What Is Kosher Salt? An Expert Explains

It’s a safe bet that every home chef has been in a situation where they glance down halfway through cooking and realize the recipe calls for kosher salt. If immediate panic doesn’t ensue, you might be wondering—what is kosher salt? And can I just use regular salt?

What Is Kosher Salt?

Barry Tonkinson, vice president of culinary operations at the Institute of Culinary Education, explains that kosher salt is a flaky, non-additive salt well known for its pure taste and distinct texture. Used widely across home and professional kitchens, kosher salt got its name from the Jewish process of salting proteins to draw moisture and is now known widely as kosher salt.  

“Kosher salt is used in kosher cooking, but is used much more widely as well,” he says. 

Tonkinson says that chefs prefer to use kosher salt due to its taste and consistency. “Standardizing the type of salt you use in recipes means that you can add a particular measurement of salt for a recipe and feel comfortable that the seasoning will remain the same time after time,” he says.

What Is The Best Way To Use Kosher Salt?

Kosher salt is a highly diverse salt to use in any kitchen. "(You can) use kosher salt to season all kinds of food preparations and cooking,” Tonkinson says. “Its distinct taste and texture mean it can be used for both cold and hot preparations.” 

What Is The Difference Between Salt And Kosher Salt?

So, if a recipe calls for kosher salt, is it safe to use the salt you find in your cabinet? Probably not. Tonkinson says that certain types of table salt use iodine and other additives and agents.

“These salts can be very intense in flavor in comparison to a milder kosher salt,” he says.