Marco Polo had travel for months to China to get “white gold.”
We have it SO much better now, with easy access and a stunning array of salt options.
To help you stay up to date on the latest salt options, we’ve put together a quick slideshow of of the 11 common fancy alternatives to the regular salt we all have in our cupboards.
For each, we give its price (from $ to $$$$) and its “superpower.”
First up is the OG…
Price: $
Superpower: Price and availability!
Before we get to the alternatives, let’s look at the advantages of everyday salt. The “Morton’s Salt Girl” would demand that.
It’s been used for generations upon generations and does a fine job adding flavor to recipes.
But variety is the spice of life, so let’s look at the alternatives!
Price: $$$
Superpower: Beautiful finisher for chocolates!
This salt is mined in the Salt Range mountains in Pakistan and gets its signature color from minerals in the salt.
Price: $
Superpower: Oceanside flavor!
As the name suggests, sea salt is from seawater. The coarse version is a great finisher while the finer version is a good substitute for regular salt in all kinds of cooking and baking.
Either way, if you love the smell of the ocean, you just may love the taste of this salt!
Price: $$
Superpower: The color! Plus a distinct, sulphurous smell.
Also called Himalayan black salt and kala namak.
This one’s used a lot in Indian and Asian subcontinent cooking, but unless you absolutely love it, that pungent aroma precludes black salt from being an everyday table salt substitute.
Price: $
Superpower: Pickling food!
What makes pickling salt so good for pickling is that it is that it is great at dissolving since its grains are fine and it lacks iodine and anti-caking additives. This all leads to a clear pickling solution and wonderfully crisp pickled vegetables.
It can be used for table salt in a pinch, but this one’s a specialist vs. a generalist.
Price: $$
Superpower: That pop of red!
The Hawaiian name is alaea salt, and it gets its signature red color from the iron oxide in volcanic clay.
As you’d guess, this one’s particularly great with Hawaiian dishes like poke in addition to making a great finishing salt to impress your dinner guests!
Price: $
Superpower: Meat seasoning!
Kosher salt, aka kitchen salt or cooking salt, generally doesn’t include iodine and has larger, coarser crystals vs. table salt.
As the names suggest, kosher and table salt make a great 1-2 punch for cooking and the dinner table.
Price: $$$
Superpower: BBQ!
Yup, salt infused with smoke from wood like mesquite, oak, and hickory!
Bonus: for vegetarians, it can pass for bacon crumbles.
Price: $$$$
Superpower: Finisher!
Fleur de Sel is French for “flower of salt” and is the salt from the surface of evaporating seawater in shallow waters (e.g. a salt pan).
It’s great as a garnish or a finishing salt (in other words sprinkled on at the end).
Price: $$
Superpower: Salt crust!
Sel gris (French for “gray salt”) is a close cousin of fleur de sel.
They start the same but sel gris is harvested differently so that it touches the clay floor of the salt pan to get its gray color.
It’s a moister salt and can be used both for cooking and finishing. It’s nice for veggies, meats, and stews and can be a wonderful salt crust for baked goods.
Price: $$$
Superpower: Salad enhancer!
Delicate and subtle are words to describe this salt.
Salt flakes can add a little texture and crunch to your whole meal, from the opening salad to your steak main course, to your dessert.
Price: $$$$
Superpower: Truffle Shuffle!
Truffle salt is your secret weapon to elevate just about anything you’d love that truffle flavor in.
Think popcorn for some couch movie watching, your morning eggs, some pasta at lunch, or a dinner steak.
Just don’t get carried away!
Each of the salts we’ve covered is great in its own right, so we’ll do this in levels.
Good: Table salt is the default for a reason!
Better: Add in kosher salt for cooking and seasoning, sea salt for finishing, and Himalayan salt for the pink luxury!
Best: Add in your favorite specialty salts to get to the ultimate in salt nirvana, whether that’s truffle salt, black salt, smoked salt, or every salt we’ve highlighted here!
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