Salt is a mineral commonly used in cooking to season most types of food. Salty flavor is one of the basic tastes a human’s tongue can perceive. If used correctly, salt will enhance a food’s taste and make it more appealing. However, if your hand slips, you get carried away applying salt or you used a poorly seasoned recipe, the food will be over-salted. Over-salting can ruin a food’s flavor, making it difficult to enjoy. Before discarding the dish, try a few methods to correct over-salted food.
Taste the food. If it is still too salty, sprinkle a pinch of white sugar over the food. Continue to cook until the sugar crystals are no longer visible.
Soups and Stews - Place a peeled red potato into the soup or stew's broth and simmer for 15 minutes. The potato will absorb some of the salty flavor.
Sample the soup or stew. If it is still too salty for your preference, you might have to discard and start over. As a last effort, try breaking up a slice of plain white bread into the stew.