Is it rude to salt your food before tasting it, or are we just too uptight about this dining rule? Your answer might change based on your company. Peter Dazeley via Getty Images
Adding salt to your food before tasting it can be more than just a personal preference—it can be seen as a social misstep. When you automatically reach for the salt shaker, especially when someone else has prepared the meal, it can be interpreted as a critique of the cook's skills.
Nick Leighton, an etiquette expert and co-host of the podcast "Were You Raised By Wolves?" explains that seasoning your food before tasting it sends a message that you doubt the cook's ability. While a polite host might not say anything, they will likely notice and remember the gesture. This action can be seen as a lack of trust in the cook’s expertise, and can even reflect poorly on your character.
A well-known business anecdote illustrates this point. An executive would take job candidates to dinner and observe if they salted their food before tasting it. If the candidate did, they failed an unspoken test, suggesting they made assumptions too quickly—a cautionary tale about the importance of reserving judgment.
Cultural Differences in Salting Etiquette
The etiquette around salting food varies significantly across cultures. Sara Jane Ho, author of "Mind Your Manners," highlights the cultural nuances in her discussion of the 1993 film "The Joy Luck Club." In the movie, a character named Rich unknowingly offends his Chinese-American girlfriend's family by adding soy sauce to a dish without tasting it first. This action, intended to enhance flavour, was perceived as a grave insult to the cook's efforts.
In many cultures, preparing and serving food is an expression of love and care. In Chinese culture, for example, subtle communication and reading between the lines are vital. What might be a harmless action in one culture can be deeply offensive in another. Therefore, to avoid any potential faux pas, it's best to refrain from salting food in front of the person who prepared it, especially if you're in an unfamiliar cultural context.
When to Avoid Salting
There are certain situations where it's advisable to avoid adding salt, even if you think the food needs it. Dining at someone’s home for the first time or eating at a high-end restaurant are such instances. Ho mentions that chefs, particularly those in Michelin-starred establishments, are considered artists, and altering their dishes can be seen as an insult to their craft.
Nick Leighton adds that if you're dining with others, it’s courteous to ask before adding salt to any shared dishes. This practice ensures that you respect the preferences of your fellow diners.
The Personal Side of Salting
Despite the potential for offence, it's essential to recognize that adding salt is often a matter of personal preference rather than a deliberate slight. Nasim Lahbichi, a cook from Brooklyn, explains that salt preferences can vary widely based on cultural background and personal taste. For example, he prefers his tomato-based eggplant dip with more salt than his father does. Lahbichi believes that seasoning food to your taste is about enhancing your dining experience and shouldn't be taken personally by others.
Leighton concurs, noting that in restaurants, adding salt is usually acceptable since the dining companions weren’t involved in preparing the meal. However, checking with others before salting shared dishes is a good practice to avoid any unintended offence.
