Over-Salted Food: A Simple Trick Can Save Your Dish

Have you ever gotten distracted when you're seasoning your food and put too much salt in? Don't worry, there's a few simple tricks that can rescue your meal.

Without seasoning, some soups and savory meals can taste bland. However, it's easy to accidentally add too much salt and ruin a meal. Instead of throwing it away, there are few clever hacks that can save the day. It depends on the dish, but this "potato trick" should work for most meals. 

• Soups: Instead of adding water, use unsalted broth, wine, or cream to dilute. You can also add a halved potato to absorb excess salt, then remove it after cooking.
• Pasta: Boil the over-salted pasta in unsalted water and rinse it. A fresh tomato or cream sauce can also help balance the salt.
• Sauces: Add sugar, honey, or wine to balance saltiness. Cream, sour cream, or milk work well, and you can use the potato trick or a piece of bread to absorb some salt.
• Stews: The potato trick works here too. You can also add dried prunes, a splash of red wine, or dairy products like yogurt or cream to balance flavors.
• Salad Dressing: Balance over-salted dressing with a teaspoon of honey or neutralize with yogurt or cream.
• Doubling the Recipe: Double the recipe without adding more salt, and freeze any leftovers.

To avoid putting too much salt in your food in the future, it is a good idea to consider the best moment to add salt when preparing a meal. Should salt be added during cooking, or afterwards? Well, it depends on what you are cooking. For soups, stews and sauces, it is best to add salt gradually throughout the cooking process until you get an amount you are happy with. This method gives the salt time to dissolve evenly, enhance flavors and break down ingredients like vegetables and proteins. 

When you are cooking meats and proteins, adding salt during, or before cooking helps to draw out moisture, creating a flavorful crust and enhance overall taste. Salt can also tenderize meats, particularly larger cuts, when added in advance.

On the other hand, for salads and roasted vegetables, adding salt after cooking gives a fresh burst of flavor. Finishing salts, such as sea salt or flaky salt, can add texture and a unique type of saltiness. For delicate dishes like eggs or seafood, salting at the end prevents overpowering the more subtle flavors.