What is it about salt?

[JockSporran]

All packaged, pre-heated, jarred or bottled food is a bit too salty for my taste. Nowadays we are advised aginst too much salt, but why is bought (non fresh) so salty? Is it a western taste?

[Rosetta]

At one time I thought it was a generational habit but If you watch the tv chefs they all put a load of salt in so I am not so sure now

[LoftyLottie2]

I totally agree Jock. Many old people (not me) love salty food. People used to be very liberal with salt. Perhaps a throw back to salt being a preservative. Over the past few decades people are gradually adding less and less salt to their food and not cooking vegetables, etc. with salt - yet processed foods generally are still very salty. If you have well flavoured foods then salt isn't so necessary - although a little can enhance flavour.

Perhaps they put so much salt into processed food to disguise the the real flavour!!

[LoftyLottie2]

That's true Rosetta. I often think that about the TV chefs. I don't even possess salt and pepper pots for the table! Tough luck if my food isn't salty enough. I just resent cooking a lovely meal and a guest throwing salt all over it!

[coccinelle]

It's the reason I don't eat processed foods as I don't like the taste of salt, I do use it but sparingly. I have a friend who systematically asks for the salt cellar (which only comes out of the cupboard when she comes) when she sits down. She eats a lot of processed stuff and says she can 'see' that the dish isn't salty enough!

[Jugglering]

I am always amazed at Toady (and occasionally Gregg's Pasty) complaining that the potatoes (in whatever shape they're served up) aren't seasoned enough.... I was always taught if you want more salt on a dish, you add it yourself, AFTER tasting the dish.

I agree with you Jack, also a lot of pre-prepared foodstuffs are also full of sugar !

[Ethel]

I firmly believe, having tried it several times, that potatoes boiled without salt and then adding salt at the table tastes nothing like potatoes boiled with salt.

Some vegetables just don't cook properly without adding salt to the water.

[Jugglering]

LOL Ethel... I really dislike the taste of vegetables that have been cooked in salted water... there is something rather *tough* about them. Maybe it's because I don't peel my veg (cos my mum told me that all the vitamins etc were just below the skin) but I would really rather add my salt "at the table" as it were.

[elf-angel]

its a preservative therefore can be kept on the shelf for longer

[LoftyLottie2]

Have to agree with Ethel, potatoes cooked with salt taste very different to potatoes sprinkled with salt. I rarely peel potatoes I always cook them with a little salt in the water, and also swede, but never add salt to any other veg when cooking. I do use salt in casseroles, stews, etc., but not the amount my grandmother would use. Salt is often essential in recipes to bring out the flavour.

And I must admit to salt on chips!!

If people eating my cooking insist on adding salt then they would get a tub of sea salt given to them!!

[trish432]

I agree with Ethel, nothing worse than forgetting to put the salt in potatoes during cooking, they just don`t taste the same if you add later.
Even adding salt to potatoes, before mashing doesn`t work for me, I feel like just throwing them away.

[Mortartube]

As mentioned before it is a preservative but it is also used to cover up the bland taste of cheap or poor quality ingredients. Often pepper is used to disguise the bland flavour of cheap meats in pasties etc.