Quick Answer
The most common way to get salt to stick to the rim of a glass is to first coat the rim with a liquid like lime juice or simple syrup, and then dip the rim of the glass into a plate or dish of coarse sea salt or kosher salt. The liquid helps the salt grains adhere to the glass.
Ways to Help Salt Stick to Glass
Here are some tips for getting salt to stick to the rim of a glass:
Use a wet rim
– Apply a liquid like lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, or margarita mix around the rim of the glass. Use a lime wedge or pastry brush to coat the rim. The liquid provides a sticky base for the salt to adhere to.
– Let any excess liquid drip off so the rim is just moist but not soaked.
Use coarse salt
– Coarse sea salt or kosher salt works better than table salt. The large grains have more surface area to stick to the wet rim.
– Flaked sea salt like Maldon can also work well. The thin, flaky crystals easily stick to the rim.
Set up a dipping station
– Pour salt onto a small plate or into a wide, shallow bowl. Spread it out into an even layer.
– Tip the glass at a 45 degree angle and rotate slowly to coat the entirety of the rim in salt.
Chill the glasses
– For best results, chill your glasses ahead of time before salting the rims. The cold glass will help the salt better adhere.
Dry any condensation first
– If there are water droplets on the glass, dry the rim thoroughly first before applying liquid and salt. Water will prevent the salt from sticking.
Apply even pressure
– When dipping the glass into the salt, keep the glass upright and apply even pressure as you rotate to get optimal salt coverage on the rim.
Use these liquids to wet the rim:
| Lime juice | The acidity helps the salt stick |
| Lemon juice | Also provides acidic adhesion |
| Simple syrup | The sugar is very sticky |
| Margarita mix | The combo of sour and sweet holds salt |
| Water | Can work in a pinch but less effective |
What Drinks Use Salted Glass Rims?
Here are some popular cocktails that traditionally are served with salted rims:
Margarita
The most well-known salted rim drink. Wet the rim with lime first to help adhesion.
Bloody Mary
Salt balances the spice and acidity. Can also rim half the glass.
Mojito
The minty cocktail gets a salty boost. Rim with lime wedge first.
Paloma
Salt plays up the grapefruit flavors. Use the grapefruit juice to wet the rim.
Moscow Mule
Salt complements the ginger beer. Lime juice helps it stick.
Tequila Sunrise
The sweet drink gets an extra pop of flavor. Lime works well.
Madras
The vodka cranberry drink benefits from the salty edge. Wet with lime.
Troubleshooting Salt on the Rim
Here are some common issues and how to fix them:
Salt won’t stick?
– Make sure you wet the rim first before salting. Use a more sticky liquid like simple syrup if needed.
Salt falls off while drinking?
– Allow time for any liquid on the rim to dry first so the salt adheres better before drinking.
Rim is unevenly coated?
– Apply liquid around the rim smoothly and wipe away any excess. Dip and rotate glass carefully.
Glass feels gritty on lips?
– Use smoother kosher salt instead of coarser varieties. Wipe excess salt from the inner rim.
Too much salt flavor?
– Rim only half the glass, or dilute the salt with sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Adjust to taste.
Conclusion
Salting a glass rim is an easy way to add a savory punch and visual appeal to cocktails. The key steps are wetting the rim thoroughly with a sticky liquid, having good coarse salt coverage, and taking care when dipping the glass. With the right technique, you can get a perfect salty rim every time. So next time you make margaritas or bloody marys, don’t forget the salt!