A video of nine Food Network chefs showing how they add salt to pasta water has gone viral, raising questions about how much salt you should use when making spaghetti.
The video, posted on the Food Network's TikTok page on Dec. 28, shows chefs from various shows on the network adding salt to a pot of water.
“This is how much salt you add when you add salt to pasta water,” chef Alex Guarnaschelli tells the camera as he adds a large handful of salt to the pot.
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“Wild, right? You can't eat all of this. You just have to.” [it] Super salty like seawater. ”
Most other chefs added similarly large amounts of salt to their pots of water.
Chef Alex Guarnaschelli is one of the chefs featured in the viral video about salt and pasta water. (Michael Symon)
The video has been viewed more than 3 million times to date and sparked a lot of reactions in the comments section.
One commenter said, “I'm going to entrust my life to Alex Guarnaschelli, so I'm going to trust her with my salt.”
Some people say that watching this video changed their perspective on cooking.
“I thought I put in too much. I definitely didn't put in enough,” said a TikTok user.
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“Wait, so my pasta water is supposed to taste like the ocean, but isn't it actually the ocean? I'm surprised. I wonder if anyone else is reconsidering their salt usage right now. Are you there?” said another.
Fox News Digital reached out to Food Network for comment, as well as several chefs who shared their two cents about salt usage.
Mark Borchos, a South Carolina-based chef and restaurateur, said adding salt to pasta water serves multiple purposes.
Chefs told FOX News Digital that it's important to taste your pasta while it's cooking to make sure it doesn't get too salty. (St. Petersburg)
“We add salt to our pasta water not only to enhance the overall flavor of the dough itself, but also because the salt reduces gelatinization of the starch and improves the overall texture of the pasta,” he says. Said.
In Borchos' opinion, “the more salt, the better.”
“I like my pasta water to be as salty as the ocean,” he said.
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However, as with any dish, it is important to taste the food while eating to ensure it is not too salty.
“We add salt to our pasta water not only to enhance the overall flavor of the dough itself, but also because the salt reduces gelatinization of the starch and improves the overall texture of the pasta.”
“If the water is too salty, be careful about how much pasta water you incorporate into the final product,” he said.
Salting the pasta water is “very important,” chef Joey Sargentakis told Fox News Digital. Sargentakis is the owner of three restaurants in New Jersey.
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“You only get one chance to season the pasta itself during cooking,” he says.
Pasta absorbs water while cooking, so “seasoning the water will add that flavor to the pasta,” she says.
Chefs say adding salt to pasta water can add flavor to the pasta itself. (St. Petersburg)
“It’s like getting a head start on making your food delicious,” he said.
For those who are particular about measurements, Sergentakis recommended adding 10 grams of salt per liter of cooking water.
Unlike others, he's not necessarily a fan of the “salty as the sea” adage.
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“If a sip of water tastes like seawater, it's probably too much,” he says.
“Tasting the water a little before adding the pasta will tell you if it's okay to add the pasta.”
“But if there's too little salt, no matter how great the sauce is, the pasta will be bland.”
Many TikTok users were shocked to see their favorite celebrity chefs adding tons of salt to their pasta water. (St. Petersburg)
He continues, “The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle, where the water is flavored just enough that the flavor is rich but not overpowering. Give the water a quick taste before adding the pasta to see if it's okay. You'll understand,'' he continued.
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Seasoning your pasta water properly is “a small step that ultimately makes a big difference,” Sergentakis says.
“Properly salted pasta water is the secret to a balanced dish, and it's much easier than fixing bland pasta later,” he said.
