Kitchen Block Salt

[hairygrape]

I've finally discovered that the internet is rubbish when researching some things.

In the Fifties and Sixties, I remember it was commonplace to buy salt in the form of waxed paper blocks for culinary purposes. My parents and grandparents used to slice a section off the block with a knife and crush it until it became useable as table salt. Often, a rolling pin would be employed for the purpose. I can't even find a photo of one of these blocks let alone the weight of a typical one ( in pounds and ounces for an old duffer like me)

Culinary block salt seems impossible to find nowadays, but I'm astonished that the internet doesn't appear to have even acknowledged its existence! I'm beginning to wonder if I dreamt it all!

Can block salt for kitchen cooking and table use be bought in the UK nowadays. Be warned - Googling "kitchen", "block" and "salt" together will point you in the direction of water softeners but little else. I'm begining to think I've gone doolally.

[Tilly2]

I have never seen such a thing. Our salt was always ready crushed in a tub.

[hairygrape]

The only tub salt I ever saw was the distictive, blue drums of standard Cerebos salt. I think there was a yellow drum iodised version out there too.

The majority of homes I visited as a child obtained crushed salt by crushing a section of block salt. I don't know if it was because block salt was so much cheaper than granular salt, but I suspect this would be a good enough reason for many people in the two decades following the austerity of WWII.

[tonyav]

There is a reference to block salt here.

I recall that salt was sold from a big block, the grocer would cut off a small amount and we would grate it down at home.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6687553.stm

[hairygrape]

I think Saxa drum salt was also around during those decades as well after thinking about it

[Tilly2]

I have never seen block salt. Maybe I'm just a lot younger than you lot. :-)

We had a tub. Never a block.

[Tilly2]

Our salt tub had a picture of a boy chasing a chicken with a tub of salt. I don't remember which brand it was.

[woofgang]

I just remember block salt. it was said to be purer than “loose” salt and I think it may have been because it had no anti caking agent in it and no iodine. I suspect it fell out of favour because it needed to be kept dry and also because people recognised that iodine was needed and the easiest way to get that was in salt.

[woofgang]

Tilly it was Cerebos http://images.woolworthsstatic.co.za/Cerebos-Iodated-Table-Salt-1Kg-6001021023119.jpg?o=nhScy6c@E9GP9rezMmtfEjWdyK4j&V=aUGd&

[hairygrape]

That would be Cerebos, Tilly.


https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/183381016053573409/

[Tilly2]

Cerebos, thank you both. I hated that boy!

[tonyav]

http://www.northernsoul.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Lump-salt-1124x450.jpg

[tamborine]

Salt lick for livestock; salt is salt?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=salt+lick&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

[Teacup99]

I only remember Cerebos and Saxa, and I am a baby boomer. Talking of blocks, I cannot recall seeing sugar cubes on the shelves for a long time. My mother used to buy them for when posh people came to tea. Perhaps I have't looked hard enough.

[woofgang]

you can still get sugar cubes. I use them when storing thermos flasks to stop them getting smelly

[tonyav]

You can still get sugar cubes, Teacup.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/browse/default.aspx?N=4294691958

[Mamyalynne]

Tony's your man for finding all kitchen comestibles, just don't ask him for gravy browning.

[tonyav]

Oi madam, pack that in ;-)

[Togo]

You haven't gone crackers Hairy. I remember my Grannie using a grater on a salt block when cooking. It would seem that they are now marketed as "Salt Licks" mainly for livestock and pets. Salt is salt though.
http://www.solsel.com/products/salt-lick-block/

[Teacup99]

I remember Demerara sugar. That was only brought out when the vicar called.

[Teacup99]

Another thing which used to come in blocks was carbolic soap. I remember Fairy and Lifebuoy.