A Simple 4-Piece Guide To Mastering Salt In Your Home Cooking

If you could only master one ingredient in your kitchen, make it salt.

Not herbs. Not spices. Not fancy oils or exotic sauces.

Salt.

Salt is the quiet workhorse behind every great dish, whether it’s a humble pot of beans or a restaurant-worthy roast chicken. When you know how to use it, salt unlocks flavor, transforms texture, and turns simple ingredients into memorable meals.

Here’s what every home cook needs to know:

Why Salt Matters More Than You Think

It Makes Food Taste More Like Itself

Salt doesn’t just make things “salty.” It amplifies the flavors already in your food. A slice of tomato tastes sweeter. An avocado tastes richer. Even a plain pot of rice tastes fuller and more satisfying. Mastering this principle is the difference between bland and craveable.

It’s the Secret Behind Restaurant Flavor

Ever wonder why restaurant food tastes better? Yes, they use butter. Yes, they have fancy equipment. But the real secret? They salt in stages (and generously.) Learning to season gradually and taste as you go can take your home cooking from flat to fantastic.

How to Actually Use Salt Well

1. Salt in Stages

Season early and often at every major stage of cooking. This helps the salt absorb and spread evenly, rather than just sitting on the surface.

2. Taste As You Go

It sounds obvious, but most people don’t do it. Tasting your food lets you adjust seasoning before it’s too late (or bland). The more you taste, the better you’ll get at knowing how much is just right.

3. Know Which Ingredients Already Bring Salt

Stock, soy sauce, miso, cheese… plenty of ingredients come pre-seasoned. Paying attention to these keeps you from over-salting and helps balance flavors.

Choosing the Right Salt for the Job

Here’s a simple rule:

Keep two salts on hand.

One for everyday cooking. One for finishing.

Everyday Salt (Fine Grind)

Use something you love and stick with it. Saltiness varies by brand and grind, so using the same one consistently helps you season with confidence.

Finishing Salt (Flaky or Specialty)

Finishing salts add texture, crunch, or a final burst of flavor. They’re for sprinkling on roasted veggies, steaks, cookies, or even your morning eggs.

The Salts We Carry at Tare

Redmond Real Salt — Our go-to for everyday cooking. Harvested in Utah, packed with natural minerals, and totally unrefined. The difference in taste is real.

Himalayan Pink Salt — Beautiful, mineral-rich, and perfect for finishing. Adds color and complexity to both sweet and savory dishes.

Celtic Sea Salt — Moist, briny, and hand-harvested from the French coast. Ideal for finishing dishes with a splash of oceanic depth.

Flaky Sea Salt — Light, crunchy flakes that make everything from roasted vegetables to brownies taste (and look) better.

Smoked Salts (Hickory & Applewood) — Adds rich, smoky notes without firing up the grill. Perfect for meats, veggies, or even popcorn.

Salt is the backbone of good cooking.

Master it and everything you make will taste better.

A Simple 4-Piece Guide To Mastering Salt In Your Home Cooking