Poll of the Century

[Pure]

Do you, when first served, salt first, or taste first.

(I know, some are going to say 'my OAO does it just right'; so in that case, please understand the question as referring to others' meal prep only.)

As my old binary code instructor, used to say, "There are 10 kinds of people in this world." Let's consider this basic difference of temperament, which has implications for writing: for instance, does one first edit for flow, or first check punctuation?

 

[Saucy_Sage]

What means "when first served?"

If it ever happened that I got invited out, the only way I would ever pour salt before tasting someone else's cooking is if they said "it might need salt." But even then, I think I'd taste it first. Suppose they were wrong?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I don't add salt to my food.

 

[Handley_Page]

It depends on the food on my plate.
Taste first, then maybe a little salt.

 

[Liar]

My food-taster takes care of that for me.

 

[jomar]

I like pepper.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't add salt to anything.

I avoid products with too much salt.

Og

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The only food I salt without tasting is french fries.

 

[Emperor_Nero]

Depends both on where I'm dining and what I'm dining on.

Like VM said, certain foods always tend to get extra salt, such as french fries, hash browns and a few others.

But it also depends on who's doing the cooking. I'm used to Wenchie's cooking and know certain dishes are going to need more salt and the same with certain things from certain restaurants we frequent.

Although overall, I am more of a pepper person

 

[3113]

I don't add salt to my food.

Not even french fries or popcorn?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Not even french fries or popcorn?

there were no qualifiers for a reason. there are none. I don't add salt to my food. If there is salt in my food, fine. But I won't add anymore to it.

 

[Liar]

Not even french fries or popcorn?

He said food.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

He said food.

yeah... I eat mostly garbage so those would still qualify for me...

 

[Liar]

yeah... I eat mostly garbage so those would still qualify for me...

...and garbage usually comes pre-seasoned.

 

[JamesSD]

I am a salt fiend.

Some things, like meat and salads, should be tasted before salting.

Others, like baked potatos, usually aren't salty enough. Vegetables are often in the same boat.

If something has a sauce, it's best to taste first. Really, you can always add more salt, but you can't add less.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Depends, if I cook I usually add salt before tasting because I know how much salt I didn't as when cooking. If the wife is cooking I add salt...no matter what.

Going out to eat, it depends on the food or where I'm eating. Some places I know not to add salt, Saltgrass Steak House is a give a way. Denny's for breakfast, add salt to them eggs and hash browns first.

 

[sr71plt]

No contest, since I have to minimize salt--what's already in the food is already too much for me.

 

[Verdad]

I don't add salt to a served meal. I love to cook, and I don't taste while I cook either. It's all in the hand…

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I love to cook, too, but I always try to 'season to taste' at the end. If I don't, there's always salt on the table, just in case.

 

[Verdad]

I love to cook, too, but I always try to 'season to taste' at the end. If I don't, there's always salt on the table, just in case.

I guess I don't taste while I cook because it spoils my appetite. If, god forbid, it turns out less than perfect, I pretend it was supposed to be that way.

 

[3113]

I love to cook, too, but I always try to 'season to taste' at the end. If I don't, there's always salt on the table, just in case.

As a cook whose done a little research on salt, salt added while cooking may not flavor the item like salt added post cooking. Salt added while cooking can bring out flavor, or change how the item cooks/is cooked, like salt-crusted fish or brined poultry, or boiling vegetables in salted water. In baked goods it's essential for gluten structure and even browning. You often don't taste the salt at all, and yet it's presence (or absence) can change the dish profoundly in flavor, texture, etc.

Post cooking, salt almost always gives the food a salt flavor and little more, which may or may not be needed to balance things out.

So saying that you can just add salt after isn't always true. In some cases, if you don't add salt while cooking, you've missed out on adding an ingredient integral to making whatever it is you're making turn out right--or at least tasting the best it can taste.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

As a cook whose done a little research on salt, salt added while cooking may not flavor the item like salt added post cooking. Salt added while cooking can bring out flavor, or change how the item cooks/is cooked, like salt-crusted fish or brined poultry, or boiling vegetables in salted water. In baked goods it's essential for gluten structure and even browning. You often don't taste the salt at all, and yet it's presence (or absence) can change the dish profoundly in flavor, texture, etc.

Post cooking, salt almost always gives the food a salt flavor and little more, which may or may not be needed to balance things out.

So saying that you can just add salt after isn't always true. In some cases, if you don't add salt while cooking, you've missed out on adding an ingredient integral to making whatever it is you're making turn out right--or at least tasting the best it can taste.

I really meant specifically in sauces and gravies. I know about salt in baking. But you are correct. Last is not always best.

 

[CarolinaHeat]

I once heard there was a law firm that used to take interviewing lawyers to lunch or dinner. If they put salt or pepper on their food before tasting it, they were automatically out of the running for the job. The point behind it was they were prejudging their food without really getting into it and finding out if it needed seasoning. So, the firm didn't want their lawyers prejudging clients in the same way.

Dunno if that's a true story or not, but I heard it years ago...and it made an impression on me and it's something I never forgot.

and no, I'm not a lawyer

 

[_Lynn_]

I don't add any salt to my food.

 

[sr71plt]

I once heard there was a law firm that used to take interviewing lawyers to lunch or dinner. If they put salt or pepper on their food before tasting it, they were automatically out of the running for the job. The point behind it was they were prejudging their food without really getting into it and finding out if it needed seasoning. So, the firm didn't want their lawyers prejudging clients in the same way.

Dunno if that's a true story or not, but I heard it years ago...and it made an impression on me and it's something I never forgot.

and no, I'm not a lawyer

Sounds like the (true) story of how the Nazis found American spies in occupied France. They had anyone they suspected of being an American served a piece of pie. If they turned the point toward them, they were bagged. Apparently only Americans did that at the time--everyone else ate the pie anyway it was put in front of them. (I haven't been able to align a piece of pie since we covered that in training.)