What is a salt pig
What Is a Salt Pig?
If you’ve ever spotted a little ceramic pig sitting beside a cooker and wondered what on earth it was for, you’ve probably come across a salt pig.
Despite the rather unusual name, a salt pig is simply a handy open container designed to keep your cooking salt close at hand. They’re traditionally kept beside the hob so you can quickly grab a pinch while cooking, without having to reach into a cupboard or wrestle with a salt grinder.
And, of course, they don’t have to look like a pig at all. Mine do — because if you’re going to have a little pot of salt sitting on your kitchen worktop, it might as well be cute.
Why does a salt pig have such a big open mouth?
One of the most recognisable features of a salt pig is its wide, open top. This isn’t just for decoration.
The opening is deliberately shallow, making it easy to reach in and take a pinch of salt while cooking. It also means you aren’t filling a huge container with salt that could sit around for months.
I make my salt pigs with this in mind. The opening is generous enough to make them practical, but relatively shallow so you’re only keeping a useful amount of salt readily available.
Why use flakey salt?
I particularly love using flakey salt in a salt pig.
Flaky salt has a lovely texture and a more delicate flavour than ordinary table salt, making it especially good for finishing dishes as well as seasoning while you cook. The larger, delicate flakes are also perfect for picking up between your fingers — exactly how a salt pig is intended to be used.
Of course, you can use whichever salt you prefer, but flakey salt is my favourite.
A little spoon is included too
Salt pigs are traditionally designed for using your fingers, but I know that’s not everyone’s preference.
Each of my ceramic salt pigs comes with a little twisted ceramic spoon, so you can scoop out your salt instead. It’s tiny, simple and made to sit neatly alongside your salt pig.
More than just a salt pot
Although they’re designed as kitchen salt holders, you don’t have to use them for salt.
I’ve seen them used for all sorts of little things around the home — as a ring or jewellery holder, somewhere to keep cotton pads, a home for a tiny air plant, a place for coins, or simply a little pot for those random bits and pieces that always seem to end up on the kitchen counter.
That’s one of the things I love about them. They can be useful even when they’re not holding salt.
Made from stoneware
My salt pigs are handmade from durable stoneware clay, with each one made and finished in my studio.
The shape has developed over years of making and experimenting. I’ve played around with proportions, openings and little details until arriving at the version I’m happiest with today.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll always look exactly the same. Like much of my pottery, the designs may evolve over time as I continue experimenting.
For now, though, I’m very happy with these little pigs.
Salt pigs are made in limited edition batches throughout the year, rather than being continuously available.
Each batch may have slightly different colours, finishes or details, so if you see one you love, it may not be around forever.
A salt pig is one of those wonderfully simple kitchen objects that earns its place by being both useful and lovely to look at — and I think that’s exactly what good handmade pottery should do.