Would you classify salt as culinary essential or overused additive?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
India
February 20, 2025 9:39am CST
Salt has been part of our cuisines for centuries by enhancing flavours and preserving food. Many cooks still consider it as essential seasoning as it brings natural taste to ingredients and balances flavours. In most dishes, without salt, the taste could be bland or even one dimensional.
I feel in modern diet salt is overused. In restaurants and fast foods, the amount of salt is too high. Even processed foods and taking inspiration from these some home food items also have high salt content. We have seen health organizations pushing for reduced sodium intake but then very less consumers make that change.
Do you feel salt is a culinary essential or overused additive?
13 people like this
14 responses
@grenery8 (16105)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
24 Feb
@RevivedWarrior i have a high b.pressure so i agree.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Using salt is never bad. Overusing it can cause long term health issues.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (16991)
• Raurkela, India
21 Feb
Salt is necessary for cooking but it has to be balanced. Excess salt spoils the taste of cuisines.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (16991)
• Raurkela, India
23 Feb
@RevivedWarrior Excess salt consumption can lead to BP.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Right! Salt needs to be balance but cannot be overused!
2 people like this
@allknowing (144358)
• India
20 Feb
I am brought up using it and I cannot imagine eating anything that has no salt
2 people like this
@allknowing (144358)
• India
23 Feb
@RevivedWarrior Most know the effect of over use of salt
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Using salt is fine , but not overusing it is important.
2 people like this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5306)
•
23 Feb
Adding a moderate amount of salt can make a dish savory. Too much sodium is bad for the kidneys.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Definitely agree with that. Moderation is definitely the key!
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Salt may have healing powers .However, we should restrict the overuse.
2 people like this
@cabuyogty (3537)
• Philippines
20 Feb
I think that not everyone likes salt because you will get high blood pressure and kidney diseases if you're overuse in salt. Like me , I'm not using too much salt in my dish and I'm always drinking water. Have a good day mylotters! 
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
I agree with you. I do not like much salt in any of my food items.
2 people like this
@kareng (72803)
• United States
22 Mar
Salt is way overused today, especially here in the U.S. So many people have heart conditions and high blood pressure and are supposed to be on low sodium diets. That right there excludes eating out! Then most of our prepared foods purchased at the grocery store--either frozen or canned are also loaded with sodium, both for flavor and preservative. Lot's of times you can see one product contains enough sodium for a whole week's supply. It is ridiculous. Overused additive drastically!!
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Some people do have an affinity for salt in their food. But then overuse should be restricted.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (146371)
• United States
20 Feb
Salt is an essential part of our diet but it definitely gets overused in so many foods that it's not funny. I still use a little salt when I'm cooking but also use lots of spices so the food still tastes delicious without throwing my body out of whack.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Well, salt should or could be used in food items. However, the overuse must be stopped. Godo to see you are ware of same and taking the steps to not throw your body out of whack.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (43344)
• United States
20 Feb
Just let me say I couldn't live without salt.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Using salt is fine , but overusing it should be restricted.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Definiely overuse of salt might be restricted by law and choice.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Most of fast foods have high salt content and that causes issues. A certain salt amount is always nice to have!
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36476)
•
22 Feb
I would say it is overused. We get so much salt (sodium) as a food additive in many foods we buy. One use is It prevents foods from spoiling. So, it is probably not as necessary in large amounts.
I've hardly ever added salt to anything I cook.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Well, the overuse can definitely cause long term health issues. Good that you are not adding any salt to your cooking.
2 people like this
@pitsipeahie (5170)
•
21 Feb
Salt is essential in cooking—other seasonings can be optional, but not salt. It’s not the salt itself that’s the problem, but how people use it, which makes it an overused additive.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3730)
• India
23 Feb
Absolutely right! using is never wrong, overusing the salt is the culprit!
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