[Iggy's Boy]

Watching Jamie Oliver and Nigella's shows recently and it did strike me that they seemed to use a lot of salt (Maldon Sea Salt by the looks of it).

From Jamie it's always 'give it a good bit of salt', 'tomatoes love salt', 'season it well with salt', 'add another good pinch of salt'.

Even when he's saying 'add a little bit of salt' it seems like a good teaspoon or so. And Nigella said 'I love salty food'.

So what's the deal with salt? On one hand everyone seems to be saying salt is terribly bad for you and raises your blood pressure. Add salt to your food and some people react like you have a deathwish. My sister never adds salt to cooking vegetables and flavours her mashed potato with only garlic.

So are Jamie and Nigella and other TV chefs endangering their lives and encouraging us to do the same. Or is it okay to use generous seasonings like they do?

[1Greedyrosie]

Its not good for you at all. But, I agree with Jamie and Nigella, your food does really taste a lot better for salt (and fat, which is another issue). Clearly, if you're a healthy person that doesn;t eat processed food then salty food is something you can get away with sometimes.
Otherwise? You can use your discretion. These shows usually have a dessert on them too, but I don;t think Nigella is suggesting you eat cheesecake everyday.

[degsyhufc]

So are Jamie and Nigella and other TV chefs endangering their lives and encouraging us to do the same.

I think that's taking it a tad too far


I do believe that most of the chefs use sea salt or unrefined salt and this makes it able to use more for the flavour and seasoning than it would with table salt.


A thing I don't like is when cooking Chinese type dishes and the chefs use soy sauce, fish sauce or other seasonings and the chefs, generally western, add salt and pepper.

[Herminator]

There is way too much salt in food, almost all chefs use too much salt in my opinion and too much is put in prepared supermarket meals. I think our sense of taste then gets used to it. I make a point of using very little in comparison and as a result ready meals and food in restaurants now always tastes rally salty to me!

[Lobelia Overhil]

I've often shouted "go easy there now!" at the telly when a cook/chef is throwing salt around like confetti...

[dollylovesshoes]

Everybody knows their own salt intake (or should do) I only sometimes use salt , I have to have salt on fresh chips but other than that I dont use it !

[Prontopro]

Salt is essential for human life.

It's excess salt in the body that is bad.

You should also bear in mind that Jamie and Nigella are adding salt to recipes that serve 4-6 people. So the actual amount per person is unlikely to be in excess of the daily recommended amount.

Too little salt in the diet can also be harmful.

[Flying Dagger]

I've no time for food police. I use salt because it makes some foods taste better

[stud u like]

Some things need salt and somethings don't.

Carrots do. They are tasteless.

Tomatoes sometimes need oil and herbs otherwise they are tasteless. Tomatoes do not smell as strong as what my grandfather used to grow.

[starsailor]

Everything in moderation. as said, salt is actually needed in the body, but of course too much is bad.

[Iggy's Boy]

Originally Posted by dollylovesshoes

Everybody knows their own salt intake (or should do)

How on earth can you measure your own salt intake?

[TVGirl319]

I know what you mean!! Jamie is supposed to be so health conscious and a strong advocate for healthy food and here he is ladling the salt on food like its going out of fashion!!! Doesnt he know that salt hardens the arteries and is definately no good for diabetics(and other people on special diets) and also causes damage to your kidneys and liver!!!? Seasoning your food with salt is one thing, but shovelling it on your food is completely different!!!!

And Nigella Lawson has never been health conscious, judging by the ingredients she uses and her whole attitude to food!!!

Also, other TV chefs both here and in the USA are also very heavy-handed with the salt I have noticed as well!!

It makes you wonder if all these chefs have business dealings with the medical profession!!

[Iggy's Boy]

Originally Posted by starsailor

Everything in moderation. as said, salt is actually needed in the body, but of course too much is bad.

Without wanting to be rude too much of ANYTHING is bad for you (to quote a Fry and Laurie sketch) 'That's what 'too much' means!'

But seriously - how do you know how much is 'in moderation' and how much is 'in excess'?

[degsyhufc]

Originally Posted by Prontopro

Salt is essential for human life.

It's excess salt in the body that is bad.

You should also bear in mind that Jamie and Nigella are adding salt to recipes that serve 4-6 people. So the actual amount per person is unlikely to be in excess of the daily recommended amount.

Too little salt in the diet can also be harmful.

A good post in general but I think that point needs highlighting. It's not like they are making a meal for one.

[whoever,hey]

I think you get a lot of freedom tbh just by not eating processed food.

[David Steinberg]

Originally Posted by Prontopro

Salt is essential for human life.

It's excess salt in the body that is bad.

You should also bear in mind that Jamie and Nigella are adding salt to recipes that serve 4-6 people. So the actual amount per person is unlikely to be in excess of the daily recommended amount.

Too little salt in the diet can also be harmful.

But that will never happen as there's always enough salt in food naturally.

What is bad is claiming that added salt is OK on the basis we need salt.

[David Steinberg]

What annoys me is TV chefs who make a point of saying saying 'Sea salt' as if it makes a difference.

[rjb101]

Originally Posted by David Steinberg

What annoys me is TV chefs who make a point of saying saying 'Sea salt' as if it makes a difference.

Taste wise none, but there's a texture thing too

[TommyGavin76]

Salt is essential for lots of cooking, the difference in taste between many un-salted and salted foods is marked.

[indianwells]

I think seasoning, and that includes salt, makes most food taste better. There are four basic tastes, sweet, sour, salty and bitter. Some say there are five (umami). The more of these you can incorporate into a dish, generally, the better it tastes.

[Prontopro]

Originally Posted by David Steinberg

But that will never happen as there's always enough salt in food naturally.

What is bad is claiming that added salt is OK on the basis we need salt.

A healthy body processes just the amount of salt it needs and the kidneys dispose of any excess.

[queenshaks]

I love using salt in my food when cooking, as someone rightly said, it makes it taste better.

2 ladies that I have spoken to recently said they never added salt to their food, I just hope they never invite me round to dinner!

[Iggy's Boy]

I'm hoping Maldon Sea Salt is better than normal table salt because it contains useful minerals too.

I never add salt to food at the table, but i do use it liberally when making mashed potato or boiling veg.

[LaChatteGitane]

Originally Posted by Prontopro

Salt is essential for human life.

It's excess salt in the body that is bad.

You should also bear in mind that Jamie and Nigella are adding salt to recipes that serve 4-6 people. So the actual amount per person is unlikely to be in excess of the daily recommended amount.

Too little salt in the diet can also be harmful.

I agree with this. People who suffer from high bloodpressure should take more care, though, and some other ailments too.
Sometimes while cooking, I stop and wonder if I'm using too much salt, but when I then eat foods that has been processed or a very simple thing like shop bought bread, I realise that I don't use that much salt in comparison.

Let's just say that on a daily basis, people eat much worse things than salt.

[Special K_]

I have always thought they used too much salt.