Salt is my frenemy. But it is also the magical crystal of culinary alchemy. Salt can harden my arteries but also transform raw fish, fowl and meats into delectable morsels through curing. Curing is ...

This week, we’re going to dive into the art and science behind curing meat. Curing involves packing meat in salt and sugar — they are both hygroscopic, meaning they pull out moisture. That’s why salt ...

In their 2005 book, “Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking and Curing” (W.W. Norton & Company, $35), author Michael Ruhlman and chef Brian Polcyn helped define the passion chefs and home cooks ...