Food & Receipts

How to fix if you put too much salt in your food? Don’t add more water, there’s a trick to balance the flavor.

If you accidentally over-salt your food, there is still a highly effective way to "put out the fire". Let's apply it together!

Administrator

8 December, 2023

176

Add filtered water

For soups, broths, or overly salty hot pots, you can adjust the saltiness by adding a little filtered water to the dish to mellow out the flavor. Afterward, taste again and season with spices such as MSG, bouillon powder, pepper, or chili to adjust the taste according to your preference.

Use fresh lime or vinegar

Fresh lime and vinegar are two common ingredients that can reduce the saltiness in a dish. For braised dishes or soups, you can add 1-2 teaspoons of lime juice to reduce the saltiness without affecting the original flavor. However, avoid adding lime juice to dishes that contain milk, as this can cause curdling.

Use unsweetened yogurt

If you don’t have lime or vinegar, you can use unsweetened yogurt to reduce the saltiness of the dish. Add 1-2 teaspoons of unsweetened yogurt to the dish and stir well to allow the compounds in the yogurt to significantly reduce the saltiness. Add gradually and taste frequently to ensure the saltiness is appropriate.

Use tomatoes

Tomatoes also have the ability to adjust overly salty dishes. Cut a few slices of ripe tomatoes into the fully cooked dish for about 15 – 20 minutes, and the acidity of the tomatoes will effectively neutralize the saltiness.

Use honey

Honey can also help adjust the saltiness of a dish. Add 1 teaspoon of honey to soups, broths, braised dishes, and stir well, helping to reduce the saltiness and enhance the flavor of the dish.

Use egg whites

A slightly complex but highly effective method is to use egg whites. When a soup or broth is too salty, separate the egg whites and add them to the dish, then bring it to a boil for about 5-10 minutes. Once the egg whites are cooked, stir again to ensure the salt is neutralized.