How to Make Flaky Salt (Plain and Infused)

Step 1

The process of making salt flakes is a lot simpler than you'd think and relies on a simple formula:1:4 salt to water ratio (i.e., 1 cup salt to 4 cups water)

Step 2

Combine the salt and water in a large pot and heat over medium-low heat.

Step 3

Bring the mixture to a soft boil, often stirring until all the salt dissolves and the water is clear again.You may need to add a little extra water to the pot if the salt doesn't dissolve immediately – but be aware that you need to fill a container/tray with this water, so don't add too much.Be aware that if you use pink rock salt, then it will take much longer to evaporate. Don't add any extra water, to begin with – just allow them to simmer for longer. Then, if the last of the rocks won't completely dissolve, a little extra water can help.

Step 4

Once the salt is fully dissolved, and the water is clear again, it's time to transfer it to another dish. Use a large, wide, shallow dish for the best results, like a large baking dish.Avoid using metal containers that can corrode with long exposures to water. I recommend using either Glass or ceramic.

Step 5

If you want to make colored/flavored salts, then now is the time to do so. I made two options using turmeric powder (very light-yellow results), saffron (light orange/yellow results), and chili flakes (dark orange).For the saffron version, I first crushed the saffron into smaller pieces before adding it to the water.

Step 6

Now it's just a waiting game – the water will naturally evaporate over time and, as it evaporates, it will leave behind a thin, crusty layer of salt that can be flaked up into smaller flakes. However, there are four different methods you can use for this.

Step 7

This process can take several days, depending on how much you are making. I placed my container by a window, and it took 4-5 days for all the water to evaporate. The lower, slower evaporation rate is ideal for forming larger salt crystals and is my favorite method.

Step 8

Use a dish that fits inside your dehydrator and dehydrate for between 8-12 hours at 113ºF/45ºC. This will yield flakes – though not quite as 'flake-y' as the above method.

Step 9

Use the oven's lowest heat. Somewhere between the range of 104°F/40°C to 140°F/60°C would be ideal. This will take a similar amount of time to dehydrate, so it is my least favorite option for power usage.

Step 10

The last of the methods requires you to start the evaporation process on the stove-top. Once all the salt has dissolved in the mixture, turn the heat to low, and allow it to simmer and naturally evaporate until almost all the water is gone (don't stir during this time!). This took me around one hour for the amount I was making.

Step 11

Once you begin to clearly see a layer of salt crystals, you can scoop them out and transfer them to the wide, shallow baking dish and wait for the remaining water to evaporate entirely. This process tends to make larger granules more than 'flakes.'You could also transfer the salt flakes to a layer of paper towels. However, you'd need to replace them every few hours as they'll absorb the liquid.Once dried, you can then transfer the flakes to clean airtight jars for storage.

Step 12

Transfer the dry salt flakes to clean airtight jars and store them in a cool, dark place (like a kitchen cupboard). The unflavored flaky salt could technically last indefinitely. I aim to use all my infused/flavored salts within 1 year.