We at All the Stuff have previously talked about Himalayan pink salt and how, contrary to what high school chemistry would lead you to expect, it actually makes food taste better compared to using table or sea salt.

You may be surprised to discover that there are actually a couple of other ways to use it in the kitchen:

You can heat up this slab of pure, deep-mined salt in the oven or even on the grill and use it like volcanic rock to cook a surf’n’turf at the table.

Alternatively, you can chill it in the freezer and use it as a serving plate for sushi.

In either case, the salmon-like color and texture is sure to be a great hit with your guests.

It can also work in the same way as a pizza stone. A firm, flat base that stores heat and releases it into anything placed on top of it, producing a lovely, crispy crust. It seasons your food at the same time. You would expect this to be beyond your control, which would obviously put off anyone following a low-sodium diet.

Strangely, however, though different foods absorb the salt at different rates, things rarely turn out overseasoned. (You may want to invest in a cookbook other than the included pamphlet to get to know the ropes and avoid some pitfalls).

As you would expect, this salt block does wear away over time, but a lot more slowly than you’d think. For obvious reasons, you can’t place it in the dishwasher and you will probably want to take special precautions when cleaning it. With proper care, however, this should give you at least a couple of years of heavy use. As a bonus, bacteria really don’t like salt, making this a very hygienic option compared to wooden and plastic chopping boards.

This piece of gear might sound like the answer to all your prayers, but there are a couple of negatives you should be aware of. First of all, it is heavy: few people will be able to hold it with one hand. It’s also extremely fragile. If you put it down too hard because it’s burning your hand through the dishtowel, you’ll be sweeping it up in pieces.

You’ll get exactly the same result if you heat it up too quickly. Though the salt is capable of handling very high temperatures safely, just tossing it into a hot oven will shatter it.

Still, if you’re willing to take your time getting it hot, or plan to use it as a chilled serving board, this thing is simply the business. If you want to up your game in the kitchen or you know someone who’s recently been bitten by the cooking bug, this is almost a no-brainer.