The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Buy Once a Year and Use Every Single Day
This ALDI find is an absolute essential that easily runs $3 to $8 at other stores.
My kitchen cabinet hosts a lineup of salts that would make a seasoning sommelier swoon: Diamond Crystal Kosher for everyday cooking, fine sea salt for baking, Maldon salt for finishing, and pink Himalayan for, well, everything else. That fancy pink salt is my surprising secret Dollar Tree score.
I can find a hefty one-pound bag of Himalayan pink salt at the Dollar Tree for just $1.25, the culinary equivalent of finding a designer handbag at a thrift store price. This rosy rock salt, which usually commands $3 to $8 per pound elsewhere, is such a steal that it's become my daily seasoning superstar year-round.
Why I Love Dollar Tree's Pink Himalayan Salt
Beyond the obvious price perk, this salt is one of the essential flavor enhancers on my spice rack. Its delicate, mineral-rich flavor adds depth to dishes without overwhelming them. Plus, let's be honest, it's pretty. Those blush-colored crystals make even a simple avocado toast look Instagram-worthy.
Its biggest flex is that it elevates everything from sweet and savory recipes to drinks. From a pinch in my morning eggs to a sprinkle over dark chocolate chip cookies, it's the little black dress of seasonings, upgrading anything it's paired with.
How I Use Pink Himalayan Salt
In my kitchen, this salt wears many hats. I keep a small dish by the stove for a quick pinch while cooking. For baking, I mix it into my batters and use it on top of both baked goods and savory dishes as a finishing salt.
A light dusting over a perfectly seared steak or a bowl of fresh summer tomatoes takes these dishes from good to great. I've even ventured into DIY territory, mixing it with dried herbs for custom seasoning blends. My rosemary-lemon-pink salt mix has become a family favorite for roast chicken.
My favorite use for it, though, is also the most surprising. I love to use it in my drinks, from my everyday glass of water (the tiniest pinch) to green juices (my absolute favorite), smoothies, lemonade, and even cocktails. I especially like it in sours, where a play of sweet and sour is already going on.
Whatever I put it in, it seems to enhance the flavors of the drink, making it more refreshing and balanced. I've even used it to make homemade "Labor Aide" (like this lemon labor aide) for my births, which started this salt-in-drink obsession. You don't have to be in labor to drink labor-aid. It's a wonderfully refreshing electrolyte drink that helps hydrate on the hottest days (and makes excellent ice cubes and popsicles).
The key for all the drinks is just to use a tiny pinch of salt. It should never taste salty. The salt acts like a tool to help the other ingredients shine. So the next time you're at the Dollar Tree, grab a bag of this pink powerhouse. Try it and let me know what you think!
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