Salt - Do You Take It?

[CorvusCamenarum]

I wouldn't call it processed since it's basically flour. If you call pasta processed, you'd have to call dried rice and beans processed. I'd call it prepared. Like if you were to go to a bakery and buy a loaf of bread, it's not processed. It's just already made.

It's actually a special type of flour (semolina) that's used to make pasta; regular just doesn't work.

Unless you go to a small local bakery for bread, chances are you're crossing into the realm of "processed" foods. Just read the ingredient list - there's all kinds of stuff in there to make a loaf of bread last for a week or more. Unless I'm in a bind for time, I bake my own bread. That way, I know exactly what goes into it (water, flour, butter, salt, sugar or honey, yeast). Without all the preservatives and whatnot, it will start going bad in about three days or so unless refrigerated.

Point being, read the ingredients on everything you intend to eat. The longer the list, the closer it is to "processed".

 

[Macaddicttt]

It's actually a special type of flour (semolina) that's used to make pasta; regular just doesn't work.

Yeah, I know it's semolina, but that doesn't mean it's processed. And actually, it works just fine with regular flour. I've done it a number of times myself.

Unless you go to a small local bakery for bread, chances are you're crossing into the realm of "processed" foods. Just read the ingredient list - there's all kinds of stuff in there to make a loaf of bread last for a week or more. Unless I'm in a bind for time, I bake my own bread. That way, I know exactly what goes into it (water, flour, butter, salt, sugar or honey, yeast). Without all the preservatives and whatnot, it will start going bad in about three days or so unless refrigerated.

Point being, read the ingredients on everything you intend to eat. The longer the list, the closer it is to "processed".

I didn't mean the bread you get in the supermarket from a big company. I meant either bread you buy in a bakery, or even just bread from a supermarket that was baked in the supermarket. I get that bread all the time from the supermarket, and there are no weird ingredients listed.

 

[MrSmith]

No, Mr. Funnyguy. Even though it is agreed that too much salt is not good, take a look at the following:

http://www.foodsubs.com/Salt.html

And to my point:

"Salt is a terrific flavor enhancer, helping to reduce bitterness and acidity, and bringing out other flavors in the food."

No, salt is a flavor enhancer. Try making two batches of cookies, one with the recommended quarter to half teaspoon of salt, and one without. You'll immediately be able to tell the difference even though the amount of salt added is minimal. The one without will taste flat and bland. The one with salt will be much more flavorful.

I've accidentally left the salt out of bread that I've made before too, and the difference is substantial.

I admit my ignorance. I never knew salt had that property. I wondered why so many things included a pinch of salt in their recipe.