Is Morton Salt Gluten-Free?

Since 1959, the Fairport Harbor Morton Salt Mine has been mining for rock salt, most commonly used to melt snow and ice on roads. Where is the largest salt mine in the United States?

Rock salt can pose hazards to human beings, pets, and even property. The risk is even greater when the compound is used in large quantities. Just like most salt-based ice melters, rock salt contains either potassium chloride or sodium chloride.

You’ll probably encounter two brands of kosher salt at the supermarket: Morton’s kosher salt and Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Even though they are both kosher, these two salts are not the same. Morton’s salt is created by rolling cubes of salt into thinner flakes, whereas Diamond Crystal’s salt is made by evaporating cubes of salt in an open container, resulting in hollow, pyramidal flakes.

Morton ® Canning and Pickling Salt is a pure granulated salt which does not contain potassium iodide, dextrose or an anti-caking agent. In other words, it does not contain any additives. This salt product can be used in cooking, baking, canning, pickling and for the table.

What is Morton salt used for?

Morton ® Coarse Kosher Salt may be used whenever a coarse flake salt is desired, such as garnishing the rim of margarita glasses; as a topping for bread, rolls, bagels and soft pretzels; or for brining meat and poultry.

Non-permeable covers are used to cover the Morton Salt network of stockpiles used for customer deliveries. Morton Salt also uses asphalt or concrete pads at the stockpiles.

Rock salt typically ranges between 95% and 99% NaCl, and mechanically evaporated salt and solar salt normally exceed 99% NaCl. Evaporated salt made with purified brine has the highest purity, in some cases 99.99% NaCl and is more costly than rock or solar salts.

As salt is spread over the roadway, it forms a brine (moisture and salt) as the snow and ice melt. The snow and ice that remain float on the brine, breaking the bond with the roadway. As more traffic passes over the surface, slush is formed which can be plowed to the sides of the road.

There are two shafts in each Morton mine: one for personnel and one to lower equipment and materials into the mine, as well as to hoist the mined salt to the surface. Large chunks of salt are crushed and the salt is then loaded into “Skips” (large holding bins) and then hoisted above ground.

When salt supplementation is advised, Morton recommends using Morton ® Pure and Natural™ or Morton ® Canning and Pickling Salt for fish ponds and fresh water aquariums, as these products do not contain additives. Note that it may be advisable to make a solution from the salt before adding it to the pond or aquarium.

Salt also works best when the temperature is near freezing. The watery brine formed by moisture and salt break up the snow and ice so that roads can be plowed. Municipalities may have to salt numerous times during large or extended snowstorms and salt gives the best results and value for the money spent.