Flake salt
Encyclopedia
Flake salts are a category of salt
characterized by their dry, plate-like ("lamellose") crystals. Their structure is a result of differing growth rates between the faces and edges of the crystal, an effect that can be achieved in various ways. Flake salts may occur naturally but can also be produced by a variety of methods, including boiling brine over metal salt pans or evaporating it in greenhouse solar evaporators. The technologies used as well as atmospheric conditions can yield varying crystal structures. Flake salts can form as irregular shavings, pyramidal shapes, boxes, or potato chip-like laminated crystals. These salts tend to have lower trace mineral content than other salts, giving them a stronger salty taste. Most form as thin, flattened out crystals with a large surface area and low mass that give them a crunchy texture and relatively fast dissolution rate. Because of the salts' delicate structures, selmelier
s tend to use them as finishing salts.
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
characterized by their dry, plate-like ("lamellose") crystals. Their structure is a result of differing growth rates between the faces and edges of the crystal, an effect that can be achieved in various ways. Flake salts may occur naturally but can also be produced by a variety of methods, including boiling brine over metal salt pans or evaporating it in greenhouse solar evaporators. The technologies used as well as atmospheric conditions can yield varying crystal structures. Flake salts can form as irregular shavings, pyramidal shapes, boxes, or potato chip-like laminated crystals. These salts tend to have lower trace mineral content than other salts, giving them a stronger salty taste. Most form as thin, flattened out crystals with a large surface area and low mass that give them a crunchy texture and relatively fast dissolution rate. Because of the salts' delicate structures, selmelier
Selmelier
A selmelier is a trained and knowledgeable professional specializing in culinary salt and its use in cooking and restaurant service.-Etymology:...
s tend to use them as finishing salts.
See also
- The Alberger processAlberger processThe Alberger process is a method of producing salt.It involves mechanical evaporation, and uses an open evaporating pan and steam energy. It results in a unique, three-dimensional flake salt of extremely light bulk density. It is highly prized in the fast food industry, due to its low sodium and...
- Fleur de selFleur de selFleur de sel is a hand-harvested sea salt collected by workers who scrape only the top layer of salt before it sinks to the bottom of large salt pans...
- Sel grisSel grisSel gris is a coarse granular sea salt popularized by the French.Sel gris comes from the same solar evaporation salt pans as fleur de sel but is harvested differently; it is allowed to come into contact with the bottom of the salt pan before being raked, whence its gray color...
- Rock salt
- Himalayan salt blockHimalayan salt blockHimalayan salt blocks are slabs of salt carved from quarries of rock salt in Pakistan's Khewra Salt Mines. They come in the form of blocks, bowls, and plates and may be used to serve, cook, and cure food. This method of putting food on salt instead of salt on food yields an even distribution of...