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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Unseasoned food

241 replies

ChangeAgainAgainAgain · 20/03/2026 10:57

I've eaten at a few other people's houses in the last couple of months, and I've really noticed the absence of seasoning, and no salt or pepper mills on the table.

I grew up in the 80's, where salt was added in cooking to everything, so obviously it's great for health that we're no longer adding salt to vegetable water etc.

I don't generally add salt to cooking, but I always put salt and pepper mills on the table, and would generally add some to my plate.

I've recently been served meals such as grilled salmon, boiled baby potatoes, steamed veg, with no seasoning, no herbs, not even butter or EVOO on the potatoes. Or a roast dinner, no seasoning added in cooking at all, not even on the potatoes. No salt and pepper mills on the table. Honestly to me, these meals taste super bland.

Now, I'm an old fogie, and the people hosting me have been various ages, but all younger than me. Is this just how it is now? People's palates have changed?

So, AIBU to say that whilst not adding excessive salt in cooking is a great thing for health, it's normal/polite to have salt and pepper mills on the table?

IANBU - bring on the salt and pepper
IABU - times have changed. Cruet sets have no place in the modern world!

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 20/03/2026 13:01

I never use salt and hate salty food but I do like black pepper. I wouldn't like other people's food much if they had used salt so do think it should be available at the table along with pepper and even chilli flakes if appropriate as I like chilli spicy.

Elsvieta · 20/03/2026 13:00

FannyCradocksDoughnut · 20/03/2026 11:20

I have a pepper grinder in the kitchen and seasalt in a saltpig by the hob. I never put it on the table, don't own a salt and pepper shaker. Is this rude?

Not nearly as rude as putting pepper in someone's food before they get it, in my book. Makes it very difficult to force it down.

No pepper anywhere in my house - even the smell of it from across the room is vile. People have occasionally acted like it's somehow rude to not to be able to supply a pepper shaker when asked, but I don't care - I'm not putting up with that.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 20/03/2026 13:00

Because he knows how much seasoning you add and perhaps he knows it’s not enough for his taste,

steinwayto · 20/03/2026 12:59

phoenixrosehere · 20/03/2026 12:39

Why is it necessary to use black people as an example when there are plenty of other ethnicities that have spicy food?

Ask the person who did it in the first place?

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 20/03/2026 12:59

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 20/03/2026 12:52

It drives me mad when my father adds salt to food I've cooked for him before tasting it. I season food, it feels like an insult.

So because the food is seasoned to your taste, you can’t see that it may not be right for someone else?

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 20/03/2026 12:52

It drives me mad when my father adds salt to food I've cooked for him before tasting it. I season food, it feels like an insult.

HoppityBun · 20/03/2026 12:51

ERthree · 20/03/2026 12:49

You aren't doing your heart any good.

No, your kidneys.

Also, it’s just a question of what your taste buds are used to. Once you adjust to less salt, it really tastes unpleasant when you eat salted food.

Also, please just steam / microwave veg. Boiling it is barbaric.

Moltenpink · 20/03/2026 12:51

Your taste buds definitely dull as you get older. If it’s happening everywhere you go, I doubt it’s people’s cooking that’s the problem!

My dad carries salt and a tube of English mustard around with him Smile

ERthree · 20/03/2026 12:49

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 20/03/2026 11:08

You don't put salt in vegetable water? Gosh, I didn't realise that was a thing.

I season all the food I cook.

You aren't doing your heart any good.

HoppityBun · 20/03/2026 12:47

Your message heading is about “seasoning“.

On reading your post, I find that you are merely talking about salt and pepper.

phoenixrosehere · 20/03/2026 12:47

saveforthat · 20/03/2026 12:43

Because the poster was using a colour so I did. What would you prefer brown, yellow? Your reply has emphasised my point perfectly.

I wouldn’t have said either including doing what you did.

I see jokes from plenty of other ethnicities about bland food yet it is always only one out of the several that is always used as an example.

oneofakindmultipack · 20/03/2026 12:46

I don't know where the idea that white people don't understand how to season food has come from or why it's acceptable and (evidently) 'funny' to suggest that when saying something similar about another race wouldn't be. Neither I nor any of the other white people I know eat food unseasoned. In fact, I'd struggle to choke down most meals without seasoning of some kind. Obviously things like fresh fruit and vegetables that you eat raw can be eaten unseasoned (though tbh, I usually eat the raw veg alongside seasoned food, because it tastes so much better that way than on its own), but it's a rare meal that doesn't have something that could benefit from a sprinkle of this or that or a flavourful sauce or drizzle of something. Meat always demands flavouring to taste its best, in my opinion, as do cooked vegetables.

