India is known to be the land of spices. We like to top up our food with enough seasonings and condiments. Salt is one of those essential condiments for our cuisine. It is significant for vegetarian dishes. And it’s no surprise that India is the world’s third-largest salt manufacturer. Some ingredients are mandatory for cooking any dish. Salt is one such ingredient that is commonly used in cooking of all kinds. Salt is the main ingredient used to season food. Lack of the healthiest salt contributes to unpleasant and flavorless food. So salt plays a key role in bringing flavor and taste to the dishes that we are preparing.
Why you need salt?
High mineral salt is also used to cure the meat and reduce the bitterness in vegetables such as radicchio, bitter gourd, and eggplant. Salt is a common cooking ingredient used in almost every recipe, but from various nutritional experts, it has gained much interest and debate. Yet this has encouraged the use of chefs or home cooks. There’s so much detail about salt misuse but so little about its appropriate use and many health benefits. The advantages of Indian salt are numerous: it prohibits iron deficiency, reduces diabetes risk, controls blood pH levels, prevents dehydration, enables efficient heart circulation, and helps exfoliate. Nowadays, with the availability of several brands in the market, choosing one healthiest salt has become confusing and challenging. When used in cooking, every kind of salt performs differently.
Types of Salts Available in India
Here are type’s of salt available in India:
Table salt
The salt used most commonly in Indian cooking. Table salt is quickly dissolved, and rich in iodine. An iodine deficiency can cause thyroid problems. It is why using table salt in small amounts is good for health.
Kosher salt
Kosher salt is India’s next popular form of salt. It has longer grains and contains no iodine. For those trying to minimize solid consumption, Kosher salt is recommended.
Sea salt
Sea salt is formed from seawater evaporation, is rich in sea minerals, and contains potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc. It takes time to dissolve. You can use it before or after the food has been cooked in specified amounts (not more than one tablespoon per day).
Low sodium salt
It involves less sodium, as the name implies, which is helpful for people with blood pressure.
Pink salt
A new addition to the market, pink salt is also called rock salt of the Himalayas. Pink salt is chosen for its properties, such as reducing muscle cramps, promoting blood circulation, etc.
Top 5 salts for cooking
Below mentioned are the 5 best healthy salts for cooking. These five high mineral salts listed below are the most reliable ones and complete value-for-money
1. Puro health salt
Get Puro healthy salt if you’re searching for a high-mineral salt that is safe and unconventional. Puro health salt is a product of Puro wellness Pvt Ltd. The company was founded in 2016. The company’s primary goal is to provide all Indians with safe and affordable food. After following ancient Ayurvedic literature, Puro wellness considers salt as an essential piece that adds to a person’s health. Puro salt is made of unpopulated and untreated natural resources. Nutritionist internationally suggests the use of Puro salt for its health benefits. In addition, Puro salt is claimed to enhance and improve the food’s taste.
Pros:
- More Safe and healthy choice
- Improves consumer eyesight and digestion
- Does not contain iodine
- Mineral-rich
Cons:
- Expensive than a normal salt
- Contains less iodine
2. Tata Salt
The name Tata is known for providing quality food items. A respected brand that has been doing business for decades. Tata salt is India’s oldest and most looked-after brand. The company is well known in India for manufacturing vacuum-sealed and packed salt. Tata Salt is a popular item used by consumers in all households. Tata brand salt has launched a new salt range, such as sprinkler, Tata salt lite, and Tata salt plus, to meet the needs of consumers. No matter how many brands come onto the market, nothing can match Tata salt’s quality and reputation.
Pros:
- Iodine presence: an essential ingredient for children’s mental growth.
- 1 kg of salt at a reasonable price of 27 rupees.
Cons:
- To get the taste, it has to be added in more amounts than other salts
3. Aashirvaad Salt – Iodized
Aashirvaad salt is the third salt in our Top Five ranking. This salt is a product of India’s famous and well-known firm, ITC. The brand is one of the leading manufacturers of food in India. Besides the salt, ITC manufactures Atta, spices, and instant mixture. Aashirvaad salt is your best choice for all vegetarian lovers out there. The iodized Aashirvaad salt is a vegetarian salt available on the Indian market. The evaporation of salty seawater forms salt from Aashirvaad. The salty seawater is collected and evaporated in the shallow basin using sunlight and wind.
