Uses for Unrefined Sea Salt

Unrefined sea salt is sea salt that has not undergone any type of processing. Some sea salts are treated with bleach so that they appear whiter, or they are milled so that the grains are finer. Unrefined sea salt has large crystal grains and is often slightly grayish in color. This type of sea salt has a variety of household and culinary uses, including seasoning and cleaning.

Preservative

• Unrefined sea salt can be used as a preservative, either as part of a group of ingredients or on its own. Unrefined sea salt is especially good for making preserved lemons or sauerkraut as the large crystals are well suited to preservation techniques that only use salt. Unrefined sea salt can also be used in pickling mixes, as the additional nutrients and lack of added chemicals mean fewer complications in the pickling process.

Cooking

• Cooking with unrefined sea salt is a healthy option when added sodium is needed for a dish. The high nutrient and mineral content of the salt is beneficial, and the lack of refinement means that there is less of a possibility for chemicals to leach into the foods. Unrefined sea salt should be ground before being added to a dish for faster absorption. If whole crystals are to be added, it will take longer for the salt to dissolve and mix into the food. As well, less salt will be needed as individual grains contain more salt than in crushed or powdered form.

Body Scrubs

• Sea salt in large, unrefined crystals makes an ideal all-natural body scrub. You can mix the crystals with some essential oil right before using it, or you can add dried herbs such as lavender to a container of salt and let the scent infuse the crystals. If infusing crystals, you should let the sealed container of herbs and salt sit for at least a week in a cool, dark space. Scrub your body with sea salt during a shower to exfoliate your skin, as well as to add essential nutrients for softer, smoother skin.

Natural Cleaning Agent

• Sea salt makes for an excellent all-natural scrub to remove stains or burnt on foods. The larger, coarser grains of unrefined sea salt are particularly well suited for scrubbing, without the worry of extra chemicals leaching into your dish and cookware. Rubber gloves should still be worn when scrubbing with sea salt, as the forceful nature of the activity can accidentally damage hands.