How can I be more frugal with salt when cooking (dried) pasta?





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When cooking pasta (from dried), I currently need to add a significant amount of salt to the water to add flavour.



As the pasta itself is extremely cheap, and the water is completely free - it can at times feel like throwing money down the drain as the majority of the salty water is discarded.



Are there any effective ways to reduce the amount of salt wasted during cooking, without simply undersalting the pasta? (e.g. adding salt after the pasta has been mostly drained)





Additional notes:




  • I'm open to making fresh pasta by hand, if salt can be added at this stage rather than in the water


  • The cost of salt should be considered a constant, that is - suggesting a cheaper salt is not valid.


  • Taste/texture quality should be maintained as best as possible.


  • Reusing the salted water is not acceptable, due to space constraints.











share|improve this question


















  • 14




    What kind of salt are you using? Where I live, salt is around $0.30/lbs. If you're obsessed with using super-expensive flake sea salt, then you should be prepared to pay for it.
    – FuzzyChef
    11 hours ago






  • 22




    I suspect that the water and the heat is costing you more than the salt.
    – FuzzyChef
    10 hours ago






  • 5




    Salt is extremely cheap. Why not use less salt in the water and more salt in the sauce?
    – Chloe
    8 hours ago






  • 8




    @Bilkokuya: Phrases equally worth bearing in mind are “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”. Even if you currently use a whole tablespoon of salt (a pretty vast amount), that’s about 18g, which at the 50p/lb price you cost is under 2p. Save that every day for a year, you’ve saved £7.50… the UK minimum hourly wage for an hour. More realistically if you were using a couple of teaspoonsful and doing this a few times a week, you’ll save max a couple of pounds over the year — 15 minutes’ work at minimum wage. Have you spent more than 15 minutes on this question?
    – PLL
    7 hours ago








  • 4




    @PLL - Table salt at my local store is about 40p for nearly a kilo. That's enough to salt a thousand pasta dishes to beyond the point that they're edible for about 0p per serving.
    – Richard
    6 hours ago



















up vote
3
down vote

favorite












When cooking pasta (from dried), I currently need to add a significant amount of salt to the water to add flavour.



As the pasta itself is extremely cheap, and the water is completely free - it can at times feel like throwing money down the drain as the majority of the salty water is discarded.



Are there any effective ways to reduce the amount of salt wasted during cooking, without simply undersalting the pasta? (e.g. adding salt after the pasta has been mostly drained)





Additional notes:




  • I'm open to making fresh pasta by hand, if salt can be added at this stage rather than in the water


  • The cost of salt should be considered a constant, that is - suggesting a cheaper salt is not valid.


  • Taste/texture quality should be maintained as best as possible.


  • Reusing the salted water is not acceptable, due to space constraints.











share|improve this question


















  • 14




    What kind of salt are you using? Where I live, salt is around $0.30/lbs. If you're obsessed with using super-expensive flake sea salt, then you should be prepared to pay for it.
    – FuzzyChef
    11 hours ago






  • 22




    I suspect that the water and the heat is costing you more than the salt.
    – FuzzyChef
    10 hours ago






  • 5




    Salt is extremely cheap. Why not use less salt in the water and more salt in the sauce?
    – Chloe
    8 hours ago






  • 8




    @Bilkokuya: Phrases equally worth bearing in mind are “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”. Even if you currently use a whole tablespoon of salt (a pretty vast amount), that’s about 18g, which at the 50p/lb price you cost is under 2p. Save that every day for a year, you’ve saved £7.50… the UK minimum hourly wage for an hour. More realistically if you were using a couple of teaspoonsful and doing this a few times a week, you’ll save max a couple of pounds over the year — 15 minutes’ work at minimum wage. Have you spent more than 15 minutes on this question?
    – PLL
    7 hours ago








  • 4




    @PLL - Table salt at my local store is about 40p for nearly a kilo. That's enough to salt a thousand pasta dishes to beyond the point that they're edible for about 0p per serving.
    – Richard
    6 hours ago















up vote
3
down vote

favorite









up vote
3
down vote

favorite











When cooking pasta (from dried), I currently need to add a significant amount of salt to the water to add flavour.



As the pasta itself is extremely cheap, and the water is completely free - it can at times feel like throwing money down the drain as the majority of the salty water is discarded.



Are there any effective ways to reduce the amount of salt wasted during cooking, without simply undersalting the pasta? (e.g. adding salt after the pasta has been mostly drained)





Additional notes:




  • I'm open to making fresh pasta by hand, if salt can be added at this stage rather than in the water


  • The cost of salt should be considered a constant, that is - suggesting a cheaper salt is not valid.


