spoon salt
Sodium chloride with trace minerals depending on source; spoon salt from sea sources may contain minor quantities of iodine and other elements, though typically in negligible amounts compared to iodized table salt.
About
Spoon salt is a colloquial term for salt of medium grain size, distinct from fine table salt or coarse sea salt varieties. It typically refers to salt crystals that are large enough to be picked up individually with a spoon, making it practical for direct seasoning and visual control during cooking. The grains are usually formed through natural evaporation of seawater or extraction from salt deposits and are neither pulverized to powder nor left in the largest crystal formations. Spoon salt is chemically identical to other sodium chloride products but offers a texture intermediate between granulated and fleur de sel varieties.
In English-language culinary traditions, "spoon salt" is sometimes used synonymously with kosher salt, particularly in older recipes or regional cooking terminology, though the distinction varies by geography and producer.
Culinary Uses
Spoon salt is used for finishing dishes and direct seasoning where the cook benefits from being able to gauge salt addition by eye and feel. The granule size allows for easy pinching between fingers or scooping with a spoon, providing tactile control absent with fine table salt. It is commonly used as a cooking salt for boiling water, brining, and general seasoning in everyday cooking across Western cuisines. The larger crystals dissolve more slowly than table salt, making it suitable for applications where a brief salt flavor bloom is desirable before full dissolution.