Thought that salt shaker on your table was only good for seasoning an otherwise bland dish? Or perhaps something to throw down on the pavement to prevent a lawsuit during icy weather? Turns out salt actually has a number of innovative – albeit strange – uses related to health, cooking and food preparation.

1. Got Milk?

Add a pinch of salt (and seriously, keep it to a very small pinch!) to a carton of milk to help preserve its freshness.