  • Taste/texture quality should be maintained as best as possible.


  • Reusing the salted water is not acceptable, due to space constraints.











share|improve this question













When cooking pasta (from dried), I currently need to add a significant amount of salt to the water to add flavour.



As the pasta itself is extremely cheap, and the water is completely free - it can at times feel like throwing money down the drain as the majority of the salty water is discarded.



Are there any effective ways to reduce the amount of salt wasted during cooking, without simply undersalting the pasta? (e.g. adding salt after the pasta has been mostly drained)





Additional notes:




  • I'm open to making fresh pasta by hand, if salt can be added at this stage rather than in the water


  • The cost of salt should be considered a constant, that is - suggesting a cheaper salt is not valid.


  • Taste/texture quality should be maintained as best as possible.


  • Reusing the salted water is not acceptable, due to space constraints.








salt budget-cooking






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asked 12 hours ago









Bilkokuya

1325




1325








  • 14




    What kind of salt are you using? Where I live, salt is around $0.30/lbs. If you're obsessed with using super-expensive flake sea salt, then you should be prepared to pay for it.
    – FuzzyChef
    11 hours ago






  • 22




    I suspect that the water and the heat is costing you more than the salt.
    – FuzzyChef
    10 hours ago






  • 5




    Salt is extremely cheap. Why not use less salt in the water and more salt in the sauce?
    – Chloe
    8 hours ago






  • 8




    @Bilkokuya: Phrases equally worth bearing in mind are “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”. Even if you currently use a whole tablespoon of salt (a pretty vast amount), that’s about 18g, which at the 50p/lb price you cost is under 2p. Save that every day for a year, you’ve saved £7.50… the UK minimum hourly wage for an hour. More realistically if you were using a couple of teaspoonsful and doing this a few times a week, you’ll save max a couple of pounds over the year — 15 minutes’ work at minimum wage. Have you spent more than 15 minutes on this question?
    – PLL
    7 hours ago








  • 4




    @PLL - Table salt at my local store is about 40p for nearly a kilo. That's enough to salt a thousand pasta dishes to beyond the point that they're edible for about 0p per serving.
    – Richard
    6 hours ago
















  • 14




    What kind of salt are you using? Where I live, salt is around $0.30/lbs. If you're obsessed with using super-expensive flake sea salt, then you should be prepared to pay for it.
    – FuzzyChef
    11 hours ago






  • 22




    I suspect that the water and the heat is costing you more than the salt.
    – FuzzyChef
    10 hours ago






  • 5




    Salt is extremely cheap. Why not use less salt in the water and more salt in the sauce?
    – Chloe
    8 hours ago






  • 8




    @Bilkokuya: Phrases equally worth bearing in mind are “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”. Even if you currently use a whole tablespoon of salt (a pretty vast amount), that’s about 18g, which at the 50p/lb price you cost is under 2p. Save that every day for a year, you’ve saved £7.50… the UK minimum hourly wage for an hour. More realistically if you were using a couple of teaspoonsful and doing this a few times a week, you’ll save max a couple of pounds over the year — 15 minutes’ work at minimum wage. Have you spent more than 15 minutes on this question?
    – PLL
    7 hours ago








  • 4




    @PLL - Table salt at my local store is about 40p for nearly a kilo. That's enough to salt a thousand pasta dishes to beyond the point that they're edible for about 0p per serving.
    – Richard
    6 hours ago










14




14




What kind of salt are you using? Where I live, salt is around $0.30/lbs. If you're obsessed with using super-expensive flake sea salt, then you should be prepared to pay for it.
– FuzzyChef
11 hours ago




What kind of salt are you using? Where I live, salt is around $0.30/lbs. If you're obsessed with using super-expensive flake sea salt, then you should be prepared to pay for it.
– FuzzyChef
11 hours ago




22




22




I suspect that the water and the heat is costing you more than the salt.
– FuzzyChef
10 hours ago




I suspect that the water and the heat is costing you more than the salt.
– FuzzyChef
10 hours ago




5




5




Salt is extremely cheap. Why not use less salt in the water and more salt in the sauce?
– Chloe
8 hours ago




Salt is extremely cheap. Why not use less salt in the water and more salt in the sauce?
– Chloe
8 hours ago




