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A calm cooking rescue

What to do when food tastes too salty.

You cannot pull salt back out, but you can often spread it through more unsalted food and bring the dish back into balance.

Start here

  1. Stop seasoning. If the dish is reducing quickly, take it off direct heat for a moment.
  2. Taste a small spoonful once it is cool enough. Hot food can be hard to judge.
  3. Add unsalted bulk or unsalted liquid that belongs in the dish.
  4. Stir, heat through and taste again before making another change.
Useful unsalted additionsTry extra pasta, rice, potato, vegetables, beans, tomatoes, stock without added salt, milk or water—choose something that fits the meal.

Will sugar fix too much salt?

Usually not. Sweetness may distract from salt in some sauces, but it does not remove it and can create a second problem. Dilution with unsalted ingredients is the more dependable first move.

Should I add plain water?

A little can help a soup, stew or sauce, but too much can make the dish thin. Add a small amount, then consider more unsalted solids or let the adjusted dish simmer gently.

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