with Over 74 Trace Minerals

Sea Salt

Fine

8 oz

6

Felicific Inc

SoeosHimalayan Pink SaltCoarse Grain, 39 oz.

Felicific Inc Himalayan Pink Salt 1

Multi-purpose Salt: Perfect for Cooking and Bathing

Himalayan Salt

Fine

38.8 oz

7

Himalayan Chef

Himalayan Pink Salt1 lb Bag

Himalayan Chef  Himalayan Pink Salt 1

Himalayan Salt from Pakistan

Himalayan Salt

Fine

16 oz

8

Jacobsen Salt Co.

Pure Kosher Sea Salt

Jacobsen Salt Co.  Pure Kosher Sea Salt 1

Hand-Harvested Kosher Sea Salt with Pure, Briny Flavor for Everyday Cooking

Sea Salt

Coarse

12 oz

9

Hain Pure Foods

Iodized Sea Salt

Hain Pure Foods Iodized Sea Salt 1

Enhance Your Dishes with Pure, Iodized Sea Salt for Everyday Cooking

Sea Salt

21 oz

10

Falksalt

Natural Sea Salt Flakes Box8.8 oz

Falksalt Natural Sea Salt Flakes Box 1

Elevate Your Culinary Creations with Premium Mediterranean Sea Salt Flakes

Sea Salt

8.8 oz

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Redmond
Real Salt® Fine

Real Salt® Fine 1
Source:redmond.life
Real Salt® Fine 2
Source:redmond.life
Real Salt® Fine 3
Source:redmond.life
Lowest price
$9.99
High Mid
Lowest price
$9.99
High Mid
TypeSea Salt
Volume
16 oz

Unrefined, Natural Sea Salt Mined from Ancient Seabeds in Utah

Real Salt® Fine, mined from the ancient Sundance Sea in Redmond, Utah, is a natural, unrefined sea salt containing over 60 trace minerals. This salt is untouched by modern chemical processes and free from additives, making it a pure seasoning option. It is suitable for various culinary uses such as boiling, baking, and general seasoning, with its small grain size being particularly favored for everyday use.

Packaged in a 16 oz. refill pouch, Real Salt® Fine offers an environmentally friendly option for reducing waste by allowing users to refill their shakers. Known for its subtle, sweet flavor, it enhances the taste of foods without the harshness of conventional salts. Harvested using ethical labor standards and sustainable practices, this salt has a minimal environmental footprint compared to other global sea salts, supporting both eco-friendly choices and a healthy diet.
Kosher
Grain SizeFine
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No.2

Maldon
Sea Salt Flakes

Lowest price
$6.99
TypeSea Salt
Volume
8.5 oz

Pure, Hand-Harvested Sea Salt Flakes with a Unique Pyramid Shape

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes are renowned for their distinctive pyramid-shaped crystals, providing a fresh intensity and a clean taste that enhances any dish. Hand-harvested using traditional artisan methods since 1882, these soft, crunchy flakes contain a perfect balance of natural minerals without any additives, making them a prestigious choice for chefs and home cooks alike.

The unique texture and shape of Maldon Sea Salt Flakes not only elevate the flavor of food but also add a tactile experience to the seasoning process. Approved by the Organic Food Federation and known for their quality, these salt flakes are versatile, suitable for both culinary uses and cocktail seasoning. The 8.5-ounce box offers a pure, natural product that reflects a heritage of craftsmanship and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards in sea salt production.
Kosher
Grain Size
No.3

Diamond Crystal®
Diamond Crystal®Kosher Salt

Lowest price
$10.75
Type
Volume
3 lb

Crafted Kosher Salt with Unique Crystals for Perfect Seasoning

Diamond Crystal® Kosher Salt is a staple in top restaurants and culinary schools, known for its pure, additive-free composition and unique, hollow, multifaceted crystals. Developed over 130 years ago using a proprietary evaporation process, this salt is coarse enough for easy handling yet fragile enough to crush between fingers, allowing for precise seasoning control.

This kosher salt contains 53% less sodium by volume compared to regular table salt, making it a healthier choice without compromising flavor. Its distinctive crystal shape ensures excellent adherence to food surfaces, providing a burst of clean, natural flavor. Endorsed by the American Culinary Federation and widely used by high-profile chefs and cookbook authors, Diamond Crystal® Kosher Salt continues to be crafted in its original facility, maintaining its legacy of quality and consistency.
Kosher
Grain SizeFine
No.4

Happy Belly
Happy BellyFine Ground Sea Salt

Lowest price
$2.20
Low
TypeSea Salt
Volume
16 oz

Finely Ground Sea Salt for Convenient Cooking and Baking

Happy Belly Fine Ground Sea Salt offers a finely ground texture that dissolves easily, providing balanced flavor ideal for cooking, baking, and finishing dishes. Created through the natural evaporation of sea water by the sun, this kosher-certified sea salt is free from artificial flavors and colors, ensuring a pure seasoning option for your culinary needs.

