Kosher Salt?

[radiodugger]

Interesting thread. Thank you, Suzie, for that cookbook quote! I just started using Kosher salt. It seems I now have more control over saltiness. It seems to be more forgiving, in case I feel I've oversalted. Hey, I just thought of something....

Why do people throw the excess salt on the floor? Over the shoulder (Rachael), around the side (Emeril), etc.? Emeril does that a lot. I toss it in the sink. I am a guest cook at various friends' houses, and would NEVER think to throw salt on the floor, let alone any other substance.

Thanks!

Doug

[Food Network Fan]

It's supposed to be a good luck superstition to throw salt over your shoulder. In the bible Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at their sinful life in Sodom, you are supposed to throw salt over your shoulder but not look back at it in order to "put the devil behind you".

[radiodugger]

ROFLMAO!!!!

Ha...man...I don't know why I found that so funny. I need to put the devil behind me...a LOT! LOL!

(Taking box of Kosher salt...tossing handfuls left and right as I make my way back to the studio...)

That should bring me luck for the next YEAR! That is, until the boss comes in tomorrow morning and finds all this salt...Heck, I'll just say Lot's wife came in looking for her husband!

Radio Doug

[Food Network Fan]

Well you asked. That's the one I have heard. I am sure there are probably other reasons out there.

[Clove]

Originally Posted by BerryBaby

I bet Clove would know the answer to this!

I can't answer for Alton Brown but Kosher salt is of a larger grind and without the iodine of regular table salt.
Kosher salt is easier to handle and to see on the food.
It has a better flavor and, I think, is less "salty" tasting.
I use it as my "all purpose" salt.
I try to keep a few different sea salts (Grey (French) and Sicilian) around.
I try to buy salts only in stores where I can taste them.
That's how I started with Grey salt. It's a sea salt from Brittany and has an incredible mineral content and flavor.

[Food Network Fan]

Michael Chiarello uses grey salt a lot. I haven't seen it around here. Maybe Penzey's has it and I can order.

[Chap]

I will be looking for it too.

[Food Network Fan]

I did have some, I got it in Palm Springs. But I can't find it around here.

[BerryBaby]

Cost Plus World Markets has grey salt...also pink salt, although I'm not sure what that is. I would bet they have a website you could look it up on. We have a couple of their stores nearby and I love the different items they carry. Many things, like the grey salt, I can only find there.

[BerryBaby]

Thanks, Clove! I knew you would have the answer on this. Nice to have a professional chef on board.