Why does salt make food taste better?

Question

Why does salt make food taste better?

In: 84

Answer 1

It works in a few ways:

* Even small amounts of salt reduce your sensitivity to bitter tastes. “Bitter” is an evolutionary early warning system for potential poison, so you’re hard-wired to dislike bitterness. Suppressing even minor bitter notes makes things taste better.

* Salt pulls out moisture, which brings flavor with it, which then has an easier time getting to your tongue.

* The whole reason you have a taste detector specifically and solely for salt is that we need salt to live – so you’re hard-wired to like salty flavors.