Mobile Menu

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Resources
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • Health
    • Beauty
    • Mama Wellness
    • Natural Home
    • Natural Remedies
    • Organization
    • Travel
    • Reviews
    • Recipes
      • Beef Recipes
      • Breakfast Recipes
      • Condiment Recipes
      • Dessert Recipes
      • Drink Recipes
      • Pork Recipes
      • Poultry Recipes
      • Salad Recipes
      • Seafood Recipes
      • Side Dish Recipes
      • Snack Recipes
      • Soup & Stew Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • LinkedIn logo
  • YouTube logo
  • Instagram logo
  • Pinterest logo
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Wellness Mama®

Simple Answers for Healthier Families

  • About
  • Start Here
  • Resources
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Mama Wellness
    • Natural Home
    • Natural Remedies
    • Organization
    • Travel
    • Recipes
    • Reviews
  • Shop
  • Search
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » 9 Ways to Use a Himalayan Salt Block in Your Kitchen

9 Ways to Use a Himalayan Salt Block in Your Kitchen

July 22, 2016 (Updated: July 30, 2019)   —  by Katie Wells

How to use a salt block for cooking and curing and serving

Reading Time: 7 minThis post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy.

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • What is a Himalayan Salt Block?+−
    • Where to Get One:
  • Tempering a Salt Block Before Using+−
    • How to Temper a Salt Block:
  • How to Heat a Himalayan Salt Block+−
    • How to Heat a Salt Block on the Stove
    • How to Heat a Salt Block on the Grill
  • How to Cook on a Himalayan Salt Block
  • How to Care for Your Salt Block
  • 9 Ways to Use a Himalayan Salt Block+−
    • Make Delicious Grilled Vegetables
    • Grill a Perfect Steak Indoors
    • Add Flavor to Baking
    • To Add Minerals To Food
    • Keeping Foods Cold
    • Cure Foods
    • Amazing Seafood
    • Fancy Way to Serve Food
    • Make Poke
  • Himalayan Salt Block: Bottom Line

I’ve been a fan of Himalayan Salt and salt lamps for a long time, and in the past few months I’ve also come to love cooking with a himalayan salt block or cooking tile.

Here’s why its awesome:

Salt has been used  and valued throughout history and was so valuable in the 1800s that it was worth 4 times as much as beef on the frontier. Thankfully, salt isn’t as (comparatively) expensive now, since every cell in the body contains salt and it is essential for life.

Plus it tastes good. We all add salt to foods (and even sometimes drinks). Now, there’s an even better way to get the benefits and flavor of salt. Salt Blocks.

What is a Himalayan Salt Block?

As the name suggests, a Himalayan Salt Block is a large block of pink salt. Why would one want a large block of salt, you ask?

Here’s why:

Salt Blocks are one of the best cooking and serving surfaces I’ve found. They provide a complex and amazing salt flavor without being overbearing.

They are easy to use and maintain and they make you look really sophisticated when you serve food on them.

Where to Get One:

Himalayan salt blocks are widely available now. These are the one’s I’ve personally tried:

  • A 2-inch thick block (great for grilling and gas stoves)
  • A larger 1.5 inch thick block with a frame (great for electric stoves and serving)

This is also a great cookbook on salt block cooking if you get really adventurous. Now that you’ve got a huge chunk of ancient salt in your kitchen, here’s how to use it:

Tempering a Salt Block Before Using

Salt blocks can be heated or cooled to extremely hot and cold temperatures and are versatile for this reason. Since they are a natural product with imperfections and lines, it is important to do this slowly. Heating a salt block too quickly can cause it to crack or otherwise break, but if cared for correctly it will last a really long time.

It is especially important to heat a salt block carefully, especially the first few times it is used. This ensures the strength of the salt block over the long term and improves it as a cooking surface. This process is called tempering and is simple to do:

How to Temper a Salt Block:

  • Place block in the oven on a low rack
  • Turn oven on to lowest setting (usually 170 degrees)
  • Leave it for 30 minutes at this temperature
  • Increase temperature by 50 degrees and leave another 30 minutes
  • Repeat this process, raising 50 degrees every 30 minutes, until it reaches a temp over 500 degrees
  • Turn the oven off and leave the salt block there, with the door closed, until it completely cools to room temperature
  • My salt block made some crazy cracking sounds and developed visible lines when I tempered it. Apparently, this is normal.

