S and P or not

S+P always on the table. I don't season anything I cook but do put sea salt on eggs and tomatoes. Pepper on quite a few things. Enhances the flavour for me.
Husband has salt and pepper on everything. He's no BP problems but gets cramp attacks. Not through dehydration/exercise. As well as salt on food he will drink a salt solution when in absolute agony with cramps in both his legs as well as a magnesium spray/rub, which helps slightly.

crazyH

Spangler, what’s the 3rd one for ?

Don't tempt me!
To be honest I wondered that H, but on closer inspection I think that those are the available colours.
(Spangler left the building a while ago.)

Spangler, what’s the 3rd one for ?

The idea of insulting the cook is about trying the food first to see how it tastes before adding seasoning. If you try it first then want to add salt or pepper that's fine. That's the rule in our house anyway.

Spangler

When you have a very expensive set of Aga cruets, you show them off!

Ha ha! This is sooo Spangler.

If I were to think about it, I really like certain salty foods like anchovies for example, not everyone's cup of tea.

I don't put salt on the table, but I love a bit of sea salt, I sometimes roast new potatoes tossed in oil, sea salt and Rosemary, but I'm aware that salt isn't really good for us, so don't do it that often.

I have never put salt and pepper on the table. If anyone wants it, they have to ask for it. I have also rarely ever used it in cooking.

Hetty after avoiding salt all my adult life because of high BP, I found out my salt level was low. When I mentioned to the GP that I don’t use salt she asked why and said it only needs to be avoided/restricted if advised by the consultant!

Yes, but I rarely use salt in cooking unless I'm making a sauce or an egg dish.

We watched Rick Stein the other day - he always uses a lot of salt when he's cooking. Then adds a bit more.

We do need some salt in our diet especially in hot weather.

I am not much of a salt user but always use pepper, black or white depending on what it is.

I do always put S&P on the table.
I often add a lot of black pepper to whatever I’m eating, even though I’ve nearly always cooked it. And often a little salt.
Dh never adds either. He never uses e.g. mustard, either.

People’s taste buds do vary*, so I really don’t go along with it being an insult to the cook.
*milk in tea honestly tastes utterly vile to me, which I know most people consider very peculiar, so I’d never presume to tell anyone else what tastes they ought to like.

Many moons ago a top chef told me you can judge a restaurant by the number of condiments available. Really top restaurants don't put anything on the table at all. Once - in an eatery in the USA I counted 43 different sachets of sauces, etc arranged prettily down the middle of the "restaurant". The food was dire. I can understand why differing tastes may want to add a bit of extra salt or pepper maybe, but 43 choices seemed excessive!

Mr. S. is a terror, always puts a load of salt on before he's even tasted it. For more than 40 years I've been commenting on it but to no avail, maybe it's time I gave up.

I don't often season my food with salt (nor add very much in the actual cooking, either), but I do like to put some on chips when I have any - which isn't very often.
I think there's quite a lot of salt in some ingredients anyway, without adding more, e.g., canned tomatoes, ready made sauces, cured meats.
I do like to add ground pepper though to some of my meals.

BlueBelle, beware pottasium chloride. Extra potassium can be dangerous for people who have kidney disease or take certain drugs for heart disease, high blood pressure, or liver disease. They should talk with a doctor before using a salt substitute.

I don't use much salt, but I'm aware that a very low salt diet is just as dangerous as a high salt one. I do love black pepper, though!

I’m on a low sodium diet so no, but I do use pepper and other spices. I’m an avid reader of labels, but I don’t avoid salt completely as that would be unhealthy.

I salt everything I do use ‘lo salt’ though I love my spices hot peppers and chillis etc and seem to need them stronger as I ve got older

Probably because people complain if they serve it on toast, I'd imagine.

My dad used to cover all his food with a carpet of salt and pepper without tasting it first. My mum was a wonderful cook and I felt he was insulting her every time... I only use pepper and then only on a poached egg which I have to have served on toast. Why do most B & B's serve eggs straight onto the plate, even on 4 in a Bed...?

I’m guilty! Add salt to my food without tasting it. This is the first I’ve heard that I am likely to offend the cook. Currently using Himalayan salt as it was in Poundland so I bought half a dozen. I also shake the black pepper grinder over the food without grinding because I only want a tiny bit.

We’ve eaten out twice recently where lots of black pepper is put on before the food is served. I had to send one meal back as it was inedible. I think this is done to cut out the salt but I wish they didn’t decide for me.

As others have already said, we all have different taste buds so best left to the individuals decision without passing judgment.

i use sea salt and i rinse the veg in sea salt water .but i would never sprinkle it on my food ,theres enough salt in the food we eat anyway. even fish and chips i dont use salt...takes the yummy taste away...

My mother salted everything she cooked - potatoes, vegetables, cakes and pastry. There was always salt and pepper on the table too.
I rarely use salt as it’s bad for us but I crave salt and sugar because I’ve lost most of my sense of smell and taste. I wonder whether past generations liked their food so salty because they all smoked?

I was going to say that I can't be doing with all these 'rules' that serve no purpose, but I must admit to feeling slightly miffed with ketchup being slathered over a roast.

When I have visitors for a meal I would always have s&p on the table and it wouldn’t offend me in the slightest if it was used. I wouldn’t assume because I seasoned food when cooking that it was to everyone’s taste. Surely if I’ve seasoned it I’ve done it to my taste and we can’t all be the same.