Salt Questions · Cooking & kitchen
Can you use iodized salt for canning and pickling?
Short answer
For canned vegetables, yes: salt there is only for flavour, and iodized salt is safe. For pickles and ferments, extension services recommend canning or pickling salt instead, because iodine can darken pickles and anti-caking agents can make the brine cloudy. It's a matter of looks and quality, not safety.
Fine in canned vegetables; may darken pickles and cloud brine
Canning vs pickling
In ordinary canned vegetables, salt is optional and doesn't make the food safe; heat processing does that. Penn State Extension notes that iodized salt can be used for flavour.
In pickles, the salt and the brine are part of the recipe. Pure canning or pickling salt is recommended because:
- iodine can darken or discolour pickles;
- anti-caking agents don't dissolve fully and can make the brine cloudy or leave sediment.
Never reduce the salt in a tested pickle recipe
In fermented pickles and some quick pickles, salt helps control which microbes grow. Use tested recipes and don't cut the salt or change its strength.
Related on The Salt Almanac
More cooking & kitchen questions
- What is pink Himalayan salt and how do you use it?
- How much kosher salt equals one teaspoon of table salt?
- Why do you put salt on a steak before grilling?
- What does finishing salt mean in cooking?
- How does salt act as a flavor enhancer in sweet desserts?
- What is Celtic sea salt used for?
Cite this page
For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). Can you use iodized salt for canning and pickling. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/can-you-use-iodized-salt-for-canning-and-pickling
“Can you use iodized salt for canning and pickling.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/answers/can-you-use-iodized-salt-for-canning-and-pickling. Accessed [today's date].
“Can you use iodized salt for canning and pickling.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/can-you-use-iodized-salt-for-canning-and-pickling.
Original sources
- Penn State Extension. Salt in canning. https://extension.psu.edu/salt-in-canning
- Nebraska Extension. Ingredients for pickles. https://food.unl.edu/ingredients-pickles/