We’ve all been there: You’re hard at work whipping up a delicious soup or stew and salting it to taste. But things quickly take a turn for the worse. Suddenly, you’ve over salted your meal, making it borderline inedible. Don’t fret! Even the best chefs make this mistake. But before you lose hope and throw all that hard work in the trash, know that there are a variety of simple tricks you can use to save your meal and make food less salty. Our favorite method involves just one item you might already have on hand: a potato! Here’s how to easily fix over-salted food, like soups and stews.
Watch the video above to learnhow to fix over salted food with just one item.
How to fix over-salted food
Supplies:
- 1 potato
- 1 pot of over-salted food, such as soup or stew
- Water or broth (as needed
Instructions:
- Peel the potato. Any type of potato will work, but a starchy potato like a russet potato will work best.
- Place the peeled potato in the pot of over-salted food. This method works best on soups or stews.
- Cook the potato until it is tender, about 15-20 minutes or more for larger potatoes. The potato will absorb extra salt and liquid.
- Remove the potato from the pot.
- Taste the food. If the saltiness is still too much, you can add water or broth to dilute it. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.
Other ways to remove salt from food
- In addition to potatoes, you can use other starchy vegetables like carrots or parsnips to absorb excess salt.
- Dairy products like milk, cream, yogurt, or sour cream can help balance out the saltiness of a soup or stew. The fat and protein in dairy products can help to coat your tongue and reduce the perception of saltiness.
- Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme can help to mask the saltiness of soup, too. Add a small amount of fresh herbs to the soup and stir until well combined.
- Acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, or tomatoes can also help to reduce the saltiness of soup. Add a small amount of acid to the soup and stir until well combined.
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FAQs
Dairy products like milk, cream, yogurt, or sour cream can help balance out the saltiness of a soup or stew. The fat and protein in dairy products can help to coat your tongue and reduce the perception of saltiness. Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme can help to mask the saltiness of soup, too.
How to fix soup that is too salty? ›
Add Lemon or Vinegar
A squeeze of lemon can balance out a mildly oversalted soup with its acidic flavor. A splash of vinegar can also do wonders for taming the salty flavor.
How do you fix a dish that is too salty? ›
Add an Acidic Ingredient
It won't reduce the sodium level of your dish, but adding an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or even a tomato product, can neutralize the saltiness of a dish. Start with a dash or a squeeze, stir well to combine, and give it a taste before adding any more.
How do you replace salt in soup? ›
Dried onion or onion powder
Like garlic, onion offers a flavor boost to almost any savory recipe. In particular, dried onion or onion powder is more potent than fresh onion and can be swapped for salt in stir-fries, soups, stews, dips, and salsas. It offers a bit of spice with a hint of sweetness.
How do you counteract the taste of too much salt? ›
Lemon or lime juice or vinegar are all acidic and will tame the salt taste. Adding a creamy or fat component like yoghurt, sour cream or butter (unsalted) will also help to reduce overly salted flavours in your dish. With all of these methods, it is important to taste the dish while you attempt to fix it.
Does putting a potato in soup reduce salt? ›
Like in the myth, a potato will absorb salt until the salt level inside the starchy tuber matches the salt level in the soup. Remove the potato, and you remove some of the salt. If you want to remove half the salt, you'd need to drop in potatoes equal in volume to the entire batch of stew!
What flavor cancels out salt? ›
Squeeze some lemon juice or orange juice over your dish. The sour flavor provides a new layer of complexity to the meal and should mellow out the salt. Drizzle in a mild vinegar like all-purpose vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar to help mask the salt with acidity by distracting the taste buds.
Does sugar cancel out salt? ›
So, if you've added just a pinch of extra salt, you can add a pinch of sugar to balance it out. It's a calculated move, therefore, if your recipe is really salty, you should refrain from using this trick as you can end up with a weird sugary dish.
How do you counteract too much salt in gravy? ›
Milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half: Stir in 2 tsp of one of these dairy products to the gravy to reduce its saltiness. Yogurt: Add 1 tsp of plain yogurt to salty gravy. Sour cream: A dollop of sour cream can help balance the flavor of over-salted gravy.
Does onion absorb salt? ›
Add either raw or fried onion and it will soak the excess amount of salt.
Monitoring your salt intake and being mindful of these signs can help you prevent potential complications associated with excessive salt consumption:
- Bloating. ...
- Thirst. ...
- Frequent urination. ...
- High blood pressure. ...
- Swelling. ...
- Headaches. ...
- Fatigue. ...
- Palpitations.
Without salt, your dough will rise faster than it normally would, leading to less flavor development and a weaker structure.
How do you correct over salted soup? ›
Dairy products like milk, cream, yogurt, or sour cream can help balance out the saltiness of a soup or stew. The fat and protein in dairy products can help to coat your tongue and reduce the perception of saltiness. Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme can help to mask the saltiness of soup, too.
How to fix a dish that is too salty? ›
Adding a splash of something acidic such as vinegar, lemon juice or even wine to an over-salted dish can help to correct your meal and give it an extra tasty tang. Begin by adding a tablespoon at a time, stir well and taste.
How do you get rid of excess salt fast? ›
“The body naturally removes sodium through sweat, tears and urine.” To even out your sodium level, get sweaty by exercising or sitting in a sauna. Drink plenty of fluids and cut out salt and salty foods right away.
Does sugar fix salty food? ›
Depending on the type of recipe, adding a little sugar or alternatives such as maple syrup or honey can help to balance the saltiness of the dish. This works wonderfully in Asian cuisines or any tomato-based dish. Start by adding very small amounts, stir well and taste constantly before deciding to add more.
