kosher salt

As I understand it, kosher salt is just big soft flakes which are easy to rub into the meat.

Maldon sea salt perhaps?

Unless you are koshering something for a strict religious purpose, my choice would be Maldon salt ( which I think is allowed for koshering anyway)–it is the best, espec. if your in England. However, if you don’t want the minerals in sea salt (although to me, that is why I’d rather use it than that Morton Crap which is chemically adulterated in soooo many ways) then use what, I think, is refered to as “Dairy” salt–it has no additives and has medium big grains.

What have you got planned?

Try chemical supplies places?

The reason most recipes are “requiring” it these days is that it is a fave of chefs. The ONLY reason why for most is that when you pinch it between thumb and index finger it stays put! Well, that, and perhaps a clean taste. You can then sucessfully pinch a 1/2 teaspoon. Sure it is pure salt–no additives–but really, any salt will work. There is nothing special about it other than its ease of use and distribution.

Kosher salt actually causes more problems when you try to use it in a recipe which just says salt–because its flakes are bigger than regular salt granules the same number don’t fit in a measuring spoon. So if you try to use it in baking your results will be skewed unless you adjust accordingly. I use tons of it in my cooking both personal and professional, but that’s because it is a cheap and clean alternative to regular–can’t stand it–iodized salt. When I am seasoning a dish at the finish, or for the table I almost always use Sea Salt–much healthier, better flavor, etc. If I could afford to use Maldon or Sel Gris all the time I probably would. Both are easy to pinch and sprinkle, they have great taste, but I wouldn’t want to put a handful in a pot of Pasta water.

Buy huge cheap bags of rock salt in France, Fraser. They fit Mr Podchef’s description.
You’ve been reading lots of BBQ books again haven’t you?

So I’ve been using the bestest salt around for years? Can anything surprise me?

Thanks for the offer, it’s much appreciated, but I have a couple of leads to explore first – if I have no luck, I’ll get back to you.

I buy wonderful big, big tubs of Dead Sea Salt for £1.99 from Carmel, one of the shops serving the Orthodox Jewish community in Stamford Hill. It’s opposite Nettos, next to the junction of Stamford Hill and Clapton Common.

I’m in the US and can’t help with a place to buy kosher salt in the UK, but surely any area with a significant orthodox Jewish population will have a kosher food store that sells it. In the US, it seems like you can buy a big box of kosher salt in most supermarkets in big metro areas. Morton’s Kosher Salt is only about $3-4 per 3 lb box and ironically tastes way better than Morton’s Crap Regular Iodized Salt. For use in recipes, the size of the flakes can be important if texture is an issue. For example a salt bagel has big salt crystals on the outside; if you spread the same amount of finely ground salt over the outside, even if it was fancy sea salt, eating the bagel would feel like a salt lick.

I’m glad somebody else is finding it a pain in the ass to find kosher salt in the U.K. I now live in W. Sussex, but back in California I could buy it in any super market…diamond crystal brand was readily available. As a chef I find kosher salt excellent for cooking (also it is the PERFECT salt for rimming margarita glasses) but alas, I am at a loss here to find it…anyone on the South coast know of a good Jewish market…or other resource, let me know,
Thanks!
MW

I’d love to know if anyone finds it as well. I’ve tried around central London to no avail. Same for edame still in the shells too. Not the things I expected to have difficulty finding when we moved here.

off topic.. just discovered your blog.. and that it’s your birthday. happy birthday! hope you received something else off your wish list!

hey good news… http://www.Americansweets.co.uk is now selling Kosher salt in the UK…!!