What Can Be Substituted For Ice Cream Salt?
If you are making ice cream but don’t have ice cream salt, you have substitute options. Use one of the following rock salt substitutes for making ice cream.
Kosher Salt: Kosher salt can be substituted in a pinch. Kosher salt does not have additives like iodine and it also does not contain a caking agent making it an excellent substitute for ice cream maker salt. Use approximately half as much kosher salt as your recipe calls for rock salt. Add more slowly if necessary.
Himalayan Pink Salt: This salt comes in different grains, and large is the best rock salt substitute if using pink salt. The pink color comes from mineral content that can alter the flavor of your ice cream so this is my second choice for a rock salt substitute. Use equal amounts of Himalayan Pink Salt as you would rock salt.
Maldon Sea Salt: This type of salt mimics kosher salt in size and flavor but it is quite a bit more expensive making it lower on my list. Maldon salt is traditionally used as a finishing salt but if it’s all you have it will work as a rock salt substitute. Use half as much Maldon salt as you would ice cream salt.
Table Salt: Table salt will work if it’s all you have on hand but it has additives that will alter your final flavor. It also is a much finer grain than rock salt meaning you will only use about one third table salt as you would with rock salt.
Rock Salt Substitutes
Rock salt is a large coarse salt and that means a good substitute will have the same qualities. As your salt grain gets smaller, you will use less of the substitute than you would rock salt. Go for kosher as a first choice sub but the other options on the list will work if you are in a pinch.
Bottom Line
You can substitute kosher or kosher like salts for ice cream salt. Look for large grain sizes for best results. If it’s a pinch, you can use table salt in a mix but it lacks the coarse texture of rock salt.