More on Salt

iodized salt
Originally uploaded by foodchronicles.

I mentioned the many different types of salt in an earlier post. In that post I mentioned that since the industrial revolution salt has too been "industrialized". Our main use of salt is to add savor to and preserve foods. The uses of salt are many however. Listed below are some of the other uses for salt. Adapted from April 2005 Real Simple Magazine.

1. Roads and walkways - salt to avoid freezing.
2. Keep eggs from cracking when boiling - place a pinch or two of salt to the water.
3. To help keep drains clean - 1/2 cup of salt to a quart of hot water, pour down the drain.
4. To remove dirt from leafy vegetables such as spinach - rinse in a salt water solution.
5. In order to whip up eggs or cream to a high fluff - add a pinch of salt.
6. To help keep a turkey moist - salt the interior cavity of the bird prior to roasting.
7. To help remove wine stains from linens or clothing - cover the stain with salt, pour boiling water over area, rinse, prior to laundering.
8. To chill bottles in your ice bucket, alternate layers of ice and rock salt until around the bottle,add water to rim of bucket. Let stand for 10 minutes and you bottle will be well chilled.
9. When cooking zucchini or eggplant sprinkle with salt prior to cooking to prevent them from getting watery.
10. To keep windows from icing over on the interior of your car, rinse with a solution of 2 teaspoons of salt with a gallon of hot water, towel dry.
11. To clean a sticky residue from an iron - rub with salt and a paper towel. Have the steam off when doing this.
12. 3 tablespoons of salt and a little ice will clean the inside walls of a glass coffee pot.
13. Clean up raw egg spills by pouring salt over the egg. Let stand for a couple of minutes, clean up with a paper towel.
14. Cleaning tarnished brass and copper. Start with a paste of equal parts salt and flour with a few tablespoons of white vinegar. Apply to your favorite brass candlesticks or copper bowl with a soft cloth and rub. Rinse with water and dry.

Salt can also be used as an abrasive cleaner for any tough stain in the kitchen. Make a paste of salt and hot water - scrub to remove stain. Are there ways you use salt, that I haven't listed? Let me know.