How to Grind Wet Sea Salt
Grinding wet sea salt requires a slightly different approach than grinding dry salt. The high moisture content can cause clumping and jamming in standard grinders. Here's how to successfully grind wet sea salt:
Most standard salt grinders aren't designed for wet salt. To prevent jamming, drying the salt beforehand is crucial. Several methods exist:
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Oven Drying: Spread the salt thinly on a heatproof plate. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 10 minutes, or until dry. Let it cool completely before grinding. (Reference A)
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Air Drying: Spread the salt on a plate or tray and let it air dry for several hours or overnight. This is a slower method but requires no special equipment. (Reference: Implied from multiple sources discussing salt moisture)
Using a Grinder Designed for Wet Salt
Alternatively, consider using a grinder specifically designed to handle wet salt. Several brands offer mills with mechanisms that can effectively grind moist sea salt without jamming.
- Peugeot Molène Mill: This mill features a patented mechanism for consistently grinding wet (also called grey) salt. (Reference: Peugeot Molène Mill product description)
- Peugeot Nancy Mill: This mill also boasts a mechanism designed for efficient grinding of damp sea salt. (Reference: Peugeot Nancy Mill product description)
These mills are engineered to manage the moisture content, avoiding the common issues of clumping and clogging found in standard grinders. (Reference: Multiple Peugeot product descriptions)
Understanding the Problem
High moisture content in sea salt, often a desirable characteristic as it indicates mineral richness, can lead to clumping and prevent efficient grinding in standard grinders. (Reference: Multiple sources mentioning moisture content in Celtic sea salt and its effect on grinding) A ceramic mill may be necessary for high-moisture salts. (Reference: Amazon Q&A) However, pre-drying is a widely applicable solution for most grinders.