Isobel201 · 20/03/2026 12:46

I don't have any salt at the moment, I don't use it on food and usually the ready meals I buy do have some seasoning added.

saveforthat · 20/03/2026 12:43

phoenixrosehere · 20/03/2026 12:39

Why is it necessary to use black people as an example when there are plenty of other ethnicities that have spicy food?

Because the poster was using a colour so I did. What would you prefer brown, yellow? Your reply has emphasised my point perfectly.

phoenixrosehere · 20/03/2026 12:42

Krakinou · 20/03/2026 12:12

YABU for moaning about a meal someone has cooked for you, especially if it’s only bland and not actively disgusting. Be effusive and grateful. I hate people who moan about food. It ruins the meal for people who are enjoying it. Eating together is about community, good conversation and caring for each other. The food is the least important part.

Also, just ask for salt if you want it.

Yabu for making assumptions.

Why assume OP complained to the hosts? If OP was a poor guest, doubt they would still be invited to meals.

phoenixrosehere · 20/03/2026 12:39

saveforthat · 20/03/2026 12:06

Yes, I'm sure it's meant to be an insult because it's fine to lump all the millions of white people in the world together and assume they only eat bland food. Is enjoying spicy food Basic Black People'ing?

Why is it necessary to use black people as an example when there are plenty of other ethnicities that have spicy food?

Ponderingwindow · 20/03/2026 12:26

I do think it is rude not to have common condiments available for guests. They shouldn’t need to ask for common additions to meals.

RampantIvy · 20/03/2026 12:26

Tings · 20/03/2026 12:07

It's racism.

This "basic white person" has just made a rice salad seasoned with ginger, kaffir lime leaf, garlic, soy sauce and lime juice.

I don't like bland food either.

ChangeAgainAgainAgain · 20/03/2026 12:25

KidsAndDogsGalore · 20/03/2026 12:20

Good quality veg & meat don't need extra seasoning. They are tasty as they are.

See, I disagree. If I was having plain meat and veg, I would consider them tastier with added salt and pepper. But I grew up in the 80's when everything was heavily salted.

OP posts:
HangingOver · 20/03/2026 12:20

Salt is the only vice I have left. I pile it on everything.

KidsAndDogsGalore · 20/03/2026 12:20

Good quality veg & meat don't need extra seasoning. They are tasty as they are.

Giraffemug30 · 20/03/2026 12:18

I do add salt to my food (along with variety of seasonings depending on what I'm cooking) but
I also think that grilled salmon, potatoes and vegetables do have flavour without salt. Seasonings aren't the only foods with flavour and salmon/potatoes are generally tasty foods even without seasoning, they aren't wildly bland. It's just something I'd suck up if someone served to me.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 20/03/2026 12:17

Ohpleeeease · 20/03/2026 12:16

I haven’t boiled a vegetable in years, I only ever steam them, so salt gets added later if at all. We eat plenty of cheese based meals though so we get a fair amount of salt that way. Salt and pepper are always on the table. Sauces, however, aren’t.

Cheese based meals sound AMAZING 😬

ChangeAgainAgainAgain · 20/03/2026 12:17

Krakinou · 20/03/2026 12:12

YABU for moaning about a meal someone has cooked for you, especially if it’s only bland and not actively disgusting. Be effusive and grateful. I hate people who moan about food. It ruins the meal for people who are enjoying it. Eating together is about community, good conversation and caring for each other. The food is the least important part.

Also, just ask for salt if you want it.

I absolutely didn't moan at the table. I smiled, ate it and thanked my hosts profusely. I didn't ask for salt as to not offend my hosts, so I'm hardly the type to sit at the dinner table bitching about the food!🤣

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 20/03/2026 12:17

Krakinou · 20/03/2026 12:12

YABU for moaning about a meal someone has cooked for you, especially if it’s only bland and not actively disgusting. Be effusive and grateful. I hate people who moan about food. It ruins the meal for people who are enjoying it. Eating together is about community, good conversation and caring for each other. The food is the least important part.

Also, just ask for salt if you want it.

tbf it’s better to have less and add more rather than the other way round!!

Eating together is fine but if the food is rank then that kind of spoils things as you get into the ‘why haven’t you eaten that’ etc