Why you should add salt to your fruit this summer

In case you haven’t been able to find enough uses for salt around your house, you can now add another to your list: sprinkling it on some fruit.

Chances are you’ve already been exposed to this combination without even realizing it. Whether it was a salt-rimmed fruity cocktail or bacon-wrapped melon, this blend shouldn’t be too far out of your comfort zone. It’s the same sweet-and-salty contrast that makes things like chocolate-covered pretzels and salted caramel baked goods so yummy and addictive.

So, the next time you slice into a melon or pull the peel off a juicy orange, consider adding a dash of salt on the fruit before taking a bite.

Still sound like a strange idea to you? Consider this: Salt can enhance the natural flavors found in your fruits by helping to draw out their sweetness. Adding salt to something sweet makes it taste sweeter, and it can also mask the bitterness of a fruit that isn’t quite ripe. So when you aren’t patient enough to let your fruit ripen just add some salt before digging in.

If you really want to push your flavor profiles, try adding flavored salts into the mix. I know you may think I’m getting a little crazy here, but chile salt on some pineapple or maybe some smoked sea salt on peaches are sure to get people talking. Salt and dried chiles on mangoes is a traditional way to serve them in some places in southeast Asia.

But if you’re intrigued and feeling a little daring, at least shake salt straight onto some watermelon this summer. It’s worth a try, and who knows? It may bring a whole new meaning to your sweet and salty cravings.

Already sold? Keep in mind that some people are on low-salt diets for health reasons. You might want to alert your guests if you’ve added an unexpected dash of salt to a fruity dish at your next barbecue.