As a homesteader having large amounts of Salt is very important for many reasons. This post will point out those reasons and which kinds of salts are best for all around general purpose at the homestead and how to store a years worth of salt properly. Follow me to learn all about Salt.
Salt is not only good to eat (in small quanitites) but it has many medicinal purposes as well. Let's look at some of the more common uses.
Sore throat, gargle with warm water and salt 2 X a day and voila it's gone.
Stings of all kinds, add salt to sting area and it will lessen the pain from the sting.
Treat gum infections such as gum boyles with salt, just swish salt water around your gums a couple times a day.
Treating Sinusitus, by breathing in hot salt water mist, and or use hot salt water in a Neti Pot to open the passage of sinus.
Pimples or Acne, just rinse your face with a salt water solution and the salt will dry the pimple and clear the bacteria.
Now lets look at Salt uses in the Garden (Epsom Salt is best for most gardens, seed germination etc)
Getting rid of a nasty patch of Poison Ivy, by mixing a solution of salt and water
Natural weed control, great for the weeds on driveway and sidewalks. Boil 1 quart of water, then add 2 tablespoons of salt and 5 tablespoons of vinegar. While its still hot, pour the mixture directly onto the weeds.
Get rid of pesty ants by sprinkling salt in the common areas where they travel
Cabbageworm dust the leaves of these vegetables with a mixture of 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of salt. Use this dusting powder in the morning or evening when plants are damp with dew.
Household cleaning Solutions using Salt
Oil spill on cement or the driveway simply sprinkle salt on the spot and the oil will absorb.
Clean rust off anything
Water rings on cups, bathtubs
Use Salt in final rinse of laundry to prevent clothes from freezing in winter when hanging outside to dry
Extinguish grease fires
You can add salt to your homemade soaps
Soak your candles in salt water for a few hours and let them dry naturally this will decrease the amount of drips when burning.
Now Salt is also a great item to trade or barter with when the SHTF, situation could happen in your community.
Salt is also a great way to store meat for the long term, refer to my past post about storing meat. You would typically want to store both pickling salts for your preserves and table salt. However some people are particular about the health of their intake of salt so they buy the pink Himalayan salt. This is usually purchased in a block and stored where humidity is low. I will make a post all about Pink Himalayan salt soon. Salt lick is another salt for the livestock of the homestead, you might want to store some of that long term as well. Lastly Sea Salt is a nice treat but a delicacy and could easily be substituted by table salt.
How to Store the Salt Long Term:
Get yourself a 5 gallon food grade bucket with a lid that has a seal. Goto your local bakery and ask to purchase for a few cents a bucket. I typically buy table sale and buy it in bulk at Costco or the big box stores. Get yourself some large ziploc bags and fill one gallon bags. Put 4-5 one gallon bags into each bucket and label the buck Table salt. Do not store salt in metal buckets. Salt can be stored indefinatley if done properly.
Hope this post has been useful to you and see the value of having an abundant amount of salt on hand in the homestead. If you have any other uses that are unique and care to share please do so.
Happy Trails
Images Sources:
https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/diet-nutrition/diet-blog/2014/health-problems-caused-by-too-much-salt
https://www.healthrangerstore.com/products/pink-himalayan-bath-salts-with-cloth-bag-2-0-2-5-lb?variant=16535149697
FAQs
Coarse Grain Salt
Most coarse salts are best used in a grinder, providing an easy way of serving up freshly ground sea salt with a meal. Coarse salt tends to be less moisture sensitive than its finer-grained counterparts, so it resists caking, ideal for long term storage.
What type of container is best to store salt? ›
The best salt containers aren't porous, won't absorb water or moisture from the air, and will keep the salt inside clean and dry. What is this? Good salt cellars are made from: Dense, sturdy woods like acacia wood, ash wood, or olive wood, lightweight sturdy bamboo, glazed stoneware, ceramics, porcelain, and glass.
How do you store salt for a long time? ›
Pretty much any air-tight container will work— glass jars, food-grade buckets, vacuum-sealed food storage bags. But when choosing an airtight container, it's a good idea to avoid metal. Salt has corrosive properties that can cause metal to wear away and potentially contaminate your salt supply.
What is the best salt for stockpiling? ›
Kosher salt is free of added minerals such as in iodized salt, and is ideal for brining meat or pickling vegetables. Its coarseness also makes it perfect for an abrasive to use for household cleaning. The versatility of Kosher salt makes it a great all-around salt to have stored in bulk!
How long will salt last in mylar bags? ›
Salt will not expire and can last forever because many types of salt have anti-clumping agents or additives like iodine. These additives can degrade over time, but still, the salt tastes good. If stored in proper conditions, it doesn't go bad.
What salt does not expire? ›
While salt itself has no expiration date, salt products that contain iodine or seasonings that contain other ingredients such as spices, colors and flavors can deteriorate over time.
Why not store salt in a steel container? ›
Salt is very corrosive and it will eat away the steel container or it will cause other corrosive problems when salt is stored in a steel or even stainless steel container. So, you must store the salt in a ceramic container or glass container or mud container, but not in steel or aluminium or copper container.
Why keep salt in a glass jar? ›
According to astrology, it is advised to store salt only in a glass jar. This recommendation stems from the belief that when salt is kept in utensils made of steel or iron, it signifies the conjunction of the moon and Saturn, which is considered unfavorable.
Which material is best to store salt? ›
Store salt directly in glass containers with a tight-fitting lid. Store salt in ceramic or clay containers with tight fitting lids. Avoid using metal containers or lids because salt will corrode most metal.
Is it safe to store salt in plastic containers? ›
Salt Should Not be Stored in Plastic or Metal Containers
Salt has corrosive properties, so it can eat away at the container it is stored in. If using a plastic container, this can allow chemicals from the plastic to contaminate your prized sea salt.
Expect that pure salt can be in peak condition for five years, and adulterated salts (including pink Himalayan salts, which have minerals in them that create that signature pink hue) will last for three, according to Morton.
How do chefs store salt? ›
Chefs use kosher salt and they keep it in a bowl. Chefs use kosher salt for two reasons, it has clean salt flavor (no iodine) and it's easy to estimate how much you're holding between your fingers when you pick some up.
What is the best container to store salt in? ›
What's the best material for a salt cellar? If "dishwasher-safe" is a must for you, we recommend glass cellars. But beyond that, any nonporous material will keep moisture away from your salt. The real key is a lid, which will keep your salt free from debris and cooking splatters.
What is the best salt to store long term? ›
Pure forms of salt such as sea salt, Pink Himalayan salt, and canning salt will last virtually forever if stored correctly. Some salts such as iodized salt have a short shelf life due to additives.
Which is the healthiest salt to use? ›
Himalayan pink salt
It's less processed than table salt and usually comes in larger crystals. The shade of pink is determined by traces of iron oxide, or rust, researchers note. Compared to white table salt, pink salt contains more calcium, iron, magnesium and other minerals, the analysis found.
What salt is best for preserving? ›
Pickling salt is the best salt to use in canning brine because the fine grains dissolve easily and result in a clear liquid that highlights the bright, green pickles inside the jar.
Is iodized salt good for long term storage? ›
Storage life for salt is indefinite. So long as you do not let it get contaminated with dirt or whatever, it will never go bad. Over time, iodized salt may turn yellow, but this is harmless and may still be used. Salt is rather hygroscopic and will adsorb moisture from the air if not sealed in an air-tight container.
What is the safest salt for driveway? ›
The most expensive, yet safest type of driveway salt is calcium magnesium acetate! This salt will not cause any damage to your driveway, and it's also pet-friendly and environmentally friendly!