Congrats! Now your salt block is ready to use!

How to Heat a Himalayan Salt Block

When ready to use, it is important to heat the salt block correctly. Heating it is slightly more complicated than just turning on a burner and cooking in a pan. It isn’t difficult though and with a little prep, a salt block becomes a simple way to cook.

How to Heat a Salt Block on the Stove

  1. Make sure it is completely clean and dry and that it has been at least 24 hours since it was wet.
  2. Place the salt block over a gas burner (or over an electric range, but place a metal ring or grate of some kind in between to allow air to flow between).
  3. Turn the heat on low and set a timer for 15-20 minutes (depending on size- larger blocks take longer).
  4. Increase the heat to medium and leave for another 15-20 minutes.
  5. Turn up again to medium/high for another 10-15 minutes.
  6. If you have one, use a laser thermometer to make sure the block is around 500 degrees. Don’t have one? Splatter a few drops of water on the salt and make sure they dance and evaporate immediately. Be careful not to touch it (seems obvious, but very important as it will maintain heat for a long time).
  7. At this point it is ready to use. See instructions below for cooking instructions for various foods.

How to Heat a Salt Block on the Grill

  1. Salt blocks can be used on gas and charcoal grills.
  2. On gas grills, start with low heat just as you would on a gas stove and work up slowly.
  3. With a charcoal grill, put all the charcoal on one side and the salt block on the other.
  4. Watch the temperature carefully to ensure it doesn’t heat up too fast.

The thickness and strength of a salt block make it an amazing surface to cook on and once heated, it will hold temperature for quite a while without a heat source. When you use it on a grill, it adds a delicious smoky and mildly salty flavor to vegetables and meats.

How to Cook on a Himalayan Salt Block

Once the block is preheated, you’re ready to cook! The long pre-heating time is a great time to prepare any meat, vegetables, seafood, or other foods you are cooking on your salt block.

The most important things to know when cooking on a salt block are:

  • The block must be fully heated before using– A block that is not hot enough will actually over-salt and under cook food (not a good combination).
  • Fast-cooking foods are best– You wouldn’t want to make a roast or any foods that take a long time to cook on a salt block. Typically, the faster the food cooks, the better it works on a salt block. Steak and thin cuts of meat work well. Seafood is another good option and quicker cooking vegetables like asparagus and zucchini are also great.
  • Don’t use oil on the block– The oil will work itself into cracks in the salt and eventually go rancid if it doesn’t catch fire first while you are grilling/cooking.
  • Keep on cooking– Once you preheat the block, you can cook on it for several hours. Plan to cook your whole meal and dessert on the salt block to maximize its use. Create a hibachi night on the salt block or grill steaks and veggies.
  • See the recipes in the bottom of this post for specific suggestions.

How to Care for Your Salt Block

The first rule of salt blocks is that you don’t talk about salt blocks:

Just kidding:

The first rule of caring for a himalayan salt block is let all temperature changes happen slowly. And DO NOT put it in a dishwasher. Ever.

This rule applies to all salt products you may use in your kitchen including salt glasses, etc. Guess what happens when you put a big piece of salt in constantly moving water (dishwasher) for an hour?

That’s right… no more block and a really salty dishwasher. Just don’t do it.

Now that we got that out of the way, remember these simple steps in caring for a salt block:

  1. Let it cool naturally and completely after cooking. It must be completely cool before cleaning.
  2. Salt is naturally antibacterial and easy to clean. Do not use soap and use as little water as possible. The more water you use the faster the salt block will wear away since each washing takes away a tiny layer of salt.
  3. Scrub down with a scouring pad or sponge to remove any food residue.
  4. Do a final wipe with a clean, slightly wet sponge.
  5.  Towel dry with a clean towel and allow to air-dry for 24 hours before use.

9 Ways to Use a Himalayan Salt Block

Now that you know how to care for a himalayan salt block, there are so many ways to use it in your home! These are my favorites:

Make Delicious Grilled Vegetables

My personal favorite way to use a salt block! The salt perfectly seasons the vegetables and the high heat creates delicious flavor.

