Why does salt seem to bring out the flavour in food? Or is it the added saltiness we appreciate?

Answer 1

In most cases salt simply masks the flavour of foods. As young children in the West, we are introduced to salt at an early age and consequently develop a 'taste' for it. As we grow older and our taste buds become dull, we rely upon salty foods even more.

As an experiment, try cooking everything from fresh without salt for a couple of days. You will soon discover the real taste of food but you may prefer the salty flavour - so, back to putting salt in your cooking.

The other thing about the salt we use today is that it has iodine added to it [most brands]. Why? Because the iodine added to the salt stops us getting goitre.

One of Europe's biggest salt mines is right here in UK. Mostly it's the kind of salt we throw on our roads in winter.

The UK's best seasalt comes from the town of Rye in Sussex.

Answer 2

salt is a flavour enhancer.Some foods do not seem the same without added salt,fish and chips for example,but I think a lot of this is due to the tastes we acquire in our younger years and assume that the salty flavour is the correct one. Too much salt in the diet can be harmful so it should be used with discretion.

Answer 3

added saltiness.