Thursday, March 11, 2010

Homemade Salsa Has Metallic Taste







Ingredients play a big role in whether salsa has a metallic taste


Many foods can either be made with a metallic taste or eventually get a metallic taste upon storage. Salsa is no exception, particularly when it is homemade. Homemade salsa can have a metallic taste for a variety of reasons, most of which are easily avoidable with a little planning before you make the salsa.


Using Canned Ingredients


Most homemade salsa recipes call for fresh ingredients, but that is not always possible. There could be time constraints, and using canned tomatoes that are already chopped can be a great time saver. However, using canned ingredients in your salsa can cause the entire dish to have a metallic taste. If you must use canned ingredients, look for some that come in cans that are lined on the inside with plastic which can reduce or eliminate the metallic taste.


Cilantro








Cilantro is a common homemade salsa ingredient. It also happens to be one of the more polarizing herbs. Some people love it, while others absolutely hate it. Some who hate it may do so because they actually have a genetic trait that makes cilantro taste like either soap or metal shavings. If this is the case, even the smallest amount of cilantro can make homemade salsa taste like metal. The only remedy is to eliminate cilantro from your recipe.


Storage


If you make more homemade salsa than you can possibly eat or serve at once, you will have leftovers. Leftover food can take on the taste of whatever containers or environments they are placed in. If you store your leftover salsa in a metal container, the taste can transfer to the food, just like in canned goods. Store leftover salsa in plastic or glass to avoid having this potential problem.


Personal Health


If your homemade salsa has a metallic taste, it could be the ingredients or it could be you. There are certain medical conditions that leave a metallic taste in your mouth, which would make salsa (and other foods) taste metallic. The condition of having a metallic taste in your mouth is dysgeusia. It can be caused by a number of things such as an infection, dehydration and even smoking. Consult a doctor if you get a metallic taste in your mouth, as you may need medication or other medical attention.

Tags: metallic taste, homemade salsa, metallic taste your, taste your, taste your mouth, your mouth, canned ingredients