Unique Uses for Salt at Home

Salt has been used since the beginning of recorded history as a preservative, and flavor enhancer. Prior to the discovery of various chemicals, salt served the purpose of many modern chemicals. It has been used as a cleaning agent, and medical disinfectant.

According to the Salt Institute there are over 14,000 uses for salt. The following are a few uses for salt you may find helpful.

Helpful Uses of Salt in the Kitchen

One use of salt I find most helpful is the use of a strong salt water solution, or brine, poured down the kitchen sink to help prevent grease from collecting. It also works to eliminate the garbage-like odor that develops in a sink or garbage compactor due to mold or mildew growth. Salt is cheaper than harsh chemicals, like Liquid Plumber. It is also more environmental friendly.

As a child, I always saw my mother throw a pinch of salt into boiling water. I never knew why, but I continued the tradition. I was later told that salt helps water boil faster. That is a myth. Salt does not make water boil faster. It does make water boil at a higher temperature. This can come in handy when you need to reduce cooking time by using hotter water.

I learned at Easter that eggs boiled with a dash of salt seem to peel more easily. Also , the white of poached eggs sets up better over salt water.

Miscellaneous Uses of Salt in the Kitchen

When I was growing up we had a huge pecan tree in our backyard. I remember cracking pecans and digging out the meat to enjoy. I don't know if I ate more bitter insides of shell, or meat. It was quite a task. I recently learned that soaking pecans in salt water makes the meat easier to remove. This is true for walnuts and pecans.

Go easy on the salt, so as not to elevate your blood pressure, but lightly salt your salad. Salting salads does more than add flavor. Salting salad greens prior to serving will help them remain crisp. You can also avoid multiple washings of spinach and other leafy greens if you wash them in salt water.