Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

totalperspec t1_irdtb7z wrote

Reply to comment by imapassenger1 in TIL A 2017 study found that the introduction of iodized salt in 1924 raised the IQ for the one-quarter of the population most deficient in iodine. by kstinfo

It's about the flake size, actually. Nothing about iodine.

Here's a video explaining.

94

imapassenger1 t1_irduais wrote

Wow. So what's kosher about it? Video didn't say. Why would the grain size determine if you could use it during Passover? (Probably need to Google that)

11

__life_on_mars__ t1_ire9gpr wrote

I believe it's called kosher salt because it's used to make other things (meats) kosher, not because it is kosher. All salt is kosher.

56

zoicyte t1_ireni1d wrote

this is the correct answer.

also while kosher salt is not about iodine content, i'm pretty sure it's generally not iodized. i've never seen iodized kosher salt, personally, anyway.

6

Apotropaic_Sphinx t1_ire7bzz wrote

You have to remove blood from meat to make it kosher. For whatever reason large grained salt is better for that.

35

Gastronomicus t1_ireqh1u wrote

There's no significant amount of blood left in any properly prepared meat anyway. There's myoglobin left in the tissues which is often mistaken as blood. And salt doesn't really take it out anyway - I understand that's part of some rituals, but the salt merely draws out moisture. Some blood cells might come out with it, but it doesn't really draw blood out specifically.

Regardless, it seems that "classic" rules regarding blood and kosher allow for "blood" left in the vessels of meat? But I guess it's pretty complicated and there's more than one type of "kosher" designation.

6

Apotropaic_Sphinx t1_irg8fpg wrote

Cool. Go up to a Hasidic Jew and ask what Kosher actually means in a modern context. They'll win a gold medal at mental gymnastics every time.

My favorite is it is absolutely forbidden to shave your beard. Razors are absolutely forbidden. But since electric razors are technically "scissors", it's fine to trim your beard down to the skin.

8

Gastronomicus t1_irg916g wrote

Tell me about it. A close friend of mine came from an Orthodox family (they rejected it). It was very interesting to hear the types of incredible arguments developed to support things like using electricity on the sabbath (it's only wrong when you create a "spark" apparently) or how some electronic devices are acceptable like a fitbit but not others. It's really an amazing demonstration of how logic can be abused through flawed premises.

6

Apotropaic_Sphinx t1_irga1pu wrote

Or the fishing line around shopping centers to allow shopping on the sabbath. Don't worry, it's a "wall."

If there ever is a rapture/apocalypse, I want a fundamentalist Jew as humanity's lawyer

6

Gastronomicus t1_irgcx8u wrote

>If there ever is a rapture/apocalypse, I want a fundamentalist Jew as humanity's lawyer

That is the best thing I've read all day. Well done.

1

craftkiller t1_ireakkk wrote

The name isn't to describe the salt as kosher. The act of removing blood from meat is called "koshering". Kosher salt is salt used for koshering.

24

Chthulu_ t1_irengwg wrote

But I do believe most kosher salt brands don't have iodine. Thats one of the (many) reasons chefs prefer it to table salt. Iodine does have a flavor.

3