by Philip |
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With our fondness for Himalayan salt lamps, it is probably quite natural that our next purchase would be a Himalayan salt tile for cooking.
For the most part, we get rave reviews at our little dinner parties, but we do get the occasional puzzled look and the question we’ve come to expect, “But why would anyone bother cooking on a salt tile?”
The comments have been amusing thus far. Like, can’t we just cook food the normal way and then lick our salt lamp after? Or how about sprinkling salt on a pan and cooking on that?
Our friends are obviously all barbarians, but we’re trying to educate them. Here’s what we have to say at CompleteHomeSpa.com when they say ‘what’s the point of cooking on a salt tile?’
10 Uses Of Himalayan Salt Blocks
Here are all the fun uses of Himalayan salt block tiles in the kitchen.
Himalayan Salt Blocks Take the Taste of Food to the Next Level
When you cook on a Himalayan salt tile, your food is imparted with a unique taste and flavor that you don’t get with ordinary table salt.
If I may compare it with water: bottled water is delicious and refreshing as it is. However, when you drink it cold and fresh from a mineral spring, you can immediately tell the difference.
Cooking on a slab of Himalayan salt is the same thing. Mark Bitterman, author of the popularSalt Block Cooking book explains that it’s a technically superior way of cooking. He says, “With bacon or duck breast, it produces a texture of crispy, fatty bacon or duck skin that is better than anything you’ve ever had. Scallops – it’s just the most remarkable crispy golden crunchy browning of a scallop.”
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bitterman, Mark (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
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We were seriously salivating after we read these bits so you can bet that we had scallop and bacon on the menu the week after.
Himalayan Salt Slabs are Great for Grilling Vegetables, Seafood & Steak
Okay, this is seriously making me hungry now. A Himalayan salt tile is ideal for foods that can cook fast. For vegetables, we love to cook asparagus, caramelized onions, potatoes, and zucchini on ours. For seafood, salmon and shrimp are our favorites. And of course, when the craving hits, we get really good steaks, sprinkle them with salt and cracked pepper, and fire up our salt block.
Bam! Super tasty steaks.
Here’s one of the videos I learned off on how to cook a steak using a salt block. If you want to learn exactly how to do it properly (like what you need to do to keep it from cracking), start the video from the beginning. If you just want to see steak cooking, though, just start as is. 😉
Himalayan Salt Tiles Let You Grill Indoors
So we mentioned the steaks. The best part is, you can grill right from your kitchen. All you need is the right know-how so that you do it properly. This is great for the winter season and rainy days.
In the video I shared above with you, the cook dude is grilling outdoors. However, you can do it on a gas flame too, and it’s also ideal because you have better control of your heat source.
Photo Source: Shared.com
Himalayan Salt Blocks Allows You To Bake Cookies
I know! Who knew? But it was in the cookbook, and our chocolate chip cookies came out slightly salty. They were good! We love salted caramel stuff, so it was a great recipe for us.
Obviously, you can’t bake many on a salt block. At most, you’d be able to bake 4 to 6 cookies, depending on the size of your cookies or your slab. Jane and I are on a perpetual “healthy” diet, though, so the small servings were ideal.
Additionally, if you’re a mom and want to amaze your mother-in-law or your fellow soccer moms, share your baked goods while still hot on your exceptional Himalayan salt tile, that’s a gazillion years old. Win!
Photo Source: sfchronicle.com
Himalayan Salt Slabs Help You Keep Food Warm
If other cooking appliances lose heat fast, the opposite is true for salt blocks. They hold temperature for a longer duration and lose heat more slowly.
Just be careful of moisture on your food. If your food is moist, and it is spread all over your salt block, it’s going to get real salty. As an example, fried eggs aren’t ideal. They spread and are super moist.
Himalayan Salt Tiles Are Great To Server Cold Cuts & Cheese
In the same way that a salt slab can keep heat, so can Himalayan salt blocks retain cold. You can use it with cheese, cold cuts, and fruits.
Again, here’s the trick. Don’t spread your food out on the tile. For example, when we have watermelon, Jane would lay it out in a fan style so that not all the slices are touching the surface. Or else, you can place the slices standing upright so that only the rind is touching the plate. I’m saying Jane because when I did it, I just laid the fruit on there. As you know, watermelon is very watery, so we got salt on everything.
BTW, just so you know, we keep 2 salt tiles. We use one for cooking and another for chilling. I don’t know if other folks do the same, but it seems like common sense to us. (One of our top picks for the best salt tiles comes as a pair.)
Put Sashimi & Other Raw Foods On Your Salt Tile
I’m the type to get excited at the sight of sashimi on the table. But it gets even more exciting to watch the raw fish as it cures on a salt tile. Wait, did I mention oysters yet? Heavenly!
Photo Source: Himalayan Salt Boutique
You Can Make Ice Cream With Himalayan Salt Tiles
I honestly haven’t tried this, but I am sure this works because a salt tile can be chilled and as mentioned earlier, it holds temperature very well. If I ever get out of my lazy couch, I’ll whip up some ice cream flavor that goes well with a hint of saltiness.
Jane is snorting. She can see right through me!
Himalayan Salt Blocks Add a Dose of Healthy Minerals To Food
If keeping your Himalayan salt lamp on gives you health benefits, imagine how it is to cook or place your food on it. Aside from sodium chloride, you get iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iodine, and other micro-traces of minerals.
You benefit from a balanced pH, improved digestion, and better hydration levels. And it’s also good for those suffering from acid reflux.
Himalayan Salt Slabs Make Great Conversation Pieces At Parties
Your Himalayan salt tile isn’t just for cooking, you can be literally use as a tray or a serving plate. Try loading it up with either sashimi, cheeses, fruit, or even ice cream during a party. You can bet almost everybody will be asking you about the beautiful, mysterious, luminous crystal sitting on your dinner table.
Himalayan Salt Blocks, Sum Up
The thought of cooking on a salt block may seem intimidating, but once you know what you’re doing, it’s pretty much smooth sailing from there. If you’re the type to enjoy your food, eat healthily, and try out new things, then give these babies a go. Check out our favorite picks for fantastic Himalayan salt tiles.
They are a perfect addition for your spa in the kitchen, or the least, add a dash of peace in the kitchen. And now, excuse me while I persuade Jane to have some succulent steaks on the menu tonight. Cooked a la Himalayan salt tile, of course!
I’m a writer, more or less. I mean, that’s what I call myself at parties. That means a lot of bad posture, slouching over computer monitors, hands gripping a computer mouse like it’s a primeval axe.
Taking a spa break after months of working 24/7 was revelatory. That little massage chair changed my life. I wanted access to relaxation equipment! We started with small massage cushions and the like. After a couple of years we got our hot tub, but no infrared sauna yet.
You’ve got to leave yourself with some space to dream!
Author: Philip Andrew:
I’m a writer, more or less. I mean, that’s what I call myself at parties. That means a lot of bad posture, slouching over computer monitors, hands gripping a computer mouse like it’s a primeval axe.
Taking a spa break after months of working 24/7 was revelatory. That little massage chair changed my life. I wanted access to relaxation equipment! We started with small massage cushions and the like. After a couple of years we got our hot tub, but no infrared sauna yet.
Co-author: Dmitri Kara
Started as a jack of all trades back in early 2012, Dmitri Kara is a recognized expert in a wide range of domestic and commercial trades. Dmitri Kara has appeared for reputable outlets such as Today.com, Metro.News, Telegraph.co.uk, ReadersDigest.com, Quote.com, Reviews.com, Plus.net, IkeaHackers.net, and many more. You can get in touch at https://twitter.com/@dmitrikara.