Kosher salt is a flat-grained, non-iodized salt. With its coarse particle size, kosher salt adds a delicate flavor to food, unlike regular table salt which adds a more bitter taste. Good kosher salt substitutes include: Himalayan salt, sea salt, table salt, pickling salt, coarse sea salt, iodized salt, rock salt, soy sauce, Hawaiian red salt, Sardinian Fior di sale, Maldon sea salt, French Fleur de sel, and celery salt.
Best Kosher Salt Substitute: Pink Himalayan Salt
The best substitute for kosher salt is Himalayan salt because these two salts have a similar flavor profile and dissolve in the same way. Compared to kosher salt, coarse pink Himalayan salt granules have a similar rate of distribution in food and have the same flavor strength. Replace kosher salt with Himalayan salt at a 1:1 ratio.
Other Kosher Salt Substitutes, Alternatives, and Replacements
Kosher salt isn’t always available, so this section is a list of foods that can be used in place of kosher salt to achieve a similar flavor.
Fine Sea Salt
Sea salt, made by evaporating seawater, is a great substitute for kosher salt because the two salts have similar flavor profiles. If sea salt and kosher salt have the same flake or grain size, a simple substitution of 1:1 works well. However, if the sea salt is finer-grained, it will dissolve more quickly in dishes and increase the saltiness, so use less. Sea salt is a good substitute when curing meat or baking bread.
Coarse Sea Salt
Coarse sea salt is a better kosher salt replacement than fine sea salt. The large granule size will have the same rate of absorption and taste release as kosher salt. The two salts’ similar granule sizes are ideal for cooking because the similarity makes measuring easy. The best substitution rate is 1 part kosher salt to 1¾ parts coarse sea salt.
Table Salt
Table salt is also a good substitute for kosher salt. Table salt is saltier than kosher salt, so use a substitution ratio of ½–¾ tablespoon of table salt for 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Note that table salt can make some foods taste more bitter due to the ionization process that this salt is made with.
Pickling Salt
Pickling salt is finer-grained but milder than kosher salt. Pickling salt can be found in most stores. Substitute pickling salt for kosher salt at a ratio of 1½:1 Pickling salt is less salty due to its finer granules, so more is needed to match the flavor of kosher salt.
Iodized Salt
Iodized salt is another good substitution for kosher salt. However, the appropriate substitution rate will be determined by the iodized salt’s grain size. Start with a substitution rate of ¼ teaspoon iodized salt for 1 teaspoon kosher salt, then adjust to taste.
Rock Salt
Rock salt has a slightly pink color and is saltier than kosher salt. Rock salt grains can be smaller or larger than kosher salt, depending on how the rock salt was processed. Replace kosher salt with rock salt at a reduced ratio, according to taste. Consider starting with a substitution rate of ¼ part rock salt to 1 part kosher salt.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a liquid, but it somehow matches the flavor profile of kosher salt well, especially in meaty dishes. Soy sauce is much saltier than kosher salt, so start at a reduced ratio of ¾ part soy sauce to 1 part kosher salt.
Celery Salt
Celery salt is a good substitute for kosher salt at a ratio that’s either equal or uses slightly more celery salt. The particles of celery salt are smaller than kosher salt, which gives celery salt a slightly less-salty taste in salads, soups, and breads. Substitute equally, or add ¼ teaspoon more celery salt for a saltier taste.
Hawaiian Red Salt
This red-tinged salt has strong metallic tones due to the high iron content of the lava rocks where the salt is mined. Start with a substitution ratio of ½–¾ part Hawaiian red salt for 1 part kosher salt, then adjust to taste. Save this substitution for meaty dishes where pork, lamb, and beef may benefit from a stronger flavor profile.
Maldon Sea Salt
Substitute kosher salt with the larger and softer flakes of Maldon sea salt. Maldon sea salt is slightly sweet and less salty, making it great for all types of cooking. The large flakes release a taste profile similar to kosher salt. To substitute, start with ¼ teaspoon Maldon sea salt to 1 teaspoon kosher salt and add more as you conduct frequent taste tests until the desired saltiness is reached.
Sardinian Fior di Sale
Made from the saltwater marshes off the Scandinavian coast, the brown-colored Sardinian Fior di Sale salt is a good substitute for kosher salt because the two salts have similar granular structures. Substitute by starting with a ratio of ½ part Sardinian Fior di Sale salt for 1 part kosher salt and taste test, adding more salt as needed.
French Fleur de Sel
French sea salt, also known as French Fleur de Sel, is a good substitute for kosher salt because the two salts are similar in texture and size. Substitute by starting at a 1:1 ratio and then adding more according to taste.
