Flaky sea salt can be the thing that takes foods from yum to YUMMMMMMO!!! It adds the obvious salt component, but used as a finishing salt it also adds a fun crunch and some visual interest with the large snowflake-type look. But a lot of times, flaky sea salt isn’t super accessible. It doesn’t always find its way into a person’s shopping cart. So unless you are well stocked in culinary seasonings already, it can be an afterthought. It’s not always the most economical thing. But guess what?!! I’ve got a salty hack for you! Did you know you can make HOMEMADE FLAKY SEA SALT?!!
It’s true. And I’m here to bust open the seasoning door so you can make your very own homemade flaky sea salt to use in all your culinary creations. It’ll be easy peasy. It’ll be fun and scientific! And inexpensive. Plus, you can take pride in knowing you made it yourself!!
Just look at those beautiful crystals of saltiness!!
It’s Science!
Did you ever do that science experiment as a kid where you make salt water, pour it into a tray, and over the next few days watch it magically turn into salt crystals? Well, that’s basically how you make flaky salt! I was actually showing my spouse this experiment because, much to my surprise, he hadn’t done it in his childhood. When we got to the crystalization point, I looked at it and realized, “This can totally work as flaky sea salt!” AND IT DID!! So I wanted to share it with you. Because if I can add some flavor and satisfaction to your life (and bonus: save ya a buck or two), then I’ve done my self-appointed job.
The Process
- Use about a 1:3 ratio of sea salt to (filtered) water.
- Pour the water over the salt and give it a nice stir until it’s a nice cloudy, but dissolved, saline solution. You can use boiling water to speed up the dissolving process if you’d like.
- Once its fully dissolved, pour it onto a non-metallic tray or plate so that there’s a thin layer of liquid, and then set it off to the side to hang out for a while. If you find a sunny spot, you’ll have your flakes sooner!
- Depending on the amount of liquid you have, it will day one to three days to see your salt flakes in their full glory.
- When the salt flakes are formed, take a spoon or spatula and scape those flakes up.
- Store them in a tightly sealed and sprinkle to your heart’s content!
- You did it! Homemade flaky sea salt!
Using Homemade Flaky Sea Salt
Listen, there will likely be a sourcing difference between store-bought vs. homemade, but for all intents and purposes (even though I’ll probably eat my salty words one day) — they are basically the same! You use this however you’d use your regular store-bought flaky salt! You can sprinkle it on all sorts of things, both savory and sweet.
- Cookies
- Toast
- Ice cream
- Roasted or sauteed veggies
- Any protein
- Homemade candies
- Frozen treats (like my Banana Bon Bons, pictured below)
- Add it to different seasonings (like this Everything Bagel Seasoning)
- And more!
I really hope you try this out and enjoy the salts of your labor!
Homemade Flaky Sea Salt
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup sea salt
- 1 cup filtered water (room temperature or boiling)
Instructions
- Pour filtered water over sea salt in a cup and dissolve, making a saline solution.
- Pour the saline solution into a large, shallow tray or plate.
- Set the tray or plate in a undisturbed spot for one to three days. The sunnier the quicker this process will be.
- Once salt crystals have formed and everything is dry, scoop or scrape the salt crystals and place them in a jar that seals tightly.
- Use as a finishing salt on savory and sweet treats galore!
