Can Salt Spoil?

It might seem unlikely that salt could ever go bad. After all, it has been used for centuries to preserve foods, whether through pickling or curing meats, because it effectively kills bacteria. The answer to the question "Does salt go bad?" is generally no. If you're talking about plain salt (without any added flavors, minerals, or iodine), it will last essentially forever.

However, it’s important to consider the type of salt you're using when deciding whether to use that old box of salt sitting at the back of your pantry. Here’s a guide to understanding when salt can actually go bad and the best way to store it to keep it fresh for your next dish.

What Happens When Salt Spoils?

When salt spoils, it usually means moisture has gotten in and caused it to clump together, or the additional ingredients and minerals (like garlic in garlic salt or iodine in iodized salt) have lost their potency or flavor. Even so, it can still remain usable for a long time in your pantry. According to Morton Salt, flavored salts or those with added ingredients can last for up to three years.

However, unless you've got a pantry pest nesting in your salt or a nearby liquid (like a spilled jar of honey or soy sauce) has soaked into it, the salt should still be fine to use well past its "best by" date.

How Long Does Salt Last?

Pure salt can remain at its best for up to five years, while flavored salts or those with added minerals, like pink Himalayan salt, which gets its signature color from these minerals, will typically last for three years, according to Morton. Beyond that, salt remains safe to use, although its quality might not be quite the same as when it was fresh.

How to Store Salt Properly

Salt doesn't require a fancy, airtight container since it’s not a magnet for microbes or pests. Unless you’re in a particularly humid environment, the quality of the salt will remain unaffected. However, using a wooden salt cellar or something sturdier than a cardboard box can help keep the salt safe from contamination—especially if you live in a humid climate.

Should You Stock Up on Various Types of Salt?

Salt has gained a lot of attention in recent years, with many varieties featuring added flavors or treatments, such as smoked salts, truffle salts, and others. However, there are really only two essential types of salt you need to have in your pantry—a reliable kosher salt for cooking, and a finishing salt like French fleur de sel, sea salt, or pink Himalayan salt. (You can always add garlic or truffle flavors in other ways!) This ensures your salt won’t sit unused for too long and risk going bad.