2006-06-21 07:38:51 · 27 answers · asked by namcculloch 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Salt is added to cooking water for a number of reasons.
For pasta; to add flavor and may help stop it sticking together.
For green vegetables: mainly to "set" the color and again for flavor. If you don't add salt to vegetable cooking water, greens will turn brownish and not look as nice. Orange, yellow and red vegetables also hold their colors better when cooked in salted water.
Changing the boiling point is (I think) only a side effect and less important to the cooking process.
2006-06-21 18:23:31 · answer #1 · answered by allankw 4 · 10⤊ 2⤋
TASTE. If salt is solved in water from the beginning, it will penetrate better into whatever you are cooking. Sprinkling salt over the cooked dish cannot make up for the salt not added from the beginning. In this way, we tend to sprinkle lots of salt to get the salty taste we want... which is very unhealthy.
2006-06-21 07:52:21 · answer #2 · answered by todaywiserthanyesterday 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are adding salt to boiling water to cook pasta, it is really the only chance you have to season the pasta itself, before any sauce is added to the top of it, or mixed in. You have to layer the flavors!
2006-06-21 07:42:49 · answer #3 · answered by Courtenay B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't add salt to my water, but I think the reason is for flavor. It slows down the boil time and I'm too impatient for that. To keep pasta from sticking when the water starts to boil add a splash of olive oil.
2006-06-21 09:00:40 · answer #4 · answered by bobo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding salt to the water serves two purposes, one it lowers the temperature at which water will boil allowing it to come to a boil faster and two it adds a little flavor to whatever you are boiling.
2006-06-21 07:43:22 · answer #5 · answered by eewill 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It raises the boiling point of the water; however, the change is negligible (The max change is only 1 or 2 degrees F). It is often added to the water in belief of an old wives' tale.
2006-06-21 07:43:33 · answer #6 · answered by anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
salt helps the water to boil faster but the biggest reason is to flavor what ever your cooking in the water.
2006-06-21 07:40:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It make sthe food taste good, and is more healthy than adding it at the table. Too much salt is bad for you, but a little in the water does enhance the taste.
2006-06-21 07:59:46 · answer #8 · answered by Suzita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It adds flavor to the Pasta and it makes the water boil at a lower temperature. Salt does NOT keep pasta from sticking together... you need to add some oil... olive oil, corn oil etc... for that purpose.
2006-06-21 07:51:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, it is added for taste for certain bland foods such as potatoes, pasta and rice. Personally, I never add salt to anything because there is never any need. If you want to flavour something, you would be better to use pepper or another herb.
2006-06-21 08:00:46 · answer #10 · answered by Evil J.Twin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