10 Ways You're Misusing Salt

There is one product that every kitchen needs: salt. Lots of home cooks view salt as optional, but in reality it is a non-negotiable part of cooking. Nothing adds more flavor to your food than salt.

Click Here to see the Slideshow for the 10 Ways You're Misusing Salt

Seasoning your food is arguably the most important step in cooking, and there are many opportunities to use salt (not necessarily just in the kitchen), but it's important to make sure you're using salt in the most efficient way.

Everything from a freshly sliced tomato to that red velvet cake you've wanted to bake should get at least a touch of sodium chloride.

It's important to remember that salt in highly processed food is not the same kind of salt you add to your own food. In fact, the salt used in food like chips and frozen or pre-packaged meals is most often chemically altered to make you crave more of that same salty flavor.

There are guidelines to salting. You can't just toss in an arbitrary amount of salt and hope for the best, and you also can't follow recipes to the letter when it comes to seasoning. This is a personal choice that may be different for everyone. People who love salt may not taste it as acutely as someone who never uses it. This tried and true method of seasoning your food as you cook is one to live by. You never know what you're cooking tastes like until you actually take a taste.

Not all salt is created equal. Table salt is finely granulated, and doesn't have a ton of flavor. Kosher salt is most often used in professional kitchens because it's flaky, which makes it easy to feel and see how much salt you're adding to something.

Make the most of your meals and learn how to use different types of salt. Whether it's the French sea salt called fleur de sel or flavored salt, specialty salts have a place in the kitchen.

Check out the slideshow above to learn 10 ways you're misusing salt.

10 Tips on Making the Perfect Burger
11 Nutritious, Kid-Friendly Finger Food
Tips from the Pros for Grilling the Perfect Steak
12 Good, Fast, and Cheap Recipes
14 Tasty Tart Recipes