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Don’t Panic! 5 Tips for Fixing a Salty Dish Without Starting Over

November 5, 2024 by Donna Dizon Leave a Comment

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So here we are. You’ve either accidentally added too much salt to a dish or forgotten to taste as you go, and now you’re ending up with a soup that tastes like a boiling pot of soy sauce.

If your first instinct is to throw it all away, then put those oven mitts down! We’re sharing our five favorite tips for bringing a salty dinner back from the brink.

Add More…Stuff

Cooking fish soup or uha on a fire. Delicious fish broth with vegetables. Shallow depth of field.
Image Credit: Vlad Antonov/Shutterstock.

It sounds simple, but it’s honestly the easiest way to fix the salt levels in your dish—just make more of it. This is obviously a lot simpler with sauces or soups, but increasing the volume by adding extra grains or vegetables can rebalance the dish, since these ingredients aren’t seasoned when you’re adding them to the pot. Just try not to go overboard, or you’ll be constantly teetering between an overly salted dish and a bland dish with way too much stuff in it!

Balance With Sweetness

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Image Credit: Natali Mali/Shutterstock.

Salt is a flavor enhancer, but sometimes it can be a bit too enthusiastic. To counteract the saltiness, try adding a touch of sweetness. A pinch of sugar, honey, or maple syrup can be an incredibly easy way to distract from a saltier profile. Again, it’s important to practice restraint, lest you accidentally turn your pot roast into a dessert—you’re not making candy!

Try Adding Dairy

hand shredded butter with grated.
Image Credit: Michelle Aleksa/Shutterstock.

Creamy elements like yogurt or cheese can help mellow a dish out, including ones that are too salty. If you’re dealing with a salty pasta dish, toss in some grated cheese or a little cream sauce. Another caveat with this, however, is to pay attention to what kind of cheese you’re adding. Some cheeses, like parmesan or sharp cheddar, can backfire and actually make a dish saltier.

Try a Splash of Acid

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Image Credit: Anastasiya 99/Shutterstock.

When saltiness strikes, acidity can be your best friend. A splash of vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice can brighten up your dish and help cut through the salt. Acidity is an incredible way to balance out all flavors, so it’s a must to put in virtually any dish anyway. Be careful to add your acid gradually and not too early. Boiling down vinegar in a soup for forty-five minutes is a surefire way to make you and your dinner guests pucker up, and getting rid of that sour flavor is a lot more challenging than counteracting salt!

Create Something New

Beef bourguignon - meat stew with vegetables and mushrooms with red wine in a skillet over black slate, stone or concrete background , traditinal dish of french cuisine. Top view with copy space,.
Image Credit: Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock.

Sometimes, the best solution is to embrace the chaos and turn your salty disaster into something entirely new. If your soup is too salty, you could always just turn it into a stew by adding more vegetables and protein, even if they wouldn’t normally be included in the recipe. If your pasta sauce is beyond saving, toss it with some rice or quinoa to create a new dish altogether. And despite your best efforts, sometimes there’s just nothing else you can do other than serve up your “unique” dining experience with plenty of water on the side.

6 Anti-inflammatory Foods for Your Knee, Hip & Back Pain

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Image Credit: oneinchpunch/Shutterstock.

Inflammation occurs when your body reacts to foreign substances. While certain anti-inflammatory drugs can help eliminate inflammation, a diet change can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Here are six anti-inflammatory foods to help reduce knee, hip, and back pain. 

6 Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Your Knee, Hip & Back Pain 
 

6 Foods to Avoid in 2024

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Image Credit: platinumArt/Shutterstock.

As the world wakes up to healthier food options, more and more people are choosing foods that can increase their overall health. There are so many different options out there, so it can be confusing and overwhelming to know which ones to choose and which ones to avoid.

Perhaps the best way to start on a healthier food journey is to cut out all the unhealthy foods that don’t add any nutritional value to your diet. Read on as we discuss six unhealthy foods to avoid if you want to live a healthy life.

6 Foods to Avoid in 2024

12 Foods You Can Eat a Lot of Without Gaining Weight

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Image Credit: SerPhoto/Shutterstock.

Are there foods you’ve always avoided in the hope that they don’t mess with your weight? While some foods are high in calories and can make you gain weight, a restrictive diet isn’t always the answer. Interestingly, some foods you could be avoiding could be the key to loosing weight.

These are some of the foods you can eat without gaining weight. Most of these foods have fiber, protein, and good fats to boost satiety and sustain energy throughout the day.

Let’s discuss 12 foods you can eat a lot of without gaining weight.

12 Foods You Can Eat a Lot of Without Gaining Weight 
 

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