Ice Cream Salt, same as edible salt?

Ice cream salt - Ice cream salt being poured into glass
@Stirtime (269)
United States
January 15, 2009 4:22pm CST
I recently had been on a quest to find a salt for use in my salt grinder. I did some research and went to the local super markets finding that the coarse Kosher salts just didn't do it! The salt would go right through the grinding apparatus! An employee at the local market told me to check out the ice cream salt it has a larger crystal and should work well, so I did. I picked up some Morton Ice Cream Salt thinking it would suffice, no warnings on the label or ingredients for that matter, even taste the same just not as salty. So what's the harm in eating ground ice cream salt in dishes compared to the table salt we normally consume?
1 response
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
16 Jan 09
This is what I found online: rock salt = ice cream salt = halite = sidewalk salt = land salt Notes: This is the cheap, non-food grade salt that we throw onto icy walkways and use to make ice cream. It doesn't actually go into the ice cream, as some have learned the hard way, but rather into the wooden ice-filled tub that surrounds the bucket of ice cream. The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, which causes it to melt. As it melts, it absorbs heat from the ice cream, helping it to freeze more quickly. Use a ratio of one part rock salt for every five parts of ice. If you're out of rock salt, other kinds of salt will also work, though you should use less since finer grains of salt can can be packed more densely into a cup than large chunks of rock salt. The biggest danger is that you'll use too much salt, which will make your ice cream freeze too fast and become crusty. When using salt other than rock salt, start with a modest amount and check the ice cream after you've churned it for ten minutes. If the ice cream is just beginning to firm up, you have the right amount of salt. If it's not yet firming up, you need to add more salt. If it's crusty along the sides of the bucket, then you've added too much salt. Substitutes: kosher salt (more expensive) OR table salt (more expensive) http://www.foodsubs.com/Salt.html
• United States
17 Jan 09
Good detail. I don't think that I would try eating those salts, they seem dirty.
@Stirtime (269)
• United States
17 Jan 09
It did look really clean (free from dirt) and tasted less salty then table salt. I just thought I would give it a try but after more research I decided to keep it for my sidewalks and if I ever venture into ice cream making! I will save the coarse Kosher salt that I purchased the other day for my table and cooking.