8




8




@Bilkokuya: Phrases equally worth bearing in mind are “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”. Even if you currently use a whole tablespoon of salt (a pretty vast amount), that’s about 18g, which at the 50p/lb price you cost is under 2p. Save that every day for a year, you’ve saved £7.50… the UK minimum hourly wage for an hour. More realistically if you were using a couple of teaspoonsful and doing this a few times a week, you’ll save max a couple of pounds over the year — 15 minutes’ work at minimum wage. Have you spent more than 15 minutes on this question?
– PLL
7 hours ago






@Bilkokuya: Phrases equally worth bearing in mind are “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”. Even if you currently use a whole tablespoon of salt (a pretty vast amount), that’s about 18g, which at the 50p/lb price you cost is under 2p. Save that every day for a year, you’ve saved £7.50… the UK minimum hourly wage for an hour. More realistically if you were using a couple of teaspoonsful and doing this a few times a week, you’ll save max a couple of pounds over the year — 15 minutes’ work at minimum wage. Have you spent more than 15 minutes on this question?
– PLL
7 hours ago






4




4




@PLL - Table salt at my local store is about 40p for nearly a kilo. That's enough to salt a thousand pasta dishes to beyond the point that they're edible for about 0p per serving.
– Richard
6 hours ago






@PLL - Table salt at my local store is about 40p for nearly a kilo. That's enough to salt a thousand pasta dishes to beyond the point that they're edible for about 0p per serving.
– Richard
6 hours ago












5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
20
down vote













It's perfectly possible to cook pasta with no salt at all, so you may be able to wean yourself onto a lower salt level, reducing it gradually.



I don't know what, if anything, you're eating with your pasta, so getting that to have more flavour might be an option.



If you're actually eating plain pasta and want it salty but as cheap as possible, the first thing you should do is cook it in as little water as possible, and with a lid. This will also reduce your fuel bills (you can reduce them still further by turning off the heat for a few minutes in the middle of cooking). If you use half as much water as before, you could start by adding half as much salt, so the concentration in the water remains the same. To a first approximation, it's the concentration that matters here.



Even if you're eating absolutely at cheaply as possible already, I'd by very surprised if you could save significant amounts of money by using less salt, and if you can, you need to consider the health implications (I won't go into more detail). Think about how much in total you spend on it, because you can't possibly save more than that.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    8
    down vote













    If you can't get cheaper salt, or reduce the ratio of salt/water, and you don't want to compromise the finished result, then the only option I see is to use less water.



    Cooks generally gauge the correct amount of salt in pasta water by taste-- they say the pasta water should taste like the ocean. So, if you use less water to cook your pasta, you should likewise need less salt to appropriately flavor the water (and thus the pasta). This answer indicates that using less water should still yield the same quality pasta.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 3




      I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
      – Nat Bowman
      10 hours ago




















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    It can be a conundrum, either you need more salt or less water. You don't want to reduce the water as this can prevent proper cooking and cause it to stick.



    Luckily salt will diffuse quite rapidly into cooked pasta, a fact I discovered when I once forgot to salt my pasta at all. You can drain almost all the water, leaving just enough to barely suspend and cover the pasta, before you add the salt. The salt will diffuse into the cooked pasta. Of course this doesn't happen instantly, and the pasta will continue to cook as long as it's in the hot water, so time it for when you are about a minute from completion (adjusting for the thickness of the pasta).



    This will reduce the overall amount of salt needed, since you don't need to salt the full amount of water you cook with. It may also reduce the total salt intake, as the outer layers of the pasta will take up the salt more rapidly than the inner, giving some salt flavour but reducing the amount actually consumed. Mastication will eventually homogenize the salt content, but by this time the perception of saltiness has already been encountered.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Kurt Fitzner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.

























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      The salt increases the osmotic pressure of the water as well as flavoring the pasta. If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly. Since the pasta water is typically used in finishing the sauce use the amount of salt called for in the recipe, typically 1 to 4 tablespoons for the gallon of water used for a pound of pasta.
      As noted in the comments above salt is literally dirt cheap.
      And do not add oil to the water. Just don't.






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      user37401 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.


















      • 1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
        – insidesin
        4 hours ago












      • "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
        – Beanluc
        1 hour ago










      • @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
        – Comintern
        14 mins ago


















      up vote
      0
      down vote













      Cook without any salt at all, and salt to taste at the table. Less will be used and none will be wasted.






      share|improve this answer





















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        5 Answers
        5






        active

        oldest

        votes








        5 Answers
        5






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        20
        down vote













        It's perfectly possible to cook pasta with no salt at all, so you may be able to wean yourself onto a lower salt level, reducing it gradually.



