Banana bread can taste extra salt if you have added salted butter instead of unsalted, if you have added too much baking soda, if the baking soda or baking powder have not been sifted or adding large salt flakes. To avoid salty tasting banana bread, use unsalted butter, sift the baking soda and baking powder and crush salt flakes in your finger or in a mortar and pestle before adding.
This article will explore the top reasons why banana bread will taste salty plus how to avoid it.
Top reasons banana bread tastes salty
Check out the top causes of overly salty tasting banana bread and how to avoid each one.
1. Adding salted butter
Most banana bread recipes will include unsalted butter. Using salted butter instead can cause the banana bread to taste too salty. Salted butter contains loads of extra salt. If the recipe does not account for this you will get very salty bread.
Most recipes will include unsalted butter with the addition of just a pinch of salt. This brings out the delicious sweetness of the bananas without tasting too savory.
2. Adding too much baking powder
Baking powder in banana bread adds extra air and lift as the banana bread bakes. Adding too much baking powder can give the bread a bitter and salty taste. Most recipes will add 1-2 teaspoons of baking powder at the most.
Remembering when adding baking powder using it is important to add a flat teaspoon full rather than one that is piled up. Special measurement teaspoons are the best way to get an accurate amount. Too much baking powder will make the bread bitter and salty.
3. Not sifting the baking soda
Many banana bread recipes include baking soda which helps to aid air to the mix. Baking soda added to the dry mix without sifting can clump together. When this is baked these clumps can stay in the bread and will taste bitter and salty when you bite into them.
Always sift the baking soda before adding it to the dry ingredients. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon before adding the wet ingredients.
4. Adding large salt flakes
Another cause of salty banana bread is adding extra large salt flakes. Many recipes call for a pinch or even ½ a teaspoon of salt in the recipe. If you use large salt flakes they can taste salty when you mix them through and bite into them.
Before adding large salt flakes to your recipe, crush them in your fingers or sprinkle them into a mortar and pestle. Crush the salt so that there are no large chunks left. This will help to distribute the salt evenly through the mix to avoid salty spots.
5. Adding salted nuts
Adding extra ingredients to your banana bread is a great idea but if you add salted nuts then the mix will be extra salty. Walnuts are a great addition but make sure you grab the unsalted ones.
6. Not taking care when adding salt
Adding a pinch of salt can help to bring out the delicious taste of the bananas in your banana bread. It helps to enrich the flavor and helps to make it taste delicious.
Adding too much salt will ruin your banana bread making it taste extra salty. If the recipe states a pinch of salt, take care to pinch some rather than pour it. The difference between ½ a teaspoon and 1 teaspoon in a banana bread recipe can be the difference between a richness of flavor and a salty bread.
What to do if you have added too much salt to banana bread
Here are a few tricks to fix your banana bread if you have added too much salt.
1. Balance the salt with sugar
If you have added a small amount of extra salt then you can balance it with some extra sugar. Add 2-3 tablespoons of extra sugar to the mix and this will help to reduce the salty taste.
2. Add extra flour, sugar and butter
If you have added extra salt then you will need to add extra ingredients to balance it out. Adding extra flour sugar and butter together will help to reduce the salty flavor and will increase the volume of the mix.
This means that the cooking time will need to increase with the increase in volume. Start by cooking the banana bread for an extra 10 minutes and check it with a skewer. Keep adding an extra 5 minutes in the oven until it has cooked through.
3. Add chocolate chips
My favorite trick to fix banana bread with too much salt is to add chocolate chips. Chocolate has a way to mask any extra salt with their extra sweetness. They taste great and kids love them.
Why Does My Banana Bread Taste Salty? | Summary
Banana bread can taste salty if you add salted butter, too much baking soda, add salted nuts or add large salt flakes. Using unsalted butter and adding salt in small amounts yourself if the best way to avoid salty banana bread. If you have already added too much salt, mask the flavor with chocolate chips.
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.