I don't know if you've heard, but salt is a really important ingredient. It balances; it enhances; it can even add texture or be mixed with spices to create a worthy condiment. There's probably no ingredient in your kitchen that you use more.
Why, then, would it make any sense to tuck your salt away in a cupboard or on a shelf and dig it out each time you use it? Why should it be in a cardboard box with a weird pour spout, or a shaker where getting a good amount in your hand for pasta water that tastes like the sea is difficult? Your salt needs prime real estate. It needs to be accessible and approachable.
Which is why you need a salt cellar, aka a salt pig or a salt box. Whatever you want to call it and whatever shape it takes, you need a wide-mouthed vessel that you can keep alongside your stove, making it easy to take big handfuls and small pinches of salt alike.
Score one of these salt cellars, and cooking just moves more smoothly. You'll see what we mean:
1. Takenoko Salt Box
This simple bamboo and ceramic salt box has a hinged lid for easy access. The Amazon description also notes that it can be wall mounted, which seems pretty weird to me, but if that's appealing to you—go for it.
2. Farmhouse Pottery Beehive
Farmhouse Pottery Beehive Salt Cellar and Spoon
There's no ingredient you use more in the kitchen than salt, of course. That's why this adorable beehive salt cellar should be essential for all. This vessel from Vermont-based studio Farmhouse Pottery is a functional and stylish choice, whether you keep kosher salt by the stove or flaky sea salt on the table—or both.
3. Bee House Salt Box
Bee House (Zero Japan) Salt Box
4. Hand-Thrown Ceramic Salt Pig
Hand-Thrown Ceramic Salt Pig
This wheel-thrown stoneware salt pig is simply beautiful. Its glazed interior and unglazed outside give it a clean, rustic look. It's big enough to reach your hand in and get plenty of salt—and, it's surprisingly dishwasher safe.
5. Emile Henry Salt Pig
Do the classics have your heart? Emile Henry has been making high-fired ceramics out of clay found in the Burgundy region since 1850. This cheery salt server comes in a few colors, but we're partial to the bright cherry red.
6. Berard Salt Cellar
You can find this salt cellar in the kitchen of Epi staff writer, Kendra Vaculin. She's a fan of its magnetic swivel lid and likes that the opening is big enough for both hands and measuring spoons alike. The lid is made of durable oiled olive wood, while the base is made of a sleek grey concrete.
7. Design Ideas Cork Organizer
Design Ideas Cork Organizer
Is this technically a desk organizer and not a salt cellar? Yes. But what even is a salt cellar, if not simply a vessel capable of holding salt? That's what I thought, anyway, when I saw this at an office supply store and purchased it on a whim. It has served me well for two years as the perfect spot for both flaky finishing salt and kosher salt for cooking.
8. French Kitchen Marble Salt Cellar
French Kitchen Marble Salt Cellar
9. Mini Black Serving Bowl
Of course, you don't have to buy something that's technically classified as a salt cellar to store your salt. Our food editor Anna just uses a small bowl, because she likes to have her salt open and accessible. This mini black serving bowl is perfect if you want something minimal. Plus, the wide lip means easy dipping.
10. Tondo Wood Bowl
This bowl is large enough to serve as both a stove-side seasoning companion and a tabletop alternative to a shaker without running out of salt anytime soon. The warm albizia wood looks excellent next to an acacia or walnut salad bowl.
