We've all been there: Whether you forgot you already salted a dish and added the salt again or your hand slipped and you just included too much, the result is the same. Your soup, stew, meat, side, or sauce is now too salty. So, how can you fix it so you can still serve the dish for dinner? We're sharing four time-honored ways to bring the balance back—and our best tips to help you season your food properly every time.
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How to Fix a Too-Salty Dish
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.
Try to choose an acidic element that will mesh well with the flavor profile of your dish—for example, you'd use lime juice for carnitas, not balsamic vinegar. When in doubt, use a neutral-tasting acid like rice vinegar or white wine vinegar; these are compatible with a lot of different dishes.
Add a Sweetener
Similarly, try adding a touch of sweetness to counteract a too-briny sauce or stir-fry. Brown sugar or maple syrup will add a distinctive caramel-y flavor to your dish, which might work well. If a more neutral sweetness is desired, stick with granulated sugar.
Add Dairy
A creamy dairy product will coat your mouth, essentially tricking your palate. Heavy cream, half-and-half, or a pat of butter are good solutions for a dish that needs to simmer for a little longer. Add sour cream or a knob of cream cheese at the end and off the heat source to prevent them from breaking.
Dilute or Bulk Up Your Dish
Diluting your dish with a splash or two of salt-free liquid or adding more vegetables, pasta, or meat, will help a dish that's too salty simply because you are increasing the overall amount of whatever you're making. Instead of just masking the salt like the tricks above, this will actually reduce the sodium per portion of your dish—so it's a good route to take if you have dietary concerns.
The Potato Trick
Legend says that if you toss a raw, peeled, and diced potato into a pot of simmering soup or stew, it will absorb some of the salt as it cooks. While there is some merit to this, we think this old trick should be taken with a grain of salt (pun intended). In reality, the potato will absorb liquid because it is so starchy, but it will have a very subtle effect on the final salt level of the dish.
There's no harm in trying this method if you have an extra potato on hand. Keep in mind that it's more likely that the extra water you will need to add after the potato absorbs some of the liquid will help more than the spud itself.
How to Prevent Adding Too Much Salt to a Dish
When it comes to over-salting a dish, an ounce of prevention really does beat a pound of cure. It's always going to be easier to add more salt than it will be to take it out. Keep these guidelines in mind before you start cooking.
Season in Layers
In culinary school, chefs in training are taught to season in stages in order to enhance each layer of flavor you are building. For instance, if you are sautéing onions for a soup or sauce, add a couple of small pinches of salt before you move on to the next step.
Be Aware of Hidden Sodium
At the store, choose products that advertise that they are lower in sodium than their counterparts. Broth, beans, and tomato products can contain loads of salt, which will mean you will end up having less control over how something tastes.
Taste as You Go
This can't be stressed enough: Taste your food while you're cooking! If you follow the tips above and season in layers, you'll be able to pull back or add more depending on how your dish tastes at any given moment.
Pick a Salt and Stick With It
There are all kinds of salts available that vary in flake size, which means their flavor varies, too. Here's the perfect example: Because table salt is dense, it is twice as salty as kosher salt. If you get comfortable with using the same kind of salt, you are much more likely to know exactly how much "a pinch" will affect your food. Many professional chefs reach for kosher salt when cooking—the coarser flakes are easier to grip and it dissolves quickly.
FAQs
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 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 stop something from being too salty? ›
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.
What absorbs salt in food? ›
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.
How to counteract eating too much salt? ›
8 Foods for When You've Eaten Too Much Sodium
- Banana.
- Avocado.
- Kiwi.
- Leafy Greens.
- Yogurt.
- White Beans.
- Coconut Water.
- Herbal Tea.
"One of the best ways to compensate for over-salting is to add dairy. Add a swirl of yogurt, heavy cream, or even sour cream." Feel free to use whatever you have on hand. The dairy can be added to the entire pot, or directly to the bowl before serving.
How do you flush out salty food? ›
Drink Plenty of Water
This is because water helps the body flush out excess sodium. Not only is hydration important for managing sodium levels, but it is also important for overall health. When you drink plenty of water, your body can flush the excess sodium in your body.
How do you fix salty gravy? ›
Whisk in fresh lemon juice or good vinegar one teaspoon at a time. The goal is to balance the saltiness, not turn the gravy citrusy or sour. Whisk in a big pinch of sugar. Again, the goal is to balance and counteract the saltiness, not make the gravy sweet.
What makes salty taste go away? ›
Be sure to drink lots of water and avoid spicy and salty foods until your symptoms subside. You can also try chewing sugar-free gum or using an over-the-counter (OTC) oral rinse, such as Act Dry Mouth Mouthwash, to help stimulate saliva production.
How to reduce sodium in food? ›
Halt the Salt: 5 Ways to Cut Down on Sodium and Improve Your Heart Health
- Choose fresh foods over salty, processed foods. ...
- Go “low or no” with sodium-free or low-sodium foods. ...
- Use more herbs and spices. ...
- Limit the condiments, “fixins,” and side dishes. ...
- Talk to a nutrition expert about ways to control your sodium intake.
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.
What foods break down salt? ›
Enjoy high-potassium foods regularly.
These include sweet potatoes, potatoes, greens, tomatoes and lower-sodium tomato sauce, white beans, kidney beans, nonfat yogurt, oranges, bananas and cantaloupe. Potassium helps counter the effects of sodium and may help lower your blood pressure.
What cancels out too much salt? ›
Add an acid.
You can add lemon juice, lime juice, or apple cider vinegar to salty food to help neutralize the saltiness. A tomato product, such as tomato sauce or tomato paste, will also work since tomatoes are acidic.
Are bananas high in potassium? ›
Although bananas are a good source of potassium, many other nutritious foods, including sweet potatoes, legumes, and beets, offer more potassium per serving. Swiss chard, yams, and white beans even have twice as much potassium per cup as a medium banana.
What foods are high in salt to avoid? ›
High-sodium foods you should avoid
These include baking soda, baking powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, and instant soup mixes. Foods with visible salt crystals: Examples of these include salted nuts, potato chips, tortilla chips, salted popcorn, crackers, and pretzels.
What counteracts sodium? ›
Enjoy high-potassium foods regularly.
These include sweet potatoes, potatoes, greens, tomatoes and lower-sodium tomato sauce, white beans, kidney beans, nonfat yogurt, oranges, bananas and cantaloupe. Potassium helps counter the effects of sodium and may help lower your blood pressure.
How do you fix salty meat after cooking? ›
Rinse the meat using hot water, "give it a really quick re-grill or sear, let it rest, and then serve," Southern says. But if your rinsing rescue mission fails, you can still save the meat by slicing and tossing it into a hardy salad, suggests Massachusetts chef Jim Booth.
Does adding a raw potato absorb salt? ›
Potatoes won't work to remove the salt, but adding extra unsalted ingredients might better distribute the salt or counteract the saltiness. Add extra veggies (yes, including potatoes), rinsed low-sodium beans or cooked unsalted rice.
Why are my dishes coming out salty? ›
SALTY TASTE
Always check that the lid of the dispenser is on tight and that nothing is leaking during the wash. Finally, if the problem persists, you may need to call an engineer as a valve that allows water into the machine's softener could be blocked.
