Vegetable pickling is a time-honored food preservation and processing method, in which salt (primarily sodium chloride) plays an irreplaceable and core role. This paper systematically reviews the multidimensional effects of curing salt on vegetable quality. It comprehensively covers preservation mechanisms, textural transformations, the formation and conversion of flavor compounds, color stability, and nutritional value changes. Specifically, this article analyzes the decisive role of salt concentration gradients in final product characteristics. Furthermore, it examines the challenges posed by the low salinity, including microbial safety risks, textural deterioration, and flavor imbalances, while proposing corresponding strategies