All About Salt
Your complete guide to salt - discover how to store it properly, identify when it's gone bad, and find the best substitutes for your recipes.
How Long Does Salt Last?
Storage times and freshness tips for salt in different conditions.
Safety first: This guide provides general information. When in doubt, throw it out! Trust your senses and err on the side of caution. If something smells, looks, or tastes off, don't consume it.
Pantry / Room Temperature (Airtight Container)Indefinite
Signs of Spoilage
Clumping or caking (due to moisture absorption), discoloration (e.g., yellowish, grayish, indicating impurities or contamination), presence of foreign particles (dust, dirt, insects), unusual or absorbed odors.
How to Check
Visual: Inspect for any discoloration, foreign objects, or signs of insect activity. Touch: Feel the salt. It should be dry and free-flowing. If it's hard, clumpy, or wet, it has absorbed moisture. Smell: Pure salt should be odorless. If it has an off-smell, it may have absorbed odors from its surroundings or been contaminated. Taste: Taste a tiny pinch. It should taste purely salty. Any off-flavors indicate potential contamination or degradation.
Storage Tips
Salt does not spoil in the traditional sense (i.e., it won't rot or grow mold) because it's a mineral and acts as a preservative. The 'duration' of 'indefinite' refers to its safety and efficacy. The main goal of proper storage is to prevent moisture absorption (which causes clumping but doesn't make it unsafe) and to protect it from environmental contaminants or strong odors it might absorb. Always store salt in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. An airtight container is crucial to prevent moisture absorption and to shield it from impurities. If salt becomes clumpy due to moisture, it is generally still safe to use; you may need to break up the clumps or dissolve it in liquid. Iodized salt may lose its iodine content over a very long time (many years) if exposed to air and light, but this does not affect its safety or saltiness.