Salt Questions · Cooking & kitchen
What is pink Himalayan salt and how do you use it?
Short answer
Pink Himalayan salt is rock salt mined in the Salt Range of Pakistan, mainly at the Khewra mine. Its pink colour comes from traces of iron oxide. It is about 96–99% sodium chloride and is used like any salt: ground for cooking, coarse for finishing, or cut into blocks for serving and searing.
What pink Himalayan salt is made of (typical)
- Sodium chloride 97.5%
- Trace minerals and moisture 2.5%
Where it really comes from
Despite the name, it isn't mined in the Himalayas. It comes from the Salt Range in Punjab, Pakistan, about 300 km from the Himalayan foothills. Mining there dates back centuries.
How to use it
- Fine grains: a direct swap for table salt, though it is usually not iodized.
- Coarse crystals: in a grinder, or as a crunchy finishing salt.
- Salt blocks: heat slowly to sear thin slices of meat or seafood, or chill to serve cold foods, which pick up a light salty flavour.
Is it healthier?
The trace minerals that give it colour make up only a tiny fraction of its weight, far too little to matter in the amounts anyone eats. See our page on its label claims.
Related on The Salt Almanac
More cooking & kitchen questions
- 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?
- How much salt do you put in pasta water?
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). What is pink Himalayan salt and how do you use it. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/what-is-pink-himalayan-salt-and-how-do-you-use-it
“What is pink Himalayan salt and how do you use it.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/answers/what-is-pink-himalayan-salt-and-how-do-you-use-it. Accessed [today's date].
“What is pink Himalayan salt and how do you use it.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/what-is-pink-himalayan-salt-and-how-do-you-use-it.
Original sources
- Wikipedia. Himalayan salt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_salt