Pros:
- The brand provides easy-flowing granular salt used for seasoning various dishes.
- Aashirvaad salt is easy to use, store and hold
- Salt price is relatively reasonable.
- Aashirvaad salt is rich in iodine required for growth and other healthcare needs.
Cons:
- Packing is not very attractive and catchy.
4. Patanjali Iodized Namak
Patanjali Namak is the fourth-best salt on our List. This product won the hearts of thousands of customers for its quality and price. Among its strong competitors like Tata salt and Aashirvaad, Patanjali salt has made a name for itself in the industry. Patanjali Namak is the top choice for all vegetarian consumers. The salt brand is available all over India. Patanjali Namak is a herbal drug created for Indian consumers’ needs.
Pros:
- It is less expensive as compared to other salts available in the market
- Widely available in all Indian grocery stores
- Contains iodine
Cons:
- Costly than Aashirvaad iodized salt
- To get a perfect taste, you’d need to add more salt.
5. Organic Tattva Natural Rock salt
Organic tattva salt is the last salt on our List of best sea salt in India. This brand reflects a new addition to the Indian market. The organization works under the motto of selling natural goods to help people lead safer and happier life. Organic salt tattva is high in magnesium and calcium.
This best sea salt is useful for various health reasons. It enhances a consumer’s metabolism and immune system. Tattva is India’s leading organic-product firm.
Pros:
- Free from Pesticides and fertilizers
- Himalayan Organic Rock Salt
- Salt use can improve skin health and reduce the stress of a person
Cons:
- It costs around more compared to other brands. It is a little bit expensive compared to other brands.
Factors to consider while buying salt
When buying any cooking ingredients, it is crucial to determine and make one of good quality. After extensive research on factors to be considered while purchasing salt, we have compiled it into seven main factors listed below. Before buying any salt, it is crucial to consider the following factors:
1. Quality
Quality is the prime and essential element to consider when choosing salt. High-quality salt can be expected to enjoy all the benefits of using it for well-being. The salt of good quality is safe to eat and has a better flavor. The quality salt is free of adulteration, which would otherwise affect a person’s health. Don’t consider the price associated with it when buying salt. High-priced salt doesn’t mean they’re of decent quality. Most times, a local and less costly salt can be of better quality.
2. Pick out pure salts
Picking pure salts is the best way to ensure the salt you use benefits your health. One needs help to understand about the process of salt, just by a look at the cover. You should try to spend a little more time on the internet. The forums created online will help you understand more about the manufacturing of different salt types. Such experience will allow you to recognize how salt is handled by looking at it. Go for salts with zero or fewer additives, such as low sodium salt.
3. Consider the terrain
Various types of salts come from different locations. The roots of salt matter are hard to believe. The salt gets its taste, consistency, and flavor from the place it originates. Sea salt is an outstanding example of a terrain. Sea salt is manufactured from evaporating seawater, which will be filled with iron, zinc, minerals, potassium, etc., depending on the place of Manufacture Sea salt.
4. Fully understand the requirement
Salt is not one element. You get to choose multiple salt types on the bases of cooking style. For example, you can use pink salt with larger flakes, like fleur de sel for curing meat or frying. However, when it comes to seasoning potatoes or fried you should use fine sea salt. Based on the dishes you prepare, identify and stock your kitchen with the type of salt you need.
5. Colour
Color of the salt is one crucial aspect to remember while you are thinking to purchase it. Various forms of salts have different colors to them. The salt gets its color from the minerals and the processing spot. Refined salt and low sodium salt, for example, are generally white. While unrefined salts have a different color, such as pick slate colored pale pink, red salt, and black salt colored with little grayish-black and gray salt.
6. Moisture
The moisture content of the salt that you purchase decides its health benefits. Several brands bring in tack several unrefined sea salts with moisture content. It is a significant decision as the moisture helps preserve the minerals.
7. Minerals
The salt composition is vital at the time of purchasing salt. First, read the salt kit you wish to purchase to learn its composition. It avoids salts that have a high sodium chloride or iodine content. Instead, search for salts with different minerals which helps you in your health.
Conclusion
Salt is the standard condiment in our kitchen, and there’s no way to avoid it. It is incredibly important for the effective functioning of the body. Salt intake has various benefits for health. Increasing the number of brands on the market that offer salts. Choose the high-mineral salts manufactured by national brands that have already made a name for themselves in the food industry.