Margarita Salt Rim | The Right Salt & How To Add It

If you prefer the salty bite of a margarita salt rim, you've come to the right place.

Today, we'll cover the one and only salt you should be using for a classic margarita, how to get a perfect salt rim to adhere to your glass, as well as fun ways to spruce it up!

Looking to add some more bartending skills to your repertoire? Learn how to cut the perfect lime wedge next!

And once you've mastered both skills, why not try them out on the Best Margarita?

WHAT KIND OF SALT DO YOU USE FOR A MARGARITA?

Before we can get into why you should be using Kosher salt (and only Kosher salt) on that Margarita salt rim, let's first talk about your salt options and how they vary:

Table Salt | Most table salt is obtained from salt mines and undergoes a thorough refining process. This process strips the salt of additional minerals and fortifies it with iodine, which results in a more sharp and bitter product. The tiny size of the crystal and pungency of table salt makes it entirely unusable for salting the rim of your margarita glass.

Sea Salt | Sea salt is made from drying saltwater into crystals and is the least refined of all the salts, retaining many other trace minerals in addition to just the salt. These minerals add flavor to the salt. You can get fine and coarse sea salt, however, the flakes of coarse sea salt are often "rocky" in size and texture, making it less than ideal for your margarita glass.

Kosher Salt | Kosher salt can come from either salt mines or straight from the sea. Unlike table salt, it does not have any additives and therefore has a cleaner, lighter taste. This, in combination with larger crystal size and coarse texture, makes Kosher salt the clear winner when it comes to choosing the salt for your Margarita salt rim.

If you'd like to go a totally different route, try adding a Sugar Rim instead!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Coarse Kosher salt
Lime wedge
Small plate

HOW TO ADD A SALT RIM TO YOUR GLASS

It's likely at some point you've noticed those three-tiered salt and sugar keepers equipped with the foam padding behind the bar. The bartender dips the rim of the glass onto the foam padding and then takes it for a swirl in either salt or sugar, depending on your preference.

More times than not, what has saturated that foam padding is some form of processed, bottled lime juice, which both moistens the rim of the glass and adds a certain element of stickiness to it.

Luckily, you won't need either of these to add a salt rim to your cocktail glass. All you need is a little citrus juice and Kosher salt.

Pour Kosher salt onto a small plate.
Cut the lime.
Run the lime along the rim of your glass.
Swirl the rim of your glass in the salt until coated.

Have ready a small plate topped with about ⅓ cup of Kosher salt, and shimmy slightly to spread out the salt.

Cut the lime in half lengthwise, then cut a line through the center of the lime crosswise.

Place the lime flat-side down and cut it into 2-3 wedges, depending on the size of the lime. Run the slit of the lime wedge along the rim of the glass, making sure to get it really wet.

Then, turn the glass over and press onto the salt. Swirl the glass and use your fingers to bring the salt up to the edges, gently pressing it against the outer edge of the glass.

HOW TO SPRUCE UP A MARGARITA SALT RIM

You can elevate any salty rim with a hit of fresh zest or even chili powder. To add zest to your margarita salt, grate a teaspoon or two of orange or lime zest over a plate of Kosher salt and use your fingers to rub the zest and the salt together until well-combined.

If you'd like to add a savory kick, chili powder is the way to go. Simply add a half teaspoon of chili powder to your salt and mix until well combined.

Feeling really extra about your homemade margaritas? Try adding both the zest and the chili powder!