        I don't know what, if anything, you're eating with your pasta, so getting that to have more flavour might be an option.



        If you're actually eating plain pasta and want it salty but as cheap as possible, the first thing you should do is cook it in as little water as possible, and with a lid. This will also reduce your fuel bills (you can reduce them still further by turning off the heat for a few minutes in the middle of cooking). If you use half as much water as before, you could start by adding half as much salt, so the concentration in the water remains the same. To a first approximation, it's the concentration that matters here.



        Even if you're eating absolutely at cheaply as possible already, I'd by very surprised if you could save significant amounts of money by using less salt, and if you can, you need to consider the health implications (I won't go into more detail). Think about how much in total you spend on it, because you can't possibly save more than that.






        share|improve this answer

























          up vote
          20
          down vote













          It's perfectly possible to cook pasta with no salt at all, so you may be able to wean yourself onto a lower salt level, reducing it gradually.



          I don't know what, if anything, you're eating with your pasta, so getting that to have more flavour might be an option.



          If you're actually eating plain pasta and want it salty but as cheap as possible, the first thing you should do is cook it in as little water as possible, and with a lid. This will also reduce your fuel bills (you can reduce them still further by turning off the heat for a few minutes in the middle of cooking). If you use half as much water as before, you could start by adding half as much salt, so the concentration in the water remains the same. To a first approximation, it's the concentration that matters here.



          Even if you're eating absolutely at cheaply as possible already, I'd by very surprised if you could save significant amounts of money by using less salt, and if you can, you need to consider the health implications (I won't go into more detail). Think about how much in total you spend on it, because you can't possibly save more than that.






          share|improve this answer























            up vote
            20
            down vote










            up vote
            20
            down vote









            It's perfectly possible to cook pasta with no salt at all, so you may be able to wean yourself onto a lower salt level, reducing it gradually.



            I don't know what, if anything, you're eating with your pasta, so getting that to have more flavour might be an option.



            If you're actually eating plain pasta and want it salty but as cheap as possible, the first thing you should do is cook it in as little water as possible, and with a lid. This will also reduce your fuel bills (you can reduce them still further by turning off the heat for a few minutes in the middle of cooking). If you use half as much water as before, you could start by adding half as much salt, so the concentration in the water remains the same. To a first approximation, it's the concentration that matters here.



            Even if you're eating absolutely at cheaply as possible already, I'd by very surprised if you could save significant amounts of money by using less salt, and if you can, you need to consider the health implications (I won't go into more detail). Think about how much in total you spend on it, because you can't possibly save more than that.






            share|improve this answer












            It's perfectly possible to cook pasta with no salt at all, so you may be able to wean yourself onto a lower salt level, reducing it gradually.



            I don't know what, if anything, you're eating with your pasta, so getting that to have more flavour might be an option.



            If you're actually eating plain pasta and want it salty but as cheap as possible, the first thing you should do is cook it in as little water as possible, and with a lid. This will also reduce your fuel bills (you can reduce them still further by turning off the heat for a few minutes in the middle of cooking). If you use half as much water as before, you could start by adding half as much salt, so the concentration in the water remains the same. To a first approximation, it's the concentration that matters here.



            Even if you're eating absolutely at cheaply as possible already, I'd by very surprised if you could save significant amounts of money by using less salt, and if you can, you need to consider the health implications (I won't go into more detail). Think about how much in total you spend on it, because you can't possibly save more than that.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 11 hours ago









            Chris H

            16.9k13249




            16.9k13249
























                up vote
                8
                down vote













                If you can't get cheaper salt, or reduce the ratio of salt/water, and you don't want to compromise the finished result, then the only option I see is to use less water.



                Cooks generally gauge the correct amount of salt in pasta water by taste-- they say the pasta water should taste like the ocean. So, if you use less water to cook your pasta, you should likewise need less salt to appropriately flavor the water (and thus the pasta). This answer indicates that using less water should still yield the same quality pasta.






                share|improve this answer

















                • 3




                  I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
                  – Nat Bowman
                  10 hours ago

















                up vote
                8
                down vote













                If you can't get cheaper salt, or reduce the ratio of salt/water, and you don't want to compromise the finished result, then the only option I see is to use less water.



