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### 13. **Preserve Meat and Fish**
– Salt has long been used as a preservative. By curing meat or fish with salt, you can extend its shelf life and prevent spoilage. This technique is common for making jerky, gravlax, or salt-cured bacon.
### 14. **Tenderize Meat**
– Salt works as a natural meat tenderizer. Rub some salt on your meat and let it sit for an hour or two before cooking. This helps break down proteins and results in a more tender, juicy cut of meat.
### 15. **Remove Garlic Smell from Hands**
– Garlic can leave a lingering smell on your hands, but a pinch of salt can help scrub it away. Rub the salt on your hands with a little water, then rinse. This will help remove the odor naturally.
### 16. **Stop Boiling Over**
– To prevent pots from boiling over while cooking pasta or soup, add a pinch of salt to the water. The salt helps control the bubbles, keeping them from overflowing the pot.
### 17. **Revive Stale Bread**
– If your bread has gone stale, you can revive it by sprinkling a little salt and water on the crust and baking it at a low temperature for a few minutes. The result is a fresher, crisper crust.
### 18. **Create a Flavorful Brine for Vegetables**
– Salt can be used to create brines for pickling vegetables, enhancing their flavor while also preserving them for a longer period. Whether it’s cucumbers, onions, or beets, a good brine can make these veggies last for months.
### 19. **Clean Grease from the Stove**
– If you’ve got grease splatters on your stove, a mixture of salt and baking soda can act as an abrasive cleaner to scrub away the grease without damaging the surface.
### 20. **Chill Drinks Faster**
– When chilling drinks in ice, add some salt to the ice to speed up the cooling process. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which helps the ice stay colder longer and cools your drinks quickly.
### 21. **Prevent Eggshells from Cracking**
– When boiling eggs, adding a teaspoon of salt to the water can help prevent the eggs from cracking during cooking. The salt helps to firm up the eggshells and makes them easier to peel afterward.
### Conclusion: Salt—A Kitchen Staple with Endless Uses
As you can see, salt is much more than just a flavor enhancer—it’s a multi-purpose powerhouse that can improve the flavor, texture, and cleanliness of your food and kitchen. Whether you’re cooking, preserving, or cleaning, salt has an endless list of clever uses to help you get the job done. So, next time you reach for that salt shaker, remember how many different ways it can enhance your culinary experience.
With these 21 clever uses, salt will go from a simple seasoning to an indispensable kitchen tool, helping you cook better, preserve smarter, and clean more efficiently.
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