Salt is the spice of life, and nothing tastes good without it. That is why knowing how to cook with a salt block is the ultimate in cooking tricks!
Whether your taste buds prefer salty or sweet, everything actually needs a little salt, even sweet foods. Salt makes foods shine bright and just taste better, so cooking with a salt block can be just the thing you need to introduce some extra salty flavor to your culinary repertoire. This guide will help introduce you to salt block cooking and how to use this flavor-enhancing cooking trick!
What is a Salt Block?
Salt is an amazing mineral that we all need to live. Salt is so delicious that it’s no wonder that clever chefs have found a way to make it into the actual cooking surface, not just the seasoning!
A salt block is a brick of salt that is used just like a pan to grill, saute, or even bake! Salt blocks are commonly made from pink Himalayan salt. They add tons of rich flavor and minerals to your cooking!
Why Cook with a Salt Block?
Not only is salt an essential mineral, but it’s a great cooking surface. It distributes heat evenly and can stand up to some serious flames!
In addition to its utility as a cooking surface, it adds salty flavor to everything you cook with it. When you cook on a salt block, you won’t need to season because everything is evenly coated in rich, salty flavor! Along with that flavor comes all the delicious mineral benefits of natural sodium.
How to Store a Salt Block
Believe it or not, you can reuse a salt block for cooking if you store it properly. The key is to keep the salt block dry since moisture can make it dissolve.
Clean it between uses by thoroughly wiping it clean with a dry cloth. Wrap it in plastic or foil. Keep the salt block dry and store it on a cool pantry shelf.
How to Cook with a Salt Block
Cooking with a salt block is the perfect way to get your daily sodium and make your dishes taste great! Use these helpful tips to get started cooking with a salt block!
Grill
The trick to cooking with a salt block on the grill is high heat. If you expose the salt block to temperatures that are too low, the block will break down faster and leave your food way too salty. If you crank the heat to at least 500°F, the salt block holds its integrity and infuses just the right amount of sodium into your food.
Preheat the grill and prepare your favorite cut of steak with salt and pepper. Place it on the salt block and place the salt block directly on the grill. Allow the steak to cook to the desired doneness, and enjoy. After allowing the salt block to cool, clean it to use again.
Bake
Like grilling, you can bake practically anything on a salt block if the temperature is right. Aim for a temperature of at least 450°F when baking with a salt block.
With the perfect heat level, you can cook slow-roasted vegetables, lamb, pork, or more on a salt block in the oven. You may want to place a baking sheet below the salt block in the oven to catch anything that drips or falls off the block.
Sauté
Sauteing on a salt block is a lot of fun! To use this fun trick, preheat the salt block in the oven. Once heated, a salt block will hold the desired temperature for up to half an hour, so you can remove the hot salt block from the oven, place it on a sheet pan for easy movement, and then saute on top of it.
Place your favorite sliced vegetables or meat directly onto the hot salt block and cook until done. This cooking method with a salt block works very well with thinly sliced ingredients. When seasoning, remember not to add any extra salt!
Cure
Believe it or not, you can cold-cure foods using a salt block. It’s an amazing household trick to add bold salt flavor to your favorite foods!
To cold cure with a salt block, chill the block in the freezer or fridge. Remove the cold block and place very thin slices of uncured meat or fish onto the block. The thin meat will actually start to change in appearance as the salt infuses it with wonderfully cured flavor!
F.A.Q.
Can You Reuse a Salt Block?
Yes, if the salt block is cleaned well and stored properly it can be used again and again to infuse bold salty flavor into your favorite dishes!
The key to making a salt block last is keeping it dry. After cleaning it with a dry cloth, tightly wrap it so no moisture can get to it.
Final Thoughts
Cooking with a salt block can be the easiest and most delicious kitchen upgrade. Using this tasty tool takes care of the seasoning of your dish so you can focus on being creative with your cooking! Have fun and try something new with your delicious salt block!
Additional Kitchen Resources
Learning new and creative ways to cook classic dishes is so exciting. If you enjoyed learning how to cook with a salt block, try these delicious culinary ideas!