                Cooks generally gauge the correct amount of salt in pasta water by taste-- they say the pasta water should taste like the ocean. So, if you use less water to cook your pasta, you should likewise need less salt to appropriately flavor the water (and thus the pasta). This answer indicates that using less water should still yield the same quality pasta.






                share|improve this answer

















                • 3




                  I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
                  – Nat Bowman
                  10 hours ago















                up vote
                8
                down vote










                up vote
                8
                down vote









                If you can't get cheaper salt, or reduce the ratio of salt/water, and you don't want to compromise the finished result, then the only option I see is to use less water.



                Cooks generally gauge the correct amount of salt in pasta water by taste-- they say the pasta water should taste like the ocean. So, if you use less water to cook your pasta, you should likewise need less salt to appropriately flavor the water (and thus the pasta). This answer indicates that using less water should still yield the same quality pasta.






                share|improve this answer












                If you can't get cheaper salt, or reduce the ratio of salt/water, and you don't want to compromise the finished result, then the only option I see is to use less water.



                Cooks generally gauge the correct amount of salt in pasta water by taste-- they say the pasta water should taste like the ocean. So, if you use less water to cook your pasta, you should likewise need less salt to appropriately flavor the water (and thus the pasta). This answer indicates that using less water should still yield the same quality pasta.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 11 hours ago









                senschen

                2,226819




                2,226819








                • 3




                  I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
                  – Nat Bowman
                  10 hours ago
















                • 3




                  I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
                  – Nat Bowman
                  10 hours ago










                3




                3




                I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
                – Nat Bowman
                10 hours ago






                I agree, using less water seems like the way to go for the OP's constraints, and will not have a negative affect - another resource on this seriouseats.com/2010/05/… indicates that cooking in less water has few drawbacks.
                – Nat Bowman
                10 hours ago












                up vote
                3
                down vote













                It can be a conundrum, either you need more salt or less water. You don't want to reduce the water as this can prevent proper cooking and cause it to stick.



                Luckily salt will diffuse quite rapidly into cooked pasta, a fact I discovered when I once forgot to salt my pasta at all. You can drain almost all the water, leaving just enough to barely suspend and cover the pasta, before you add the salt. The salt will diffuse into the cooked pasta. Of course this doesn't happen instantly, and the pasta will continue to cook as long as it's in the hot water, so time it for when you are about a minute from completion (adjusting for the thickness of the pasta).



                This will reduce the overall amount of salt needed, since you don't need to salt the full amount of water you cook with. It may also reduce the total salt intake, as the outer layers of the pasta will take up the salt more rapidly than the inner, giving some salt flavour but reducing the amount actually consumed. Mastication will eventually homogenize the salt content, but by this time the perception of saltiness has already been encountered.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Kurt Fitzner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote













                  It can be a conundrum, either you need more salt or less water. You don't want to reduce the water as this can prevent proper cooking and cause it to stick.



                  Luckily salt will diffuse quite rapidly into cooked pasta, a fact I discovered when I once forgot to salt my pasta at all. You can drain almost all the water, leaving just enough to barely suspend and cover the pasta, before you add the salt. The salt will diffuse into the cooked pasta. Of course this doesn't happen instantly, and the pasta will continue to cook as long as it's in the hot water, so time it for when you are about a minute from completion (adjusting for the thickness of the pasta).



                  This will reduce the overall amount of salt needed, since you don't need to salt the full amount of water you cook with. It may also reduce the total salt intake, as the outer layers of the pasta will take up the salt more rapidly than the inner, giving some salt flavour but reducing the amount actually consumed. Mastication will eventually homogenize the salt content, but by this time the perception of saltiness has already been encountered.






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Kurt Fitzner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote









                    It can be a conundrum, either you need more salt or less water. You don't want to reduce the water as this can prevent proper cooking and cause it to stick.



                    Luckily salt will diffuse quite rapidly into cooked pasta, a fact I discovered when I once forgot to salt my pasta at all. You can drain almost all the water, leaving just enough to barely suspend and cover the pasta, before you add the salt. The salt will diffuse into the cooked pasta. Of course this doesn't happen instantly, and the pasta will continue to cook as long as it's in the hot water, so time it for when you are about a minute from completion (adjusting for the thickness of the pasta).



                    This will reduce the overall amount of salt needed, since you don't need to salt the full amount of water you cook with. It may also reduce the total salt intake, as the outer layers of the pasta will take up the salt more rapidly than the inner, giving some salt flavour but reducing the amount actually consumed. Mastication will eventually homogenize the salt content, but by this time the perception of saltiness has already been encountered.






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                    It can be a conundrum, either you need more salt or less water. You don't want to reduce the water as this can prevent proper cooking and cause it to stick.



