How Do You Reduce Sodium in Homemade Soup?
Reducing sodium in homemade soup is achievable through several methods. The key is to control salt addition throughout the cooking process and utilize techniques to counteract excessive saltiness if it occurs.
- Use Low-Sodium or No-Salt-Added Ingredients: Opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added broths, stocks, and canned goods. Many brands offer these options, significantly reducing the overall sodium content. For example, Progresso offers a reduced-sodium chicken broth. Progresso Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth
- Control Salt Addition: Season your soup carefully and gradually. Taste frequently throughout the cooking process and only add salt as needed. Remember, you can always add more salt, but you can't take it away!
- Rinse Canned Beans and Vegetables: Canned beans and vegetables often contain high levels of sodium. Rinse them thoroughly under cold water before adding them to your soup to reduce the sodium content.
- Make Your Own Broth/Stock: Creating your own broth or stock from scratch gives you complete control over the sodium content. You can use herbs, spices, and vegetables to enhance flavor without relying on salt. A recipe for no-added-salt chicken broth can be found here: No Added Salt Chicken Broth.
- Increase the Volume: Diluting the soup with additional water or low-sodium broth will reduce the salt concentration per serving. This is a simple method to lower the sodium concentration. Quora - I love canned soup...
Fixing Oversalted Soup
If your soup is already too salty, you can still save it:
- Add Acid: Adding a squeeze of lemon juice, lime juice, or a splash of vinegar can help balance the saltiness and brighten the flavors. Martha Stewart - How to Make Soup Less Salty
- Add Dairy: A dollop of sour cream, cream, or yogurt can help neutralize the saltiness, adding richness and creaminess to the soup. MasterClass - How to Fix Oversalted Soup
- Add More Ingredients: Adding more vegetables, noodles, or other ingredients will increase the overall volume of the soup and proportionally reduce the salt concentration.
- Potato Absorption: Adding a peeled potato to the simmering soup for about 20 minutes can absorb some of the excess salt. Remember to remove the potato before serving. How to Make Soup Less Salty
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can effectively reduce the sodium content of your homemade soups, creating healthier and more flavorful meals.
