Table Salt vs Sea Salt: Difference and Comparison

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

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

Key Takeaways

1. Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits and refined to remove impurities, while sea salt is harvested from evaporated seawater and minimally processed.
2. Table salt contains added iodine and anti-caking agents, whereas sea salt has trace minerals and a coarser texture.
3. Both salts have similar sodium content, but sea salt is preferred for its natural flavor and trace minerals.

Table Salt vs Sea Salt

Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits and is heavily processed to remove minerals, containing an added anti-caking agent.Sea salt is produced through evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes, with minimal processing, retaining trace minerals and elements.

Table salt, 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 essential minerals 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 and evaporating the seawater until only the salt remains.

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

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Table Salt	Sea Salt
Source	It is procured chemically.	It is procured directly from seawater.
Appearance	Soft blue-green colour.	Less more pungent and sour.
Taste	More pungent and more bitter taste.	Low content of minerals.
Minerals	High content of minerals.	A high content of minerals.
Processing	Highly processed.	Minimally processed.

What is Table Salt?

Table salt, 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 solid and sour taste. Some of the most common table salts available are Tata, Saffola, Keya, Akar, etc.

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

For example, salts obtained naturally are rich in sodium, iodine, and magnesium, calcium, and potassium. One advantage of table salt 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 multinational brands sell most table salts, there are various types of table salts available that have varying iodine content. This is done to retain the product’s value and 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 and evaporating the seawater 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 more pungent and more bitter taste. Sea salt is considered the wealthiest salt of all.

Regarding minerals, sea salt is rich in all minerals, including sodium, Iodine, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Hence, it has a richer flavour when compared to other salts. J

ust like other salts, sea salt also has about 40 per cent 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 the seawater from which the salt is obtained.

It is 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 more robust taste and flavour.

Nevertheless, it is not recommended for people allergic to any of the minerals 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 water quality.
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

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023