What to Do If a Dish Is Too Salty: Simple Cooking Hacks

Ways to Fix Everything. As the saying goes, it’s better to under-salt than to over-salt, because excess salt is a problem that can be solved.

Over-salted the soup — what to do?

Folk wisdom and the experience of chefs will tell you what to do if you’ve over-salted your soup. Here are a few methods:

• Add water — the simplest option, especially if the soup is still cooking. Just pour in a bit of boiling water and adjust the flavor.
• Put a peeled potato in the pot — it will absorb some of the salt. After 10–15 minutes, you can remove the potato.
• Add grains or noodles — they also soak up salt, and the soup will become thicker and more filling.
• Fermented dairy products — a little sour cream or cream can soften the overly salty taste.

Over-salted the patties — what to do?

That depends on the cooking stage:

• If you haven’t fried them yet — add a bit of raw grated potato, chopped onion, bread, or oats to the meat mixture.
• If they’re already cooked — serve the patties with a bland side dish (potatoes, rice, or pasta) and an unsalted sauce to balance the flavor.

Over-salted aspic — what to do?

If the aspic has already set:

• Cut it into portions and serve with bland garnishes or bread.
• When cooking next time, leave part of the broth unsalted so you can dilute the over-salted one.
• You can also melt the aspic, dilute it with unsalted broth, and chill it again.

Over-salted meat — what to do?

It depends on the type of meat:

• Fried or baked meat — cut it into small pieces and simmer it in unsalted sauce or with vegetables.
• Boiled meat — drain part of the broth and add fresh water.
• You can also use the meat as a filling for pies or casseroles by adding bland ingredients like rice or potatoes.

Over-salted minced meat — what to do?

• Add unsalted components: raw potato, an egg, boiled rice, or bread soaked in milk.
• If you have a large batch of mince — divide it in two and add unsalted ingredients to one part. This way you’ll get two balanced portions.

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A Helpful Tip to Finish

To avoid wondering how to save dinner, always taste your food while cooking. But even if you over-salt something — don’t get upset. It happens to every home cook. The main thing is not to throw the food away, but to find a creative and tasty solution.

Remember: it’s better to under-salt than to over-salt.