It really depend on the type of crystal you want....you can dissolve common salt in hot water until no more salt dissolves. Then cool it very very slowly to room temperature before putting the container with the developing crystals in into an ice-water mixture. Big white crystals should form. I would suggest that you use some aluminium foil to cover the container then with a towel, paper or cloth would be fine, trapping a layer of air would be best though. Then another layer of foil for good measure.
急速冷卻 = rapid cooling = small crystals
緩慢冷卻 = slow cooling = big crystals
參考: Chemistry student at university, it's also part of my lab work