Can You Use Himalayan Salt for Baking? 

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With so many types of salts available on the market, choosing the right one can be confusing. Different types of salt are used for specific dishes or ideal for various cooking or baking conditions. And with the rising popularity of one salt, in particular, we were curious to know, can you use Himalayan salt for baking?

In short, the answer is yes. In fact, many people have started replacing regular table salt with Himalayan for cooking and baking. This pastel pink salt comes from the Himalayan mountain range in South Asia and is known to add a unique flavor to any dish. 

Keep reading if you’re curious to learn more about the versatility and beneficial qualities of Himalayan salt.

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Baking With Himalayan Salt

Himalayan salt is naturally sourced with a beautiful pink hue and comes in the form of crystalized morsels. You can easily grind these salt crystals and use Himalayan salt in any form, it just depends on the dishes you wish to prepare. There are many benefits that come with using Himalayan salt. So let’s dive deeper and see the many ways you can benefit from this salt. 

Benefits and Tips 

Aside from being able to use Himalayan salt for almost any dish, there are also some general health benefits that contribute to its worth.

  • Improves digestion
  • Balances pH levels in the body 
  • Provides hydration
  • Regulates blood sugar levels 
  • Removes toxins 
  • Strengths bones and teeth 
  • Improves metabolism 
  • Aids weight loss 

 

Preserves Baked Items 

Traditionally, salt was added to baked items to keep them from spoiling. Salt is a natural preservative, and Himalayan salt is no exception. Baking with Himalayan salt helps to preserve baked goods for a longer period compared to regular salt. 

Dough Elasticity 

When using Himalayan salt to prepare dough, it naturally provides a smoothness to the batter and as a result increases elasticity. Whether you’re preparing dough for a pizza, a loaf of bread, pasta, or any other baked dish, Himalayan salt is a great way to add more elasticity.

Texture

With any baked good, we know how important achieving the right texture can be. Himalayan salt improves the texture of baked goods, like cookies and bread, by adding a slightly flaky surface. To achieve this texture, it’s best to use slightly coarse Himalayan salt for that extra crunch. Or you can opt for Himalayan salt flakes and sprinkle them on finished baked goods just after taking them out of the oven.

Versatile 

A great attribute of Himalayan salt is its ability to be used for sweet or savory dishes. Whether they’re sweet or savory dishes, you can use Himalayan salt for baking cakes, cookies, pizza, grilling meat, or roasting vegetables. In addition, you can use the salt throughout the baking or cooking process. For example, when mixing dough you can sprinkle the salt on before or after baking. In addition, dissolving Himalayan salt in water and brushing it on the dough, before placing it in the oven, will give you a crispy and crunchy crust. 

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Himalayan Salt For Baking

Salt is used in many baking recipes either to add flavor, function as a preservative, or help yeast work its magic. With Himalayan salt, you’re able to achieve any of those objectives with the right guidance. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to use larger pieces of Himalayan salt for cooking and finer grains for baking. Fine Himalayan salt can easily be distributed throughout any mixture, whereas slightly larger morsels of Himalayan salt will localize the salty flavor. If you only have coarse Himalayan salt, then you can crush the salt using a grinder or mortar and pestle. Using fine Himalayan salt will help the flavor spread evenly through the dough, or batter, giving your dish a wonderful taste.

Can I bake with Himalayan salt? 

You can bake a variety of dishes using Himalayan salt. The most important factor to consider is to use the proper conversions when substituting Himalayan salt for table salt in a recipe. A great way to do this is to weigh the salt or naturally reduce the quantity to not overpower the dish. 

However, the best use of Himalayan salt in baking bread or cookies is when you use it as a finisher by sprinkling it on top for an added crunch. And for chocolate lovers, Himalayan salt is also known to enhance the richness of dark chocolate in cocoa-based baking recipes. 

Ratio To Regular Salt 

The standard ratio of Himalayan salt to regular table salt is 1:1. However, this ratio is calculated based on weight and not volume. For example, you can substitute 5 grams of regular salt with 5 grams of Himalayan salt but you cannot directly replace 1 teaspoon of regular salt with 1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt. A great way to calculate the suitable salt ratios is to use a salt conversion chart. 

Quantity Vs. Taste 

Another important quality to consider, when using Himalayan salt, is that it has a stronger flavor than most other salts. It is best to reduce the amount you use, if you’re measuring the salt by volume. Because of its richness in flavor, you don’t need to add too much Himalayan salt to you dishes. A little goes a long way. 

For Sweet Dishes

A pinch of Himalayan salt can elevate the flavor of even the sweetest treats. Next time you find yourself making cookies or cake, sprinkle a little salt on top and enjoy a combination of sweet and salty deliciousness. Make sure to only add a pinch because Himalayan salt is quite potent 

For Cheese Or Butter

To amplify the flavors of your dish, you can add a mix of Himalayan salt and lime juice to replace a quarter of the required cheese or butter in baked dishes. This magnifies the flavor and provides more nutritional value than cheese or butter. 

Substitutes For Himalayan Salt For Baking

If you don’t have Himalayan salt you can easily use table salt, sea salt, or Kosher salt instead. As always, make sure to measure the proportional ratio before adding the salt to your recipe. Since Himalayan salt is a little more potent than other salts, you’ll typically need to add slightly more sea salt and Kosher salt to get the same effect.

Kosher salt can also be used as a finisher to give your baked dishes that added texture. The same goes for coarse sea salt. Just sprinkle a pinch of coarse sea salt on top of your dish and enjoy that added savory crunch. 

So can you use Himalayan salt for baking? As we’ve seen the answer is a resounding yes. Himalayan salt is a great way to enhance the flavor of any dish you’re either baking or cooking. As long as you accurately convert the measurements when substituting Himalayan salt in a recipe, you’ll be able to enjoy the delicious and beneficial qualities of this unique seasoning. A great way to test out Himalayan salt is to do a salt test with your favorite recipe. Make a single recipe with different salts and compare to see which one is best. Using Morsel, it’s so easy to note these changes and modifications in your recipes and ultimately discover the winning combination.