Is there a difference between Regular table salt and Kosher salt?

Question

I am going to make Pickles for the first time and the recipe says Kosher salt. What's the difference?

Answer 1

Kosher salt
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Kosher salt (or more correctly, koshering salt), is one of the most commonly used varieties of edible salt in commercial kitchens today. Kosher salt has a much larger grain size than regular table salt, and a more open granular structure. Like common table salt, kosher salt consists of the chemical compound sodium chloride. Unlike common table salt, Kosher salt typically contains no additives (for example, iodine), although kosher salt produced by Morton contains sodium ferrocyanide as a free-flow agent.

Kosher salt gets its name not because it follows the guidelines for kosher foods as written in the Torah (nearly all salt is kosher, including ordinary table salt), but rather because of its use in making meats kosher, by helping to extract the blood from the meat. Because kosher salt grains are larger than regular table salt grains, when meats are coated in kosher salt the salt does not dissolve readily; the salt remains on the surface of the meat longer, allowing fluids to leach out of the meat.

Kosher salt can be used in nearly all applications, but it is not generally recommended for baking with recipes that use small amounts of liquid (wet ingredients). If there is not enough liquid, the kosher salt will not dissolve sufficiently, and this can result in small bits of salt in the resulting product; in certain applications this is undesirable. In recipes where there is enough liquid to dissolve all the salt, table salt can be replaced by kosher salt, but the volume must be adjusted. Because kosher grains occupy more volume (for equal weight) the volume of kosher salt should be increased. Because kosher salt grains can vary in size considerably from one brand to another, it is recommended that one check the box for a conversion guideline, which is generally provided. If there is no guidance provided, twice as much kosher salt (by volume) to replace table salt serves as a rough estimate. Conversely, to replace kosher salt with table salt in a recipe, the required quantity of salt should be reduced by half. Another reliable technique is to use an equal weight; a gram of kosher salt is equivalent to a gram of table salt.

Also, in the developing world, iodine deficiency is a health problem solved by use of iodized salt. Mountainous areas and places where prepared salty foods are not consumed may lack iodine, retarding mental and hormonal development in children in particular. (Why we need iodine)

Chefs often prefer kosher salt because its texture allows the chef to pinch a larger quantity of salt and evenly sprinkle the flakes on food. Also, because of the absence of iodine, kosher salt tends to make flavors cleaner and brighter than iodized salt, which has a slightly metallic flavor. The Food Network's Alton Brown generally recommends the use of kosher salt for this reason

Answer 2

Table salt contains more salt than a tablespoon of kosher, this is because of the fine crystals found in table salt. I like to use Kosher or Sea Salt when I cook as it adds a bit of a crunch and a briny flavor to my dish. Table salts are mined from salt deposits with in the ground and contain an additive to keep it from clumping. Kosher salt can either come from the sea or the mine however kosher salt does not contain any additives. Also Kosher salt works well in preserving as its larger crystals will draw out the moister from meats more effectively.

Answer 3

The difference is grain size/density you would use 2x kosher salt if the recipe specifies table salt or. or 1/2 as much table salt than kosher for your application..Use non iodized table salt , or better yet get Diamond Crystal Kosher salt. Don,t get Morton Kosher salt that measures different yet.

Answer 4

Kosher salt is a salt that is a larger grind and has no additives
Table salt is smaller grind and usually has iodine and non caking additives
they make a salt strictly for pickeling which is pickeling salt

Answer 5

kosher salt is alot stronger than table salt . good luck .

Answer 6

regular is just salt... kosher is just salt also but it's been blessed with rabbi urine.