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Original poster

To wonder why no one seasons food anymore

232 replies

heydiddlysquat · 05/05/2024 16:24

Visiting my daughter for lunch - cooking a roast. I remarked that she hadn't added any salt and pepper to the meat before cooking. She looked at me as if I was mad and said of course not - salt is bad for you.

I'm in my 60's and growing up all meat was seasoned before cooking (no other way of doing it) and of course people could add more afterwards to suit their taste.

But it seems everyone wants their food to be unseasoned (tasteless) nowadays.

Or am I out of touch?

OP posts:
GingerAndLimeCurd · 05/05/2024 16:56

I'd put salt on pork joint for crackling - but tend to favour low salt dishes so use lemon/spices more than salt.

Salt is often hidden in things so we consume more than we realise.

I often leave it out of sweet baking recipes - which I increasingly find it's added to -(it's very common in USA cooking shows) but that often after doing a run though first with every step and then next run though without and finding little difference.

CountingCrones · 05/05/2024 16:56

Meat, potatoes, eggs, pasta and tomatoes all need salt. Veg is all the better for it, but not with such a heavy hand as meat and spuds.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 05/05/2024 16:55

@Kalevala I have no idea. In the kitchens they use a lot of other spices, but no salt or pepper allowed.

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 05/05/2024 16:55

Sharptonguedwoman · 05/05/2024 16:45

But chips........

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I love chips but cant stand a salty taste, in fact I'd go so far as to say I wouldn't eat them if someone had added salt

LordPercyPercy · 05/05/2024 16:54

I use a fair amount of salt on my food, but I don't eat anything processed so I'm not using up my RDA that way. Also I tend to low blood pressure.

Porridgeislife · 05/05/2024 16:54

Oh and salads taste awful without salt! The word literally means salted herb.

SpeedyDrama · 05/05/2024 16:53

Salt isn’t seasoning though. Fine for mixing or if you’re making something extra special (pork crackling needs it for sure), but seasoning is so much more than salt and pepper. I do add a pinch in gravy though, one thing I can’t give it up in. So many options to go to before salt when cooking.

mogtheexcellent · 05/05/2024 16:53

Even trying my best not to, there is a certain amount of convenience food in my diet. Most has salt in it so I dont tend to use when cooking. I did season steaks last night and would sprinkle a little bit on a roast (but not gammon as salty already). Tonight is jacket potatoes and salt makes the skins crisper. Tomorrows dinner (full english breaskfast) wont have salt added during cooking.

I dont understand people who add salt to cooked food before tasting it. Taste it first ffs.

Horsewhisperers · 05/05/2024 16:52

I don't add salt to meat but do add it to vegetables. I used to use less but have low sodium so started using more salt to try to bring my sodium up.
I hate the taste of processed food which is too salty, such as pasta sauces, gravy granules and takeaways.
I used lots of pepper and herbs.

ouch321 · 05/05/2024 16:52

Your daughter is right.

There's no need to put salt on food. It's only "tasteless" without it because you've accustomed your taste buds to salt. It's why you don't add salt to baby's food; it's so you don't get them hooked on a lifetime bad habit.

CorvusPurpureus · 05/05/2024 16:51

I use salt if I want something salty (currently enjoying a margarita with a salt & chilli rim to the glass) but I don't sprinkle salt randomly on everything.

I do save olive brine to 'salt' pasta water...but that's more about not liking to chuck anything out!

Porridgeislife · 05/05/2024 16:51

I season our food during cooking with salt, pepper, garlic, herbs etc. Surely most competent cooks do that? There was a brilliant Netflix series called Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat which deep dived into why these elements are so critical to our enjoyment of food.

I rarely find I need to season my food when eating out? However, more often than not, you have to ask for salt & pepper these days in restaurants. It’s not a given on the table.

HoppingPavlova · 05/05/2024 16:51

We don't generally add salt, it's bad for you and your taste buds adapt. When we eat food that has added salt it just tastes salty to us because we aren't used to it any more

This. I’m not young but haven’t added salt since my early 20’s as it was recognised how bad it is for you. You get used to it, so if you eat at something he’s house and they have seasoned the food prior/during cooking it just tastes really salty to us.

Cockapoopoopoo · 05/05/2024 16:50

(if he ever cooked I should add)

vodkaredbullgirl · 05/05/2024 16:50

Sharptonguedwoman · 05/05/2024 16:47

No gravy on a roast? I rarely eat roast dinners but I think I'd miss the gravy.

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Got to have gravy with a roast lol

Cockapoopoopoo · 05/05/2024 16:50

Some people are very scared of salt but it's quite an outdated view I think. I season everything but DH wouldn't

helpfulperson · 05/05/2024 16:50

I started making my own bread because I can't stand the saltless loaves you buy. I agree it is used much less but not using it makes food taste bland. That's why loads of children don't like veg because it's so tasteless.

Jeannne92 · 05/05/2024 16:49

DP never uses salt, but does eat salted butter. I add a pinch of salt only when parboiling potatoes for a salad or cooking them for mash. If I am making omelette or white sauce or gratin etc. then the butter is already salted, I don't add any more. I also put salted butter on the skin of a chicken to roast.

I particularly dislike restaurant or pre-prepared food that is overly salted.

Kalevala · 05/05/2024 16:49

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 05/05/2024 16:32

I work in a school (3-18) - kitchens, dining rooms and staff rooms do not have any salt or pepper. It’s not allowed. Sugar is only allowed in staff rooms, dining rooms get honey as a sweetener. No home economics taught either.
I don’t think we are the only school to do so either, .. So no, it’s not going to be that rare that people do not use seasoning, as that is what they are used to and grown up with.

Why on earth no pepper?

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 05/05/2024 16:48

I 50 and use salt very sparingly

Tons of pepper, spice and herbs. But I
Much salt isn't good for you.

DrJonesIpresume · 05/05/2024 16:48

It's just habit. It is not essential, and it is better for your health if you don't.

Sharptonguedwoman · 05/05/2024 16:47

LaCerbiatta · 05/05/2024 16:41

I think most people who don't add salt to food are maybe using ingredients already with salt? like bacon, pesto, sausages, gravy, soy sauce, pasta sauce from a jar, cheese, etc. I don't use any of these, don't add any gravy to roast for example, so if I didn't add salt the fiod would be disgusting, no flavour what so ever!

No gravy on a roast? I rarely eat roast dinners but I think I'd miss the gravy.

PuttingDownRoots · 05/05/2024 16:45

If you afe used tosalt nd pepper on food, it will taste bland without it.
If you don't use it routinely...it just tastes like food.

Soigneur · 05/05/2024 16:45

Roselilly36 · 05/05/2024 16:38

It does make food tastier I agree, DS2 cooks a lot and swears by adding MSG to certain foods.

Oh god don’t say that, you’ll get all the MSG-frothers and their opinions based on a 60 year old xenophobic panic.

Sharptonguedwoman · 05/05/2024 16:45

frankentall · 05/05/2024 16:29

My food tastes fine without adding salt and pepper thanks.

But chips........

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