Salt is a basic ingredient easily overlooked in a list of ingredients, but it's vital to enhancing and balancing flavors, especially sweetness, in baking. If you leave it out, you’ll likely notice that your baked goods taste bland. That’s because the right proportion of salt can elevate the results of a recipe. Salt will also keep baked goods fresh longer. Without it, breads, cookies, and cakes will go stale faster.
Why use salt for baking?
Salt is essential for a complex and balanced flavor profile, which is why most baking recipes include it in their ingredients.
What is the best type of salt for baking?
Most people are familiar with table salt for baking. However, table salt is not the only option available. Gray sea salt from Guérande is available in 3 versions, all ideal for baking.
- Fine gray sea salt strikes a balance between flavor, texture, and sodium content and is an excellent choice for all kinds of baking, especially cakes or pastry. The finer size of the salt granules makes it easy to measure and provides uniform distribution in recipes. Because the salt is finely ground, it blends easily into batters and doughs with no clumping.
- Coarse gray sea salt can also be used in baking. It works well when little bursts of salty flavor are desirable, such as in breads and cookies.
- Fleur de sel can be sprinkled on cookies after forming and before popping them into the oven.
Besides boasting superior flavor, gray sea salt is also high in minerals. This gives your baked goods a rich, complex taste, all while ensuring that the goodies are guilt-free and nutritious!
Gray sea salt has a chemical composition that is very similar to regular table salt. However, there are two noteworthy differences.
- Gray sea salt contains a higher percentage of minerals than table salt and is significantly higher in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. These nutrients provide many health benefits, including improved blood pressure, stronger bones, and better digestion.
- Another important difference is that gray sea salt is less processed than table salt. This means that it contains fewer additives and less sodium per serving. So compared to traditional table salt, gray sea salt is not only healthier but you don't need to use as much!
Here are the advantages of using fine gray sea salt in baking:
- Better flavor: Gray sea salt has a stronger taste and a richer color than regular table salt. This makes it ideal for enhancing the flavors of both sweet and savory baked goods. Remember to use about 2/3 of the amount of table salt you would normally use.
- Ease of mixing: Since fine gray sea salt is finely ground on stones in the traditional manner, it is much easier to incorporate into batters and doughs. This bestows a more consistent texture to baked goods and prevents clumping.
- Health benefits: Studies have shown that gray sea salt is more nutritious than traditional table salt. It is higher in minerals and lower in sodium, making it a superb choice for people on low-sodium diets or anyone looking for healthier baking options.
If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to visit our salt product page for more information about our gray sea salt. We offer free shipping on all orders over $49, so you can get the best baking ingredients for less!