Salt

• Seasoning: Salt is used to season virtually every type of dish, from savory meats and vegetables to sweet desserts, enhancing the natural flavors of the ingredients. It's a critical component in achieving balanced and well-rounded taste profiles.
• Preserving: Salt acts as a natural preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and mold. It's commonly used to cure meats, pickle vegetables, and preserve fish, extending their shelf life and altering their textures and flavors in desirable ways.
• Baking: Salt controls yeast activity and strengthens gluten in bread dough, contributing to the texture and rise of baked goods. It also balances sweetness in desserts and enhances the overall flavor of cakes, cookies, and pastries.
• Tenderizing: Salt can be used as a meat tenderizer. Brining meats in a salt solution allows the salt to penetrate the muscle fibers, denaturing proteins and resulting in a more tender and juicy cooked product. Consider how to best tenderize chicken and other tough meats using different salting techniques.
• Flavor Enhancing: Beyond basic seasoning, salt can enhance the inherent flavor of foods, making them more palatable and complex. A pinch of salt can bring out the sweetness in fruits, deepen the umami in savory dishes, and create a more satisfying culinary experience.
• Cooking Water Seasoning: Adding salt to boiling water before cooking pasta, rice, or vegetables seasons them from the inside out. This is especially critical for pasta, where the salt infuses into the starch, preventing a bland taste.

• Helps regulate fluid balance in the body for optimal hydration.
• Supports nerve and muscle function, including heart contractions.
• Aids in nutrient absorption in the intestinal tract.
• Essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

Salt should be stored in a cool, dry place away from moisture. An airtight container is ideal to prevent clumping, especially in humid environments. Salt does not expire, but proper storage maintains its free-flowing texture and prevents it from absorbing odors from the surrounding environment. Avoid storing salt near strong-smelling foods.