Sea salt is a familiar ingredient in every Vietnamese household’s kitchen. However, not many people know that roasting sea salt before use not only enhances the flavor of dishes but also offers significant health benefits. So, why should we roast sea salt before using it? Let’s explore the details in the article below:
1. Remove impurities and bacteria
According to research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), natural sea salt may contain various minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. However, it can also be contaminated with impurities or bacteria due to the extraction and sun-drying processes. Roasting the salt before use helps eliminate any remaining bacteria, removes moisture, and gets rid of impurities, ensuring cleaner and safer salt for consumption.
Especially if you buy coarse sea salt, it is crucial to roast it to eliminate any bacteria.
2. Reduce moisture and enhance flavor
When sea salt is roasted, the water evaporates, leaving the salt crystals drier and harder. This process also intensifies the salty flavor significantly. That’s why professional chefs often recommend using roasted salt for seasoning dishes that require a subtle salty taste, such as grilled meat, stews, or braised fish.
Moreover, roasted sea salt becomes neutral in flavor, delivering a strong salty taste without the bitter aftertaste associated with raw salt. This attribute makes seasoning dishes more delicious and refreshing, especially when used in dipping sauces. Try making the same dipping sauce with roasted and unroasted salt, and you’ll notice a remarkable difference!
3. Activate natural minerals
Unrefined sea salt is rich in minerals, but when stored in a humid environment for an extended period, some of these minerals may crystallize or decompose. Roasting the salt reactivates these minerals, keeping the sea salt fresh and more bioavailable for the body.
4. Detox and enhance Feng Shui energy
In Eastern Feng Shui beliefs, sea salt is thought to absorb and purify negative energy. When sea salt is roasted and heated, this ability is enhanced, helping to dispel bad luck and cleanse living spaces. Many Vietnamese families have the custom of sprinkling roasted salt in the corners of their homes or adding it to their bathwater to ward off bad luck and promote health and good fortune.
5. Reduce heavy metals in raw sea salt
Sea salt derived from the ocean may contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. While the levels of these toxic metals are low, prolonged consumption could potentially impact your health. Roasting sea salt at high temperatures helps mitigate this risk by evaporating or altering certain impurities.
Pay attention to the odor when roasting salt; you may notice some unpleasant smells being released.
In Vietnam, there is a traditional craft of making “salted salt” by heating sea salt in a charcoal kiln, causing the salt crystals to pop and turn into smaller pieces. This process results in salt that has a more intense flavor without the bitter aftertaste associated with raw salt.
6. The proper way to roast sea salt
To roast sea salt correctly and maximize its benefits, follow these steps:
Step 1: Place a sufficient amount of sea salt in a cast iron pan or a thick-bottomed pan.
Step 2: Place the pan on the stove and turn the heat to low-medium.
Step 3: Continuously stir the salt for about 5-10 minutes until it is completely dry and emits a mild, pleasant aroma.
Step 4: Turn off the heat and allow the salt to cool down naturally. Then, store it in an airtight glass jar, avoiding humid places.
Note: Avoid roasting salt at extremely high temperatures, as it may cause the salt to change color or lose some of its beneficial natural minerals.
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