Sea salt vs. table salt

I've noticed that when making up poultry brining solution, table salt leaves the water slightly but noticeably cloudy even after it's fully dissolved. (Noticeable, that is, in a very large pot half full of two gallons of the solution.) Kosher sea salt dissolves completely clear.

The table salt must contain particles of something that doesn't dissolve in water, perhaps a drying agent or some similar additive. I would find it plausible (though so far unsupported by any actual evidence) that the surfaces of those non-dissolving particles could be a more favorable environment for microbes than the surface of a salt grain would be.

Respectfully,
Myriad
 
Myriad said:
I've noticed that when making up poultry brining solution, table salt leaves the water slightly but noticeably cloudy even after it's fully dissolved. (Noticeable, that is, in a very large pot half full of two gallons of the solution.) Kosher sea salt dissolves completely clear.

The table salt must contain particles of something that doesn't dissolve in water, perhaps a drying agent or some similar additive. I would find it plausible (though so far unsupported by any actual evidence) that the surfaces of those non-dissolving particles could be a more favorable environment for microbes than the surface of a salt grain would be.

Respectfully,
Myriad
Click to expand...


Anti-caking agents. See my post above.

One of the reasons pickling salt is sold additive-free, to avoid that cloudiness. It also dissolves more easily than kosher salt because the salt grains are smaller.
 
Last edited:
My niece's. She got her tragus pierced first and I thought it looked nice, so I went and had it done too.
 
Sam Googles "Tragus".

Didn't even know I had one.
Far less two.

I live and learn.
 
I'd go with soap and water and neosporin if it appears to be inflamed and skip the unlikely 'salt wash as antiseptic' treatment personally, but that's just me. No sense worrying about the specifics of something that has much better alternatives that are absolutely known to work with few to no side effects.
 
I have been using anti-microbial soap and neosporin. My SIL got hers done the same day and is using the salt water treatment. I think mine looks better.
 
Last edited:
Oops, I was caught in the "they gave the instructions I assume they know what they are doing" trap!

Wasn't thinking of what to do if no instructions or..... You are, of course, doing exactly the right thing - and what I would actually do in a similar situation - except I would be using Max-Strength Triple Antibiotic (once used it on a 3.5 inch wound in my mom's leg that had barely started closing after 3 weeks. A week later it was just a mild pink line! I was already sold on TAMS before that - the rest of my family was after it). :)

Well done jasonpatterson also!! :)
 
It is the triple antibiotic stuff. Like all facial tissue is Kleenex, I call all antibiotic ointment neosporin. My SIL's piercing is pretty swollen. I'm a bit concerned. I might push her harder towards the neosporin treatment. She's a bit stuck in the mentality of "this is what they said to do".
 
Is there reason for concern?
Id like to be of guidance value for my grandchildren.
 
Myriad said:
I've noticed that when making up poultry brining solution, table salt leaves the water slightly but noticeably cloudy even after it's fully dissolved. (Noticeable, that is, in a very large pot half full of two gallons of the solution.) Kosher sea salt dissolves completely clear.

The table salt must contain particles of something that doesn't dissolve in water, perhaps a drying agent or some similar additive. I would find it plausible (though so far unsupported by any actual evidence) that the surfaces of those non-dissolving particles could be a more favorable environment for microbes than the surface of a salt grain would be.

Respectfully,
Myriad
Click to expand...

I concur.

If it was my tragus I would use alcohol and Neosporin. That's what them fancy book learned PhD's use on small puncture wounds.
 
quarky said:
Is there reason for concern?
Id like to be of guidance value for my grandchildren.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking about in regards to concern, but cartilage piercings don't heal as fast as lobe piercings and tend to get infected easier. A lobe piercing heals in about 6 weeks, whereas a cartilage piercing can take up to 6 months.
 
Lisa Simpson said:
I'm not sure I understand what you are asking about in regards to concern, but cartilage piercings don't heal as fast as lobe piercings and tend to get infected easier. A lobe piercing heals in about 6 weeks, whereas a cartilage piercing can take up to 6 months.
Click to expand...

My concern, of course, was in regard to the o.p.
Remember? Sea salt/table salt? Which do I serve to my grandchildren?

(Btw, when my daughter was 17, she simply had to get her tongue pierced. Yet, she needed to have a parent's permission. So I had to take her to the crime scene. It was very bizarre as a parent. I'd always tried to keep her from various bloody painful events.)
 
Serve them the most expensive salt you can find. They're your grandchildren, for heaven's sake!
 
If it were MY tragus, i would wash it just like normal. Soap and water once a day. I already have enough holes in my head without adding any more :D
 
Soapy Sam said:
Sam Googles "Tragus".

Didn't even know I had one.
Far less two.

I live and learn.
Click to expand...
I feel proud now, sporting a pair of these babies that I didn't know I had.

I wanted a new thing to bragus
About so I yelled, "Pierce my tragus!"
A man drew his sword,
"I'm Zorro, m'lord!"
And fashioned my tragus zig-zaggus!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom