It can happen that you add too much salt to a soup. If you made a mistake while trying your hand at a new recipe or bought a ready-made soup that is too salty for your taste, there are many ways to correct the flavor. In some cases it will be enough to add more liquid, a little vinegar or a spoonful of sugar. Alternatively, you can go back to the stove and prepare a portion of the same soup, but without salt, which you will use to balance the taste of the overly savory one. Always taste while cooking and avoid ingredients with too much salt when making soup to get the perfect balance of flavors.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Dilute the Soup
Step 1. Dilute soups with water or broth
The safest solution to fix a salty soup is to add more liquid. Stir in a little water or broth, a little at a time, then bring the soup back to a light boil. This will reduce the concentration of salt in the original broth.
If you use broth to dilute the soup, make sure it is unsalted. Alternatively, you can remove solid ingredients from the broth that is too salty, add some broth without salt and bring the soup back to a light boil.
Step 2. Use milk or cream if they are already in the soup
If one of the ingredients in the soup is a dairy product, you can fix the salt by adding an additional small amount of milk or cream. Again, you could use water or broth to dilute the salt, but if you want the soup to stay thick and creamy, it's best to opt for milk or cream.
Don't be afraid to dilute the flavor of the soup; you can always add other toppings
Step 3. Combine soup that is too salty with unsalted soup
Go back to the stove and make some more soup, but without using the salt. Once ready, combine the two preparations. You will get a double serving of soup with a perfectly balanced flavor.
If necessary, you can freeze the leftover soup. Pour it into an airtight container and store it in the freezer. In the future, you can reheat it and possibly use it to dilute a soup that is too salty
Method 2 of 3: Add an Ingredient
Step 1. Add chopped celery, leek or onion to refresh the taste of the soup
With these ingredients you can transform the flavor of the soup and correct its flavor. Chop them, add them to the soup and let them cook for about 30 minutes. The quantity depends on your tastes. This solution is particularly suitable for soups that already contain a lot of vegetables.
- You can also try using chopped tomatoes.
- Keep in mind that the presence of a new ingredient will affect the taste of the soup.
Step 2. Add an acidic ingredient to fool the taste buds
Correct excess salt by adding something acidic. Try to mask the mistake by using lemon or lime juice, vinegar, or wine. This trick works well with any type of soup.
Whatever acidic ingredient you want to use, add a small amount at a time and taste
Step 3. Add 2-3 teaspoons of sugar to sweeten the soup
If the excess salt is minimal, you can balance the taste of the soup by incorporating a small amount of sugar. In this way the flavor will be less accentuated. Add a little at a time and taste.
You can also try some brown sugar, honey or maple syrup, if you prefer.
Step 4. Add a starchy ingredient so that it absorbs the salt
Using a starchy food, such as rice, potatoes, or pasta, to fix a savory soup is a common ploy, but less effective than others. Try cutting a potato into small pieces and let it simmer in the soup for 30 minutes. The degree of flavor should be slightly reduced. This method is better suited to soups than stews, as the starch has the ability to absorb more liquid.
Combine this tip with others for a more consistent result
Method 3 of 3: Prevent the Soup From Turning Salty
Step 1. Salt the soup after boiling it and not before
Do not add salt before cooking. By boiling, the liquid will evaporate and the remainder will be saltier than you planned. By adding salt to the soup at the end of cooking you can be sure that the taste has not changed when it comes time to serve it. {Whvid | Fix Salty Soup Step 8.360p.mp4 | Fix Salty Soup Step 8-preview-j.webp
The more you boil the soup, the higher the degree of flavor will be due to the evaporation of the liquids
Step 2. Add some salt after incorporating each ingredient
Instead of salting the soup in a single moment, add a teaspoon of salt at a time, tasting it regularly to achieve a perfect balance of flavors. In this way, each ingredient will be equally tasty.
Taste the soup as it cooks
Step 3. Do not salt the soup if it contains a sodium-rich ingredient
If you used a very salty ingredient, such as ham or bacon, adding salt may be unnecessary. If you have added a very tasty aged cheese, a minimal amount of salt will probably suffice.
If you intend to use canned ingredients, such as beans, it is best to rinse them before adding them to the soup. Salt is used as a preservative, so always rinse canned foods before incorporating them into soups to reduce the amount of total sodium
Step 4. Use fresh herbs to flavor your soups instead of salt
Instead of relying on salt alone to spice up your dishes, try using fresh herbs. They will add taste without affecting the amount of sodium. Try adding one and a half teaspoons of thyme, parsley, oregano or rosemary to give the soup a refreshing note.
- You can also use dried spices or herbs if you don't have fresh ones available.
- Keep in mind that herb and spice blends can contain salt.
Step 5. Replace salted butter with traditional butter
For example, if the soup recipe calls for the vegetables to be stir-fried with butter, make sure it is unsalted butter. This will reduce the overall flavor of the dish.
You can also replace butter with extra virgin olive oil as a healthier variant
Step 6. Use a low sodium broth to prevent the soup from being salty
The broth without salt may seem tasteless, but it is the perfect base for a soup to be seasoned to taste. If you use a broth that is already salty, you increase the risk that the amount of salt in the soup is too much.
- When making broth at home, don't add salt. You will be able to salt it after adding it to the soup.
- Using a low sodium broth becomes even more important when the other ingredients in the soup are already very salty.
Step 7. Let the diners salt the soup to taste
The flavor is perceived differently from individual to individual, based on one's personal taste. Do not add extra seasonings while cooking and let each add the desired amount of salt.