What to do: Heat the block over the stove or grill as desired. Brush 1 pound of fresh asparagus (or other vegetable) with a tiny amount of olive or avocado oil and sprinkle with a little garlic powder and white pepper (or other spices). Remember to brush the oil on the vegetables and not the block itself.

Grill a Perfect Steak Indoors

Don’t feel like lighting the outdoor grill? Salt blocks are a great way to grill indoors and get a perfect steak!

What to do: Preheat the salt block as explained above. Sprinkle the steak with pepper and garlic and onion powders. Place the steak on the block carefully. Leave for 3-5 minutes per side depending on thickness and desired doneness. Flip once and cook until done.

Add Flavor to Baking

I wouldn’t have personally thought of using a salt block for baking but a friend mentioned that she loves using it this way. It imparts a delicious mild salt flavor to baked goods and even cookies!

What to do: Preheat the salt block as normal. Transfer carefully to a 350 degree oven. Bake cookies, scones or other baked good recipes directly on the block.

To Add Minerals To Food

Himalayan salt contains many minerals besides just sodium and when you cook with a block of it, these minerals end up in your food.

Keeping Foods Cold

A thick himalayan salt block will stay warm for hours for cooking and it will also stay cold for hours. This makes it perfect for serving cold foods. This is why I keep small soap-size salt blocks as ice packs in the freezer. Serve cold foods like fruit, salmon, or cheeses on a chilled salt block to keep them cold for hours.

Cure Foods

Salt is used to extend the shelf life of food and salt blocks are a great way to cure some foods. The Meadow explains how salt blocks are a perfect way to cure salmon to make Gravlax and how to do it.

Amazing Seafood

Salt blocks make great steaks. They also make amazing seafood. My favorite way to use salt blocks for seafood is to marinade fish, scallops or shrimp in a lemon juice, fresh ginger and coconut aminos overnight and grill on a himalayan salt block. Perfection.

Fancy Way to Serve Food

Even at room temperature, the salt block makes a fancy serving platter and conversation piece. It also adds a delicious flavor even at room temperature. Serve foods like chocolate and strawberries on it for a fancy look or cover with cured meats and cheeses for a party.

Make Poke

Poke (poh-keh) is all the rage right now and with good reason. It is delicious! If you’ve never made it at home, it is worth it (here’s a great recipe). I add a step of curing the raw tuna on a salt block in the refrigerator for a few hours before using it in the poke. This gives it a partial cure and adds depth of flavor.

Himalayan Salt Block: Bottom Line

A salt block certainly isn’t one of the kitchen item I can’t live without but it is a versatile and fun way to cook and add flavor to food. It won’t replace my Instant pot any time soon, but I do enjoy cooking and especially grilling with salt.

Ever used a salt block? Let me know how it worked for you!

FacebookTweetPinLinkedInReddit

Category: Natural Home

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder and CEO of Wellness Mama and Co-Founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

  • View All Posts
  • Globe icon
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • LinkedIn logo
  • YouTube logo
  • Instagram logo
  • Pinterest logo

It Shouldn’t Be This Hard to Be Healthy…

Join the Wellness Mama VIP email newsletter to get the latest articles, recipes, podcasts, special discounts, and FREE access to my Quick Start Guide, 7 Simple Steps for Healthier Families, and 1 week real food meal plan!

Wellnesse Products is my very own personal care line created for my family and yours!

I couldn't find natural products that met my standards so I created my own. Wellnesse is the result of a decade of research and dozens of tests, and your family can now use them too!

Learn More

Wellnesse Products

You May Also Enjoy These Posts...

