why do you add salt when boiling potatoes or pasta??

Answer 1

To make it taste saltier!

I'm amazed by all the answers here that are claiming something else (it's oil you add to prevent sticking, and al dente just refers to how long you cook it). It's true the addition of salt will trivially change the boiling point of water, but so will the addition of sugar, or gravel, or ketchup, or anything with a different density to water - that's not why salt is traditionally added.

Answer 2

Salt is added to the water to help season the pasta, potatoes or whatever you are boiling in the water. It also helps raise the temperature of the water to a higher level because of the chemical properties of salt.

Answer 3

Adding salt increases boiling temp. It does not hasten boiling (it boils hotter so if anything slows it down) and it does not keep food from sticking (There is no chemical property of salt that lubricates- that is what oil is for) Here a link for that: http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/ExmSciProj.html

But in truth, one of the other posts hit it dead on - guesswest777. Anything added to water will change the boiling point. We use salt mostly for the flavor. The temp. change is really insignificant. That's why you don't get two sets of instructions - 10 minutes if you do 12 minutes if you don't. That is also why it is usually listed as optional. It's about cooking the flavor in instead of just topping it.
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/askcooks.asp?askcooksid=115&bdc=1380

Answer 4

Contrary to popular belief (see above) you don't add salt to the water to stop stuff sticking together. Potatoes don't generally stick to each other...

Adding salt to water (as with any impurity) makes it boil at a slightly higher temperature so you get a more intense boil. It also adds flavour to whatever you're cooking. You should avoid adding too much salt to new potatoes as a gentler boil will stop them splitting.

Answer 5

Salt is added to the boiling process because while boiling, the potatoes and/or pasta become seasoned. It gets into the entire potatoe and absorbs into the pasta versus added it on after its cooked. It doesn't affect the cooking time, it doesn't affect whether they stick to the pan or any of that. Its purely a seasoning thing.

Answer 6

Usually when you boil vegetables or cereals , they have a tendency to absorb salt quickly and also equally rather sprinkling salt after boiling as it stays only on the top and doesnt get absorbed. So thats why its easier to add salt when boiling potatoes and pasta. Not only them if your boiling other stuff as well it does do the same thing.

Answer 7

Usually when boiling anything veggies it is in lightly salted water the exact reason for which I do not know. For pasta, you add a little cooking oil to keep the pasta from clumping and sticking together.

Answer 8

I dont. What made you think i did? You shouldnt really add anything to potatoes when boiling them. Its an old fashioned idea for the reason that old potatoes had no flavour. Nowadays you can get tatties in all seasons. As for pasta you should only add olive oil to the water to stop it sticking together.

Answer 9

Adding salt during the boiling process is your last opportunity to bring out the full flavor of potatoes or pasta. After these items are cooked, if you add salt, it merely is stuck to the outside of the item, not brining out the full flavor

Answer 10

I don't add salt when boiling vegetables and pasta.
I assume I get enough salt from the processed food I eat.