Chefs Go Viral for Salt and Pasta Water Debate: ‘Wild, Right?’

A viral video showing nine Food Network chefs salting pasta water has gotten people talking — and raised questions about how much salt a person should use when cooking spaghetti.

A video posted on Food Network’s TikTok page on Dec. 28 shows chefs from various network shows adding salt to a pot of water.

“That’s how much salt I add when I salt water for pasta,” he said Chef Alex Guarnaschelli on the camera, adding large handfuls of salt to the pan.

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“Wild, huh? You’re not going to eat all that. You just need (it) to be very salty, like sea water.”

Most other chefs added similarly substantial amounts of salt to their pots of water.

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli is one of the chefs featured in the viral video about salt and water for pasta. (Michael Simon)

The video has racked up more than three million views to date – and sparked plenty of reactions in the comments section.

“I’d trust Alex Guarnaschelli with my life, so I’ll trust her with my salt,” said one commenter.

Others said the video changed them views on cooking.

“I thought I was putting in TOO much – clearly I wasn’t putting in enough,” said the TikTok user.

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“Wait, so my pasta water is supposed to taste like the ocean but not actually be the ocean? Mind blowing. Who else is rethinking their salt game right now?” – said another.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Food Network for comment, as well as several chefs who shared their two cents on how much salt to use — and whether there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Salting pasta water serves more than one purpose, said Mark Bolchoz, a South Carolina resident chef and restaurateur.

It’s important to taste while cooking so the pasta doesn’t become too salty, the chef told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“We salt the pasta water not only to enhance the flavor throughout the dough, but also because the salt reduces the pasteurization of the starch, which improves the overall texture of the pasta,” he said.

According to Bolchoz, “more salt is almost always better.”

“I like it my pasta is water it tastes salty like the ocean,” he said.

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However, as with any dish, “it’s important to taste” so as not to overpower the salty flavor.

“We salt the pasta water not only to enhance the flavor throughout the dough, but because the salt reduces the gelatinization of the starch, which improves the overall texture of the pasta.”

“If the water is too salty, just be mindful of how much pasta water you add to the final product,” he said.

Salting the pasta water is “very important,” chef Joey Sergentakis told Fox News Digital. Sergentakis owns three restaurants in New Jersey.

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“This is your only chance to season the pasta itself while it’s cooking,” he said.

Pasta absorbs water while boiling, so “when you add water, the pasta takes on some of that flavor.”

Salting pasta water is an opportunity to season the pasta itself, chefs say. (iStock)

“It’s like giving your dish a head start on great taste,” he said.

If one is keen on measurements, Sergentakis recommended adding 10 grams of salt per liter of cooking water.

Unlike others, he is not necessarily a fan of the saying “salty as the sea”.

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“If your water tastes like a sip of seawater, it’s probably too much,” he said.

“A quick taste of the water before you add the pasta will tell you if it’s okay to use.”

“But if there’s almost no salt, the pasta will be bland, no matter how great your sauce is.”

Many TikTok users were shocked to see their favorite celebrity chefs adding a lot of salt to their pasta water. (iStock)

He continued, “The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle—seasoned enough that the water tastes good, but not overpowering. A quick taste of the water before you add the pasta will tell you if it’s safe to drink.”

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Seasoning the pasta water correctly is “a small step, but it really makes a difference in the end,” Sergentakis said.

“Properly salted pasta water is the secret balanced meal – and it’s a lot easier than trying to fix a bland paste afterwards,” he said.