OK, what is the difference in canning salt, or pickling salt, and regular salt? The store had table salt, kosher salt and the only other thing I have is the salt for the driveway when it freezes over. Can you use the table salt? Thanks in advance.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), September 12, 1999

Answers

Canning salt is nothing more than table salt that is not iodized. The iodized salt will make pickle brine cloudy. I found the 1 Lb. bags of Morton canning salt to be a lot cheaper than table salt in the cardboard cartons. For just canning regular food that doesen't need a clear liquid, any kind of salt will do. Iodine tends to make a bitter taste when food is processed. Don't know what kosher salt is.

-- FOX (ardrinc@aol.com), September 12, 1999.

The kosher salt appears to be coarser and non-iodized. It says on the side that it can be used in place of table and canning salt. I guess that it is acceptable.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), September 12, 1999.

To the best of my limited knowledge: Coarse salt and Kosher salt are identical. Rock salt is inedible (cuz of additives???). Table salt is a finer grain salt offered either with potassium iodide (iodized), or without (plain). Canning salt is also free of both iodide, and additives which permit "free flowing". The coarser the salt, the greater the surface area, therefore the greater the absorbtion of liquid. Course salt may be ground in a pepper mill to make it more palatable for table use.

-- A. Hambley (a.hambley@usa.net), September 13, 1999.

For canning- ie; pickles and sauerkraut, etc- use Kosher salt, or so called canning/pickling salt- it is a coarse salt. Never use iodized salt in canning- will mess stuff up-

rock salt, ice melting salt- not edible.

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), September 13, 1999.

If iodized salt doesn't bother you, buy lots of table salt in the little containers. It will work just as well as rock salt for melting ice, you just have to use more of it than you think you do, and make sure you don't hit your plants.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), September 16, 1999.