  • Himalayan Salt Scrub Recipe
    DIY Himalayan Salt Scrub Recipe + Tutorial
  • DIY Sea Spray for Healthy Skin
    Sea Salt Spray for Healthy Skin
  • Sole salt infusion for health and wellness
    How To Make Sole
  • the-truth-about-himalayan-salt-lamps
    Himalayan Salt Lamp Benefits: Facts, Myths and How to Use Them
  • Five Reasons to Eat MORE Salt
    5 Reasons to Eat MORE Salt
  • How to make sea salt soap
    How to Make Sea Salt Soap
Previous Post: «Ways to help save honey bees and why it matters so much How You Can Help Save the Honey Bees
Next Post: How to Make a Soy Sauce Alternative Gluten and soy free soy sauce alternative recipes»

Reader Interactions

Discussion (29 Comments)

  1. Beth

    July 26, 2016 at 8:04 AM

    I had not heard of a salt block before. Sounds like an incredibly versatile addition to the kitchen.
    Will have to look into this further.

    Your Fight Club reference had me laughing. Unexpected benefit to reading your blog 😉

    Reply
  2. Amy

    July 24, 2016 at 9:38 PM

    I love my salt lamp, and was gifted a set of pink salt tequila shooters 😀 must cook with a block though- and make a real party out of it!

    Reply
  3. Renae

    July 24, 2016 at 1:15 PM

    I’m wondering, does the high salt content prevent bacterial growth after using as a serving platter or how does one maintain cleanliness? The answer may seem obvious to some but not me do I thought I’d better ask! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      August 7, 2016 at 9:15 PM

      Yep! Naturally antibacterial so cleaning with a damp cloth is all that is needed.

      Reply
  4. Tracy

    July 24, 2016 at 12:01 PM

    Well my Wish List just grew!

    Reply
  5. ML

    July 24, 2016 at 11:35 AM

    I live in heavy humidity. My jar of pink salt clumps together and a salt shaker is useless. Even if I left the salt block “to dry for 24hrs” it wouldn’t be dry! Are there ways around this problem for humid climates?

    Reply
  6. Hagen Gocht

    July 24, 2016 at 10:22 AM

    I have blood pressure issues. Used to love salt but have to really be vigilant now. Please tell me that the Himalayan salt blocks are not loaded with the same kind of sodium as in processed table salt!

    I would love to try cooking this way!

    Reply
  7. Margo

    July 24, 2016 at 8:22 AM

    After seasoning, can the block be heated on a flat top electric range?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      July 24, 2016 at 6:54 PM

      Yes, if you have a metal ring to allow air flow under it…

      Reply
  8. Sarah

    July 24, 2016 at 7:14 AM

    I am seriously thinking about getting a salt block. One question, I have a glass stove top, is it safe to heat the block on it?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      July 24, 2016 at 6:53 PM

      Yes, but make sure you have metal ring to allow air flow underneath it…

      Reply
      • Vicki

        December 7, 2016 at 10:33 AM

        What kind of ring? I was thinking of the jar ring for a Mason jar, Would that work or is it too high?

        Reply
        • Tracy

          December 11, 2016 at 10:01 AM

          I haven’t used it but I think it would. It would seem too hard to get heat up through it. I think a wire trivet would probably work. Look at the Amazon links to it. There will be things that pop up that go with it.

          Reply
  9. Christie

    July 24, 2016 at 6:09 AM

    What do you do with the salt block once it gets too thin to cook/serve on? Or if it breaks? Can it be ground up for a salt shaker?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      July 24, 2016 at 6:54 PM

      Yes, but it will take a long time before it gets that thin 🙂

      Reply
  10. Alyson

    July 22, 2016 at 5:03 PM

    I rarely comment, so I’m not sure if my first attempt was successful. I merely wanted to give you a heads up asap about your typo in your first sentence which shows up in Google cards. The word “pan” instead of “fan”, which I’m sure you meant. I value and enjoy your posts very much!

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      July 23, 2016 at 10:52 AM

      Thanks Alyson, typo corrected!

      Reply
Newer Comments »

Join the Conversation... Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Please read the comment policy.

Recipe Rating




Footer

  • Sitemap
  • Start Here
  • Comment Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Full Disclaimer
  • Promo Guidelines
  • Contact
Wellness Mama®
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • LinkedIn logo
  • YouTube logo
  • Instagram logo
  • Pinterest logo

Site Footer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.

By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form.

Ads provided by CafeMedia Family & Parenting Network. Displayed ads do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Wellness Mama.

Copyright © 2006–2021 Wellness Mama® · All Rights Reserved · Sitemap