When people talk about experimenting in their 20s, they’re usually referring to wild parties and questionable fashion. For me, though? Oh, I’m all about putting salt on grapefruit.
I don’t know why I started doing it, but I do know I’m addicted – and apparently, despite my friends’ protests, I am neither deranged nor alone. Advertisement
As it turns out, both science and history back my much-maligned breakfast choices. So, for strictly professional reasons, I thought I’d get into both – bon appétit, salted fruit haters!
While it may seem counterintuitive, salt — not sugar — can make grapefruit taste less bitter and more sweet. Sure, sugar can drown out the bitterness and sour flavor if you sprinkle it on thick enough, but salt actually balances these tastes rather than covering them up.
Hate the bitter taste of grapefruit? Salt is the answer
It might feel like sugar is a more normal antidote to that bitter grapefruit tang, but actually, salt can be much better at blocking bitterness (this is also the logic behind the coffee and salt trend).
In fact, aside from taking away the more objectionable taste of grapefruit, salt might also make grapefruit taste sweeter.
Salt diminishes our tongue’s ability to sense bitter compounds, and then produces a secondary cognitive effect, which we perceive as “a relative bump in sweetness,” said Paul Breslin, a professor of nutrition at Rutgers University, according to NPR.Advertisement
And the combo can make the fruit feel fresher and, well, fruitier too. This is because salt helps launch volatile molecules – like those responsible for scent – into the air, where we can then breathe them in and sniff them. Getting a delicious fruity burst of joy.
The salt also brings water closer to the skin, making it juicier (I’m telling you, it’s my summer day go-to for good reason).
Salt can also be sprinkled on any other fruit that tastes bitter or sour, according to The Kitchn – think: oranges, kiwi, berries or a tart apple.
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When people talk about experimenting in their 20s, they’re usually referring to wild parties and questionable fashion. For me, though? Oh, I’m all about putting salt on grapefruit.
I don’t know why I started doing it, but I do know I’m addicted – and apparently, despite my friends’ protests, I am neither deranged nor alone. Advertisement
As it turns out, both science and history back my much-maligned breakfast choices. So, for strictly professional reasons, I thought I’d get into both – bon appétit, salted fruit haters!
Here’s What Happens When You Eat Grapefruit Every Day
FAQ
What neutralizes grapefruit?
Why do people put sugar on grapefruit?
What do you do with grapefruit salt?
Why can’t you eat the skin of a grapefruit?
Does salt make grapefruit taste better?
While it may seem counterintuitive, salt — not sugar — can make grapefruit taste less bitter and more sweet. Sure, sugar can drown out the bitterness and sour flavor if you sprinkle it on thick enough, but salt actually balances these tastes rather than covering them up.
Can you sprinkle salt on a grapefruit?
Just a light sprinkling on a grapefruit half or segments is all you need. This salt trick can be applied to any fruit that tastes bitter or sour, whether it’s oranges that aren’t at their best, underripe kiwi or berries, or even just a tart green apple. A light salt sprinkle will allow you to perceive sweetness instead of bitterness or sourness.
Why do we add salt to grapefruit?
In a watery food like grapefruit, the addition of salt makes it easier for volatile molecules — the chemicals responsible for odor — to launch themselves into the air, where we can breathe them in and smell them, intensifying our experience of the fragrance of the fruit. So that enhanced scent might heighten our enjoyment as well.
Can you eat grapefruit with salt?
The salt also brings water closer to the skin, making it juicier (I’m telling you, it’s my summer day go-to for good reason). Salt can also be sprinkled on any other fruit that tastes bitter or sour, according to The Kitchn – think: oranges, kiwi, berries or a tart apple. Eating grapefruit with salt is common in some parts of the world.