There is something special about using a Himalayan rock salt block. They can double up a wonderfully rustic and creative cooktop as everything from a slab, plate, brick, and a serving platter.
Drawn from the ancient Himalayan mountain range of Pakistan, the pink salt is free of preservatives or chemicals. Where the world has polluted, the pink salat remains perfectly pure. So then, it only makes sense to use them! Salt is no longer just for seasoning. Oh no, it can be used in so many beautiful ways.
- Is cooking on a salt block healthy?
- Does cooking on a salt block make food salty?
- What is a salt plate?
- How do you use a salt block for cooking?
- How long does a salt plate last?
- Can you use a salt block in an oven?
- What is the purpose of a salt block?
- What do you do with a Himalayan salt plate?
There is something special about using a Himalayan rock salt block.
They can double up a wonderfully rustic and creative cooktop as everything from a slab, plate, brick, and a serving platter. Drawn from the ancient Himalayan mountain range of Pakistan, the pink salt is free of preservatives or chemicals. Where the world has polluted, the pink salat remains perfectly pure.So then, it only makes sense to use them! Salt is no longer just for seasoning. Oh no, it can be used in so many beautiful ways.
You definitely have seen the crystal rocks stored across markets and stores before, but a salt block is perhaps the purest form. Mined into a boulder, they are sliced into slabs akin to carving meat during the holiday season. In many ways, they’re just as delicious.
A salt block is so often the centre-piece of any kitchen. A beautiful sight during a dinner party, these gifts from nature are not only pleasing to the eye. Indeed, they offer an exciting way of searing such delicacies as meat, fish, and vegetables. They can also provide platters for eggs and chilled desserts. The list is endless.
While they look like an example of decadence, they’re so easy to use and can offer much in promoting healthy eating. If cared for correctly, the blocks can last for a while, making any investment worth it. With that all in mind, here are all of your questions answered on the wonderful world of salt blocks.
Is cooking on a salt block healthy?
Too much salt is rarely good for anybody, but the salt block’s beauty is that it doesn’t invade your food with remnants of salt. Instead, they impart healthy minerals, with pink salt thought to include at least 80 for the 94 you need for a healthy diet.
Getting more minerals into your body is as important now as ever. With pink salt being acceptable to eat while on diets such as Keto, it’s worth considering these salt blocks as a way to prepare healthy food.
Does cooking on a salt block make food salty?
The short answer is no. That may seem somewhat strange, but salt blocks do not heavily salt your food. Instead, given they retain very little moisture, what you’re getting is a more intense flavour with an air of smoked salt rather than particularly salty food.
It’s more of seasoning rather than anything else. Think of it like salt-baking meat or fish; you’re simply getting more flavour over anything overpowering.
What is a salt plate?
Effectively, a salt plate is a slab of Himalayan salt that can range up to dimensions of 9-square inches. Grilling, baking, sauteing and curing foods are all ways to prepare foodstuffs with them. They can also conduct high temperatures, making them the ideal stovetop luxury. In many ways, they’re somewhat like cast iron. After a few uses, you’ll start to pick it up.
How do you use a salt block for cooking?
As previously mentioned, placing it on top of a gas ring or stovetop offers a great platter. With the heat pushing through the salt block and imparting extra flavour onto whatever it is you’re cooking.
When heated, they help absorb moisture, giving you a much better sear on meat and fish, as well as getting vegetables crispier. Perfect. Elsewhere, you can also serve fresh fruit and desserts on top of them without using the stove. Not only do they look amazing, but the surface will also help impart exciting flavours. A chocolate cheesecake, for example, would be the perfect dessert to serve on it. The mouth salivates thinking of it!
How long does a salt plate last?
Clearly, this all hinges on how well you care for your salt block. If treated correctly, they can last for a reasonably long time. Indeed, steps such as gentle cleaning, dry storage and slow heating are all essential in prolonging your salt plate’s life. When it comes to cleaning this most glorious gift from nature, it does require a touch more care than your regular old pan. I’m afraid that scrubbing with soap or leaving in the dishwasher won’t fly here. Don’t risk it.
Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to make your life harder than it should be. Once your salt plate has cooled, all you need to do is gently scrub it with a damp sponge. As long as your cleaning fabric isn’t soaking wet and you don’t go too hard, it should be a relatively easy process. Trust us; it’s worth it.
The salt block itself can stay hot for up to half an hour after cooking, and, in general, the surface could give you around a year of use. Given they’re reasonably cheaply priced, it’s a worthwhile investment to take your kitchen and your cooking in equal measure to a new level.
Can you use a salt block in an oven?
Absolutely you can, though it’s worth pre-heating on the stove first. That way, any moisture will evaporate, and it can warm up nice and slowly. Set your gas ring or stove to its lowest possible setting and let nature do its work. Then, grab your oven gloves and transfer the block into the oven (starting around 210F) until it’s heated to around 420F.
You should note that your salt block or plate could turn white in some spots when heated to high temperatures, though this is normal. That gives it its character, after all. Baking cookies, pizzas, scones, or even cakes are all good ways to get oven use out of these natural rock slates.
What is the purpose of a salt block?
Salt blocks are just alternative ways to both serve and prepare different kinds of food. Fish, vegetables, meat, desserts, poultry and pizzas are all things that can be improved on a salt block. They can impart extra flavour into anything seared on top of them when heated without making your food overly salty.
In many ways, it’s just like using a cast iron instead of a regular pan. It’s just a different way of cooking or serving and something to make a show of during a dinner party or a barbeque.
What do you do with a Himalayan salt plate?
Himalayan salt plates are nice and flexible. They offer the chance to bake, sear or serve so many different types of food, adding a much more complex flavour to whatever is lucky enough to sit atop them. Simply heat on a gas ring or stovetop and start searing! Alternatively, you can start heating it there and place hot block into a hot oven, baking whatever you choose on top. Even simple egg cooked on the block will have totally different taste experience.
Given they last for up to a years if cleaned correctly, you’ll be able to sample all of their delights after your initial investment. Even outside of the cooking purposes, simply serving desserts or fresh fruits on the salt plates should provide a lovely talking point when entertaining guests. Suppose you’re someone who enjoys cooking or having dinner parties. In that case, salt blocks are a great cooking surface of developing more exciting flavours.
