Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Hadrian on 28/01/2007 16:36:03

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Hadrian on 28/01/2007 16:36:03

Too Much Salt

I been told that if you accidentally put to much  salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt.

Do you think this could work?

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: neilep on 28/01/2007 16:54:15

Hi Hadrian,

Your new site looks great by the way.

Y'know ?...I think I have heard that before too...

I presume it would be an easy experiment to try out.

two pans of hot water both equally salty and chuck a potatoe in one and then taste the goodness after a while.

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Karen W. on 28/01/2007 16:57:10

Yeperoo.. That is true as far as me grandma an d mom go.. They were both cooks and that was a tried and true remedt when the problem occured..

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Hadrian on 28/01/2007 17:08:23

Quote from: neilep on 28/01/2007 16:54:15

Hi Hadrian,

Your new site looks great by the way.

Y'know ?...I think I have heard that before too...

I presume it would be an easy experiment to try out.

two pans of hot water both equally salty and chuck a potatoe in one and then taste the goodness after a while.

i have to give it a go and see.

PS thanks for your complement about the forum

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: moonfire on 29/01/2007 05:50:20

yep a cut potato will draw it out...just love starch...aagghh!

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Carolyn on 29/01/2007 06:24:12

Always has worked for me.

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: elegantlywasted on 29/01/2007 14:44:46

Tried and True.

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: eric l on 29/01/2007 16:37:07

First :  there must be a way to measure this, rather than just tasting.  Maybe by measuring the conductivity before and after the addition of the potato.
Second :  if it is the starch that does the trick, it should work also with corn (or corn flower) or wheat or any other cereal.  Has anyone ever tried ?  Does it work with macaroni ?  How about manioc ?...
Third :  even if the measurements confirm it, I don't have a clue as to by what mechanism it works.  And I have worked a lot with starches (potato starch as well as corn starch).  From what I remember, salt (sodium chloride) is added to make gelatinisation of the starch more difficult.  (But then again, our research was never aimed at reducing the salt content).

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: neilep on 30/01/2007 00:35:03

Excellent Eric,

However...as a firm believer in emprical study I today conducted my own experiment. But me chose to make it hard by using  ' LoSalt ' !!...

Below are two pictures...taken twenty minutes apart !!

It's clear that potatoes just LURRRRRRRRRRRRRVVE Salt !!..LOL


BEFORE:

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv286%2Fneilneil%2FDSC02832.jpg&hash=01e20b72ede4e77078fa83b7215d0cff)






AFTER:

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv286%2Fneilneil%2FDSC02831.jpg&hash=d796c8a4bf14546f8c78e1df6e0227f4)







QED !

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: moonfire on 30/01/2007 01:23:04

love my salt...look at that cute potato...isn't corn and potato starch different...what about the sugar content in corn...??

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Carolyn on 30/01/2007 01:26:09

That's some serious tater lurvvveee going on there!!!  LOL  Nice experiment.  Thanks so much for clearing up the mystery.

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: moonfire on 30/01/2007 01:46:01

I know...think I am so in love...

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Karen W. on 30/01/2007 03:12:01

Very Cute SIr!!!! YAYYYYYYYYY!!!

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: neilep on 30/01/2007 03:16:53

Do ewe like the reflection in the Italian Marble table ? *le brag*

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Karen W. on 30/01/2007 03:19:33

Yes it is quite good. The camera caught it quite nicely Sir.. LOL..
Nice table Mr camera man!

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Carolyn on 30/01/2007 04:17:51

Quote from: neilep on 30/01/2007 03:16:53

Do ewe like the reflection in the Italian Marble table ? *le brag*

Nice table.  *le jealous*   

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: moonfire on 30/01/2007 04:33:41

It was nice as I leaned into my lil honey...oops, I meant salt!  LOL

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Karen W. on 30/01/2007 05:00:25

LOL, such a cute little tater!! LOL

Title: Too Much Salt
Post by: Hadrian on 31/01/2007 01:11:23

lots of salt now where did i put my chips