Difference Between Table Salt and Sea Salt

Salt is one of the essential components of many food items that we eat. It adds a certain taste and flavor to the food.

While there are many types of salt such as rock salt, Himalayan salt, and Kosher salt, etc., table salt and sea salt are two of the most widely used.

Table Salt vs Sea Salt

The difference between table salt and sea salt is that table salt is prepared and chemically processed in factories whereas sea salt is obtained directly from seawater and is minimally processed. Furthermore, the two differ in almost every aspect including their appearances, taste, mineral content, purity levels, etc.

Table salt, or generally referred to as common salt, is a type of salt that is chemically prepared and processed in factories. Table salt is prepared from mining salt deposits.

The obtained salt is then processed into smaller pieces of fine crystal to increase its mixability. Table salt is rich in sodium and iodine, the two minerals that are essential for the body.

Sea salt is a type of salt that is naturally prepared directly from seawater. Unlike table salt, it is minimally processed. Sea salt is obtained directly by boiling the seawater and evaporating it until only the salt remains.

The obtained salt is directly consumed to retain its original taste and texture. Sea salt is considered the richest salt out of all.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Table Salt	Sea Salt
Source	It is procured chemically.	It is procured directly from seawater.
Appearance	Shiny white color.	Soft blue-green color.
Taste	Less stronger and sour.	Stronger and more bitter taste.
Minerals	A low content of minerals.	A high content of minerals.
Processing	Highly processed.	Minimally processed.

What is Table Salt?

Table salt, or generally referred to as common salt, is a type of salt that is chemically prepared and processed in factories. Table salt is prepared from mining salt deposits.

The obtained salt is then processed into smaller pieces of fine crystal to increase its mixability. Table salts are shiny white and have a strong and sour taste. Some of the most common table salts available are Tata, Saffola, Keya, and Akar, etc.

Table salt is rich in sodium and iodine, the two minerals that are essential for the body. Nevertheless, it still has less mineral content than natural salts.

For example, salts obtained naturally are not only rich in sodium and iodine, but also magnesium, calcium, and potassium. One advantage that table salt has over other naturally produced salts is that it is much cleaner and purer.

Almost all salts including table salt contain about 40 percent sodium. However, the concentration of Iodine differs. This is done because some people are allergic to iodine consumption.

As most table salts are sold by multinational brands, there are various types of table salts available that have varying iodine content. This is done to retain the product’s value and also as a marketing tactic.

What is Sea Salt?

Sea salt is a type of salt that is naturally prepared directly from seawater. Unlike table salt, it is minimally processed. Sea salt is obtained directly by boiling the seawater and evaporating it until only the salt remains.

The obtained salt is directly consumed to retain its original taste and texture. It is soft blue-green with a greyish touch. It has a stronger and more bitter taste. Sea salt is considered the richest salt out of all.

When it comes to minerals, sea salt is rich in all the minerals including sodium, iodine, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Hence, it has a richer flavor when compared to other salts. J

ust like other salts, sea salt also has about 40 percent of sodium content. However, sea salt is not always very pure.

Since it is sold in its original texture and form, the purity level can degrade depending on the quality of seawater from which the salt is obtained.

It is often considered that sea salt is much healthier than other types of salts including table salts. However, this is not true. It is only as nutritious as others and is only prioritized based on its stronger taste and flavor.

Nevertheless, it is not recommended for people who are allergic to any of the minerals present in it.

Main Differences Between Table Salt and Sea Salt

1. Table salt is prepared chemically and is highly processed whereas sea salt is prepared naturally and is minimally processed.
2. Table salt has a low mineral content whereas sea salt has high mineral content.
3. Table salt has a very high level of purity as it is cleaner whereas sea salt can sometimes be impure depending on the quality of water.
4. Table salt has a sour and less strong taste than sea salt, which is bitter and much stronger.
5. Table salt’s granules are smaller, which makes it easily dissolvable whereas sea salt’s granules are bigger, making it less dissolvable at room temperature.

References

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp002968n
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00424-014-1683-z