# Why does (pink) Himalayan salt seem melt after it leaves the bottle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654 "2014-05-04T18:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nippless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/df788c/32.png) [@Nippless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nippless)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654/1 "2014-05-04T18:52:23Z")
I noticed it at first on the foods I was putting it on as I was eating and figured it was just the foods’ interactions. But I’ve noticed large beads of “moisture” on the counter sometimes when and where I’ve spilt a bit of it, some time after the spillage. What’s going on? I’m using it from a grinder but I’ve seen it sold pre-ground in packs so it can’t be the grinding process can it 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654/2 "2014-05-04T18:54:37Z")
[Beg to mods: don’t boot this to CS, at least for a while, OK?] ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654/3 "2014-05-04T20:16:25Z")
I don’t know what is in the Himalayan salt to cause it, but it sounds like you have some [deliquescence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliquescent#Deliquescence) going on there. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654/4 "2014-05-04T22:11:15Z")
I’ve never noticed this in my Himalayan pink or other food salt but have seen weepy bags of ice melt. I’m not sure if it was regular NaCl or one of the other types. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654/5 "2014-05-05T04:21:34Z")
NaCl is hygroscopic. It will get wet with water from the air, which causes it to clump and cake. Most table salt has added ingredients to counteract this. I use pickling salt since it has no ingredients other than NaCl, and it will create a puddle on the counter where it’s spilled if the humidity’s high enough. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-pink-himalayan-salt-seem-melt-after-it-leaves-the-bottle/687654/6 "2014-05-05T04:29:23Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > NaCl is hygroscopic. It will get wet with water from the air, which causes it to clump and cake. Most table salt has added ingredients to counteract this. I use pickling salt since it has no ingredients other than NaCl, and it will create a puddle on the counter where it’s spilled if the humidity’s high enough. True, and Himalayan and melting salt contains other minerals which affect the salt’s hygroscopic qualities.