                    Luckily salt will diffuse quite rapidly into cooked pasta, a fact I discovered when I once forgot to salt my pasta at all. You can drain almost all the water, leaving just enough to barely suspend and cover the pasta, before you add the salt. The salt will diffuse into the cooked pasta. Of course this doesn't happen instantly, and the pasta will continue to cook as long as it's in the hot water, so time it for when you are about a minute from completion (adjusting for the thickness of the pasta).



                    This will reduce the overall amount of salt needed, since you don't need to salt the full amount of water you cook with. It may also reduce the total salt intake, as the outer layers of the pasta will take up the salt more rapidly than the inner, giving some salt flavour but reducing the amount actually consumed. Mastication will eventually homogenize the salt content, but by this time the perception of saltiness has already been encountered.







                    share|improve this answer








                    New contributor




                    Kurt Fitzner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer






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                    answered 8 hours ago









                    Kurt Fitzner

                    1313




                    1313




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                    New contributor





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                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        The salt increases the osmotic pressure of the water as well as flavoring the pasta. If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly. Since the pasta water is typically used in finishing the sauce use the amount of salt called for in the recipe, typically 1 to 4 tablespoons for the gallon of water used for a pound of pasta.
                        As noted in the comments above salt is literally dirt cheap.
                        And do not add oil to the water. Just don't.






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                        • 1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
                          – insidesin
                          4 hours ago












                        • "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
                          – Beanluc
                          1 hour ago










                        • @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
                          – Comintern
                          14 mins ago















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        The salt increases the osmotic pressure of the water as well as flavoring the pasta. If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly. Since the pasta water is typically used in finishing the sauce use the amount of salt called for in the recipe, typically 1 to 4 tablespoons for the gallon of water used for a pound of pasta.
                        As noted in the comments above salt is literally dirt cheap.
                        And do not add oil to the water. Just don't.






                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        user37401 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                        • 1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
                          – insidesin
                          4 hours ago












                        • "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
                          – Beanluc
                          1 hour ago










                        • @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
                          – Comintern
                          14 mins ago













                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote









                        The salt increases the osmotic pressure of the water as well as flavoring the pasta. If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly. Since the pasta water is typically used in finishing the sauce use the amount of salt called for in the recipe, typically 1 to 4 tablespoons for the gallon of water used for a pound of pasta.
                        As noted in the comments above salt is literally dirt cheap.
                        And do not add oil to the water. Just don't.






                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        user37401 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                        The salt increases the osmotic pressure of the water as well as flavoring the pasta. If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly. Since the pasta water is typically used in finishing the sauce use the amount of salt called for in the recipe, typically 1 to 4 tablespoons for the gallon of water used for a pound of pasta.
                        As noted in the comments above salt is literally dirt cheap.
                        And do not add oil to the water. Just don't.







                        share|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        user37401 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.









                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer






                        New contributor




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                        answered 4 hours ago









                        user37401

                        1




                        1




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                        New contributor





                        user37401 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.






                        user37401 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                        • 1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
                          – insidesin
                          4 hours ago












                        • "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
                          – Beanluc
                          1 hour ago










                        • @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
                          – Comintern
                          14 mins ago


















                        • 1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
                          – insidesin
                          4 hours ago












                        • "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
                          – Beanluc
                          1 hour ago










                        • @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
                          – Comintern
                          14 mins ago
















                        1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
                        – insidesin
                        4 hours ago






                        1 to 4 tablespoons? I sprinkle about half a teaspoon in and I get good results.. 300g of pasta, lots of water.
                        – insidesin
                        4 hours ago














                        "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
                        – Beanluc
                        1 hour ago




                        "If you reduce the salt the pasta will not cook properly." Define properly? What will go "wrong" in your opinion or experience if you don't salt the water?
                        – Beanluc
                        1 hour ago












                        @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
                        – Comintern
                        14 mins ago




                        @insidesin "1 to 4 tablespoons" for a gallon of water isn't that much - I've heard the general rule is about a tablespoon per quart of water. Keep in mind that the majority of that gets poured off.
                        – Comintern
                        14 mins ago










                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        Cook without any salt at all, and salt to taste at the table. Less will be used and none will be wasted.






                        share|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          Cook without any salt at all, and salt to taste at the table. Less will be used and none will be wasted.






                          share|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            Cook without any salt at all, and salt to taste at the table. Less will be used and none will be wasted.






                            share|improve this answer












                            Cook without any salt at all, and salt to taste at the table. Less will be used and none will be wasted.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            Beanluc

                            23816




                            23816






























                                 

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