Packaged in a convenient 16-ounce resealable bag, this sea salt is practical for everyday use and easy storage. The fine crystals allow for precise seasoning, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen. As an Amazon brand, Happy Belly Sea Salt combines quality and convenience, catering to both home cooks and professional chefs seeking a reliable and natural seasoning choice.
Kosher
Grain SizeFine
No.5

Celtic Sea Salt
Celtic Sea Salt®Fine Ground (1/2 lb)

Lowest price
$8.43
Mid
TypeSea Salt
Volume
8 oz

Sustainably Harvested Sea Salt with Over 74 Trace Minerals

Celtic Sea Salt® Brand Fine Ground is an unprocessed, all-natural sea salt sourced from pristine coastal regions, known for its subtle flavor and nutritional benefits. With over 74 trace minerals and elements, this salt retains its natural balance, offering a healthier alternative to regular table salt. It is created by drying and finely grinding the coarser Light Grey Celtic® salt, making it a versatile all-purpose seasoning suitable for cooking, baking, and finishing.

Certified kosher and non-GMO, Celtic Sea Salt® is additive-free and lower in sodium compared to typical table salts. This fine ground sea salt, available in an 8-ounce resealable bag, is crafted using traditional methods that have been recommended by health professionals and chefs since 1976. Its unique production process ensures high-quality, nutrient-rich salt that enhances the flavor and nutritional value of any dish.
Kosher
Grain SizeFine
No.6

Felicific Inc
SoeosHimalayan Pink SaltCoarse Grain, 39 oz.

Lowest price
$8.12
TypeHimalayan Salt
Volume
38.8 oz

Multi-purpose Salt: Perfect for Cooking and Bathing

Soeos’s Himalayan pink salt is sourced from the Himalayan salt mines in Pakistan. Soeos is used in some high-end restaurants and kitchens, making it a noticeable brand. This salt is a coarse grain that comes in a sturdy plastic jar and is perfect for use in grinders. It’s ideal for a variety of dishes, including meats, fish, vegetables, and salads. They also recommend use in a bath for relaxation or in a scrub for extra exfoliation. Soeos’s commitment to quality ensures that their salt retains its full spectrum of beneficial minerals and delivers an authentic, versatile seasoning option.
Kosher
Grain SizeFine
No.7

Himalayan Chef
Himalayan Pink Salt1 lb Bag

Reference price
$6.53
Mid
TypeHimalayan Salt
Volume
16 oz

Himalayan Salt from Pakistan

Himalayan Chef is an ethically sourced brand that brings you Himalayan pink salt from Pakistan. This salt is a fine grain, allowing for quick and even seasoning, making it ideal for soups, sauces, and baked goods. It also comes in a resealable pouch for maintaining freshness. Himalayan Chef ensures minimal processing, maintaining the salt’s natural purity and beneficial properties for a refined, flavorful touch to any dish.
Kosher
Grain SizeFine

Hand-Harvested Kosher Sea Salt with Pure, Briny Flavor for Everyday Cooking

Jacobsen Salt Co. Pure Kosher Sea Salt is meticulously harvested from the pristine waters of Netarts Bay on the Oregon Coast. Known for its bright and clean briny flavor, this salt is ideal for a variety of culinary applications including cooking, roasting, brining, pickling, and seasoning. The kosher salt is produced through a slow evaporation process, resulting in naturally formed salt crystals with a delicate, fluffy texture. This ensures that each flake maintains the highest quality and flavor integrity.

Founded in 2011, Jacobsen Salt Co. has quickly become a respected name among both professional chefs and home cooks. The company's mission focuses on craftsmanship and community, aiming to provide the finest cooking ingredients. Their kosher sea salt is certified kosher and reflects the commitment to purity and quality. This salt is perfect for enhancing the flavors of your dishes while supporting sustainable and artisanal food production.

Kosher
Grain SizeCoarse
No.9

Hain Pure Foods
Iodized Sea Salt

Reference price
$2.67
Low
TypeSea Salt
Volume
21 oz

Enhance Your Dishes with Pure, Iodized Sea Salt for Everyday Cooking

Hain Pure Foods Iodized Sea Salt is sourced from evaporated sea water and packaged for convenient use in a variety of culinary applications. This salt includes essential iodide, a necessary nutrient, and is free from artificial flavors and preservatives, ensuring a pure addition to your meals. Certified kosher, it contains sea salt combined with calcium silicate as an anti-caking agent, dextrose, potassium iodide, and sodium bicarbonate to maintain its quality and flow.

