NY state legislator proposes bill to ban restaurant cook/chefs from using salt in food prep

[housewolf]

Can you imagine?????

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/new_york_state/chefs-call-proposed-new-york-salt-ban-absurd-20100310-akd

No owner or operator of a restaurant in this state shall use salt in any form in the preparation of any food for consumption by customers of such restaurant, including food prepared to be consumed on the premises of such restaurant or off of such premises," the bill, A. 10129 , states in part.

The legislation, which Assemblyman Felix Ortiz , D-Brooklyn, introduced on March 5, would fine restaurants $1,000 for each violation.
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more at the link

[Phentex]

1. I can't imagine it really but it's part of the reason eating out...

is difficult for me. Unless I special order, the food is usually too salty for my taste.

[Warpy]

4. Same here, all I can taste is the salt

in a lot of prepared foods, both supermarket and restaurant. It's why I don't eat out much.

[hippywife]

2. I really don't agree that all salt should be removed

from the cooking process, but I was just thinking the other day that I was really surprised that someone hadn't done this yet. :eyes:

Anyway, they are still attacking health problems from the entirely wrong angle.

:hi:

[Warpy]

3. They need to exempt baked products

but removing salt from savory prepared foods is a great idea. People can salt at the table, that's what the shakers are for.

The law as it stands is poorly written. He needed to consult someone who actually cooks and then he'd have known to exempt breads, cakes and cookies.

[yellerpup]

5. Ridiculous!

Who will eat out at a restaurant that serves unpalatable food? Get government out of the kitchen!

[supernova]

6. Dumb move

Plenty of cooking processes depend on salt:

baking

cooking pasta

potatoes

rice

Pickling


I do find lots of restaurant cooking too salty. At home I use minimal salt in cooking then add more at the table, IF it tastes bland.

[Warpy]

8. Pasta, potatoes and rice don't need salt, that's an old wives' tale

The four degree change from adding salt doesn't alter the cooking time or the migration of liquid into the pasta or rice or the softening of potatoes. It just makes the food salty.

However, salt is necessary in baking and pickling. You can't add salt to your chocolate cake at the table like you can to savory foods of all types. Likewise, without salt, they're just not pickles.

[housewolf]

9. I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you

There's a world of difference between pasta cooked in salted water and pasta cooked in unsalted water... Pasta cooked in unsalted water is virtually inedible to me, no matter how much salt is added to the cooked dish

same with potatoes

At least, as far as my tastebuds go

[Warpy]

10. That's because you crave SALT

Here's the scoop on the old wive's tale: http://itotd.com/articles/521/water-freezing-and-boiling-myths

Personally, I like to taste my food instead of salt and find a few grains at the table are preferable to dumping in a bunch during cooking.

Salting veggies when you're sweating them does hurry the process a bit, but that's not necessary, either.

Remember, there is a difference between needing and wanting. Pasta, potatoes and rice do not need salt to cook properly. However, most of us want a little salt in them when we sit down to eat them.

[housewolf]

12. I beg to differ with you

It's not for any of the reasons the author "de-bunks." I don't think I referenced any of what the author refers to as "myths".

It's because, to me, there's a huge difference between pasta that's absobed the salt while cooking vs pasta that has salt on it's outside.

You can call that "craving salt" if you want to, but it is my opinion based on my persoanl experience and comparison. To me, pasta cooked in unsalted water is inedible.

[The empressof all]

7. This is absurd and the fact that he's even proposing this pisses me off

First of all...When you go to a restaurant you put your meal in the hands of the chef. If you have personal, medical needs or strong preferences ...TELL THE SERVER... Most Chefs want you to have a pleasurable experience and will alter your meal as you ask. If you don't want salt....TELL THEM. If you don't want butter....TELL THEM. The enhanced flavors that so many of us enjoy in dining out come from the Chef's expertise in spicing and salting. Salting a food during cooking adds a unique layer of flavor to a dish. Just salting a dish at the table is NOT THE SAME!.

This Really Pisses me Off. Why isn't he going after mass food producers who do over salt. Let's see him go after the Potato chip companies...or how about the Onion Soup makers like Lipton....

Jeeze .......

[kestrel91316]

11. FAIL.

[Tesha]

13. The original bill was to have them cut down salt usage...

but asking them to stop using trans fats didn't work until they made it mandatory.
The original attempt was 25% less salt, but how do you enforce that?

I'd be happy if they reduced salt 50% at restaurants.
I never use it for cooking anymore because I find I enjoy the taste of it on the surface of the food, so it's added when we eat.

[pengillian101]

14. Say goodbye to any fast food joint, lol.

Can you image McDonald's, Burger King, etc. not being able to salt the hot french fries?

I tell ya, customers will be rioting in the streets.

:rofl:

[Phentex]

15. or mexican or chinese food?

I'm always thirsty after eating pizza too.

I do like salt. And I want to taste salt with the food. I just don't need so much of it!

[housewolf]

16. Chinese Food - no soy sauce, no hoisin, no teriyaki...

among untold others

I think there are low sodium versions of these sauces, but are there no sodium versions?

I can't even imagine....

[blueworld]

17. What does he propose for pickles or salty foods like ham - a bath? n/t

[tigereye]

18. seems rather excessive...