What can you do if you added too much salt while cooking?

Diluting the dish and balancing the flavors are two key ways to save a dish that is too salty. To dilute the salty flavor, add more of other ingredients. Be careful to only add ingredients that are either free of salt or have very low salt content.

Add water to an overly salty pot of soup, 1/2 cup at a time, until the saltiness is adequately diluted. You can also dilute a sauce by adding more water, cream or other unsalted liquid. Adding more rice, pasta, potatoes or vegetables to a dish also serves the same purpose.

Counter saltiness with other seasonings. Try adding brown sugar, vinegar, spices or herbs to the dish, a tiny amount at a time, until the flavor is balanced.