Salt may be one of the most low-maintenance staples in your kitchen, but that doesn’t mean it should be left to fend for itself in a damp corner of the pantry. Whether you’re using flaky sea salt, fine table salt, or specialty salts, like kosher salt, the way you store them can affect their freshness, texture, and flavour.
This guide covers how to store salt properly and how long you can store salt without losing quality.
Key Insights
- Pure salt lasts indefinitely, but it can clump or absorb odours if not stored properly.
- Use airtight containers and keep salt in a cool, dry spot away from steam.
- Add a few grains of rice to salt shakers to prevent clumping.
- Store different salts separately to protect their unique textures and flavours.
- In humid climates, use small containers, moisture absorbers, or rice pouches to keep salt dry.
- Different salts need slightly different storage approaches to keep their quality.
Does Salt Expire?
Technically, pure salt (sodium chloride) doesn’t spoil. It’s a mineral, not a perishable food, so it won’t go “bad” in the way milk or bread does.
That said, salt can worsen in quality if it absorbs moisture or picks up odours from the surrounding environment. Clumping, dull texture, or a slightly musty aroma can occur if it isn’t stored correctly. Proper storage keeps your salt tasting and feeling as fresh as it does from the store.
Why Proper Storage Matters
Salt is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally draws moisture from the air. This is great if you’re curing food, but not so great if you’re trying to keep your pantry staples crisp and easy to use. Poorly stored salt can:
- Cause lumps and become hard to shake or measure.
- Lose its crunchy texture, especially flaky sea salt.
- Absorb unwanted odours from nearby foods.
- Affect the flavour balance in your cooking.
How to Store Salt: Essential Tips for Every Home
Whether you’ve just bought a bulk bag of organic Celtic salt in Australia or a delicate pouch of flaky finishing salt, here’s how to keep it fresh and ready to use.
1. Keep It in an Airtight Container
An airtight container is ideal to help keep moisture and odours out. Glass jars with tight lids, ceramic crocks, or BPA-free plastic containers all work well. Avoid long-term storage in paper bags or cardboard boxes as they can’t protect from humidity.
2. Pick a Dry Spot
You want to keep your salt away from steam-heavy areas like above the kettle, near the stove or next to the dishwasher. Store salt in a cool, dry place. A pantry shelf or kitchen cupboard away from direct sunlight is perfect.
3. Add Rice to Shakers
If you keep salt in a shaker, add a few grains of uncooked rice. This tip has been around for generations, allowing the rice to absorb excess moisture and to keep the salt flowing freely.
4. Store Specialty Salts Separately
Different salts have different textures, colours, and flavours. Storing them separately preserves their unique qualities. Curious about the differences? Read more in our sea salt vs table salt guide.
5. Avoid Contamination
Don’t dip a damp spoon or wet fingers into your salt jar, it’s the quickest way to cause clumping. Always use dry utensils when scooping and clean your hands if you’re salting by hand.
How Long Can You Store Salt?
If stored properly, salt can last indefinitely. The only exception is iodised table salt, which usually has a best-before date because the added iodine can slowly break down, slightly reducing its nutritional value. Generally, it’s still safe to use, but you might lose some of the iodine benefits.
Specialty salts with added minerals, like Celtic salt or Himalayan pink salt, can sometimes darken or change slightly in aroma over time. This is due to natural mineral oxidation, not because they’ve spoiled.
How to Keep Salt Dry in Humid Environments
If you live somewhere humid, like near the coast or in tropical climates, keeping salt dry can be more of a challenge. Here’s what helps:
- Use smaller containers for everyday salt and store the rest sealed tightly until needed. Less exposure means less moisture creeping in.
- Add moisture absorbers like food-safe silica gel packs or ceramic moisture absorbers to help wick away dampness.
- For bulk storage, put a small pouch of rice inside your jar or bag to pull moisture from the air.
Storage Tips for Different Types of Salt
- Flaky Sea Salt: Keep in a sealed glass jar to preserve texture and crunch. Exposure to moisture can make flakes collapse into finer crystals.
- Kosher Salt: Store in a container with a wide opening for easy pinching while cooking. Read more about kosher salt to understand its texture and uses.
- Celtic Salt: Naturally moist due to trace minerals, store in a ceramic or glass container with a tight lid to avoid excess drying.
- Table Salt: Already fine and often iodised, so store in a dry shaker or airtight container to prevent clumping.
- Specialty Mineral Salts: Mineral-rich salts can pick up strong scents easily, so keep them separate to avoid flavour transfer.
Keep Your Salt Fresh for the Long Haul
Give your salt the same TLC your other spices receive so it stays ready to elevate your cooking. Once you know how to keep salt dry, you’ll never have to deal with clogged shakers or soggy flakes again.
Looking to upgrade your current salt collection? Browse the Organics on a Budget range for high-quality products without the high price tag.