Ideal for seasoning meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetable dishes, Hain Pure Foods Iodized Sea Salt offers a balanced flavor profile. Packaged in a 21-ounce canister with a dual pour spout, it is designed for easy use in both cooking and at the table. This salt meets dietary preferences being dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian, and continues Hain Pure Foods' 75-year commitment to providing high-quality, natural ingredients.
Kosher
Grain Size

Elevate Your Culinary Creations with Premium Mediterranean Sea Salt Flakes

Falksalt Natural Sea Salt Flakes are derived from the pristine waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cyprus, known for their dry, crunchy texture and light, clean taste. These pyramid flake salts, containing over 80 minerals, are certified Organic, Kosher, and Halal, ensuring high-quality standards. Falksalt, established in 1928, continues to use traditional artisan methods to produce these superior salt flakes, favored by professionals and food enthusiasts alike.


Versatile and flavorful, these sea salt flakes can be used as a finishing touch on meats, fish, vegetables, desserts, pasta, and even cocktails. Available in various sizes, they are perfect for the kitchen table or as gifts. The delicate flakes add a new dimension to cooking, enhancing the taste and presentation of dishes with each pinch, making them an essential ingredient for elevating everyday meals.

Kosher
Grain Size

If You Need to Reduce Your Sodium Intake, Consider These Salts

Most Americans consume far more salt than the recommended amount, and it can have serious health consequences. If you're looking to cut down, one way is to use more herbs and other seasonings. But sometimes you just need that salty flavor.


There are two substances that are close in chemical composition to salt, and have a similar taste: potassium chloride and monosodium glutamate.

Potassium Chloride Is a Common Substitute

Potassium Chloride Is a Common Substitute

Potassium chloride is produced and sold by big brands, making it a readily-available salt replacement. It can be used in all the same ways because it has the same properties as regular salt as far as food chemistry goes.


You can also use it like table salt when finishing dishes, but it can taste bitter. In addition, it's best to talk to your doctor before switching to potassium chloride. It may not be appropriate for those who have heart, liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, or take certain medications.

MSG Is a Salt That Packs in Flavor With Less Sodium

MSG Is a Salt That Packs in Flavor With Less Sodium

Monosodium glutamate is a naturally-occurring salt of glutamic acid, and found in large amounts in foods like tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese. It's the chemical behind the umami, or savory, taste.


It has one-third the sodium content of regular salt, and because it interacts with and enhances savory flavors, you'll get more impact with less of it. It won't work with sweet recipes, but can be used in any savory food application.


However, like salt, it can still increase blood pressure if consumed in very large amounts. You may also have heard that it can cause headaches and other symptoms, but studies have consistently shown this not to be the case, and participants can't tell the difference between it and a placebo when given amounts normally used in foods.

So Which Salts Do You Need, Exactly? According to an Italian Chef

So Which Salts Do You Need, Exactly? According to an Italian Chef

Danilo says, "Salt is considered the most important ingredient in the kitchen. It is present in all flavors, from sweet to savory. However, it can get confusing what you need in your kitchen arsenal with the many kinds of salt available. 


I recommend having one of each of the four types of salts: table, for everyday cooking and baking; kosher, a flakier option without iodine for dehydrating; sea salt, for a less refined option and achieving that powerful salty kick; and finishing salts if you are meticulous about presentation."

Frequently Asked Questions

Now you know that all salts aren't created equal, but you might still have some questions. We've tried to answer some of them here.

Should I use iodized salt?

There's no argument about whether or not you need iodine in your diet - you do! But does it have to come from an additive in your salt? The answer largely depends on where you live and what you eat.


In the US, dairy products often contain iodine. When iodophor cleansers are used as part of the milking process, iodine is accidentally introduced into the milk and passed along to the consumer. Iodine is also present in soil, and crops grown in this soil pick it up. But, iodine soil levels vary widely across the country.


The most reliable dietary source of iodine is anything that comes from the ocean. Seaweed is an excellent source, and fish and shellfish will also provide some of your recommended daily allowance. Some other foods that provide iodine are eggs and prunes. If you don't eat enough of these foods, you should consider using iodized salt.

Which is the healthiest salt?

You'll often see manufacturers tout their salt as healthier than others because it has more minerals. Himalayan pink salt, in particular, has been marketed this way. But these claims need to be taken with a grain of salt!


Salt is 90 to 99 percent sodium chloride. Himalayan pink salt and sea salt both contain trace amounts of minerals, whereas refined table salt has lost many of them in the process. However, the key point here is "trace amounts." You'd need to consume far more than the recommended daily allowance of sodium in order to get anywhere near the RDA of those minerals.


All those minerals can really provide is color and a more complex flavor profile. So, which salt is the healthiest? The one you consume in moderation!

Top 5 Salts For Cooking

No. 1: RedmondReal Salt® Fine

No. 2: MaldonSea Salt Flakes

No. 3: Diamond Crystal®Diamond Crystal®Kosher Salt

No. 4: Happy Belly Happy BellyFine Ground Sea Salt

No. 5: Celtic Sea SaltCeltic Sea Salt®Fine Ground (1/2 lb)

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