Does a salt substitute that tastes like salt and that truly compensates for the missing flavor when salt is eliminated actually exist? Or, what about one that is safe for those with various health conditions, such as kidney disease? Is Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute THE ONE?
By the end of this article, I’ll give you my honest opinion on whether I recommend this product—both from the viewpoint of a dietitian, and a normal girl that likes tasty food! I’ll tell you if I agree with the manufacturer’s claim that it’s the "tastiest salt substitute of all salt substitutes"!
Before I begin, I want to clarify that I am in no way affiliated with Benson’s Gourmet Seasoning, which is the company that makes this product. This review is completely unbiased and based on my experience with tasting the product and on my research of the Benson’s Gourmet Seasoning website and other on-line reviews and discussions.
Jump to:
- What’s unique about Benson’s Table Tasty?
- So, what ARE the ingredients in it?
- What are the nutrition facts?
- For what special diets or medical conditions is Benson’s Table Tasty appropriate?
- Can I use it in cooking?
- On what foods should I use it?
- What does it taste like? Does it taste like salt?
- My Benson’s Table Tasty Experience
- Are there any negatives that were discovered about this product?
- Where can I purchase it?
- How much does it cost?
- Key Takeaways on Benson’s Table Tasty?
- Final Verdict on Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute
What’s unique about Benson’s Table Tasty?
A HUGE advantage of Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute is actually what it does NOT contain. Unlike many salt substitutes, it does NOT contain potassium chloride!
In many salt substitutes, potassium chloride replaces some or all of the sodium chloride (salt) in an attempt to give it that salt-like taste. It’s also frequently added to low or reduced sodium foods such as soups and lower sodium deli meats for that same reason.
The fact that it’s potassium chloride-free is a HUGE deal for those with kidney disease or people who need to limit potassium in their diets. For these people, consuming a product with added potassium chloride could lead to dangerously high blood potassium levels!
In addition to no potassium chloride, the Benson’s Gourmet seasoning website proudly states that all of their Gourmet Seasonings, including Benson’s Table Tasty, are free from:
- Salt
- Sugar
- MSG
- Gluten
- Wheat
- Dairy
- Soy
- Preservatives
So, what ARE the ingredients in it?
Ok. So, we know what Benson’s Table Tasty doesn’t contain. Well, what does it contain? Below are the ingredients in order of most to least:
- Non-fortified nutritional yeast extract—this is an inactivated yeast that is often used by those who are vegan or vegetarian. It has been shown to have many health benefits and is a source of plant protein, B-vitamins and trace minerals. It is often used in or on food to give a cheesy or umami flavor.
- Carrot
- Red Bell Pepper
- Onion
- Arrowroot
- Lemon/Citric Acid—The acidity of foods such as lemon and vinegar mimic the taste of salt. To learn more about using lemons and vinegar to improve the flavor of food without salt, along with many other methods, make sure to read our article: Ten Tips for a Tasty 2 Gram Sodium Diet (From a Dietitian)
- Celery
- Spices: dillweed, parsley, basil, allspice, paprika
- Rice Hulls (to help prevent caking)
What are the nutrition facts?
Below is a snapshot of Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute’s nutrition label. As we already mentioned, it contains 0 mg of sodium. It only contains a very small amount of potassium that occurs naturally in its ingredients.
It’s also carbohydrate and sugar-free and contains no protein. Which is true for most spices.
For what special diets or medical conditions is Benson’s Table Tasty appropriate?
It's appropriate for all diet types and almost anyone who needs or desires to limit salt/sodium in their diet.
Examples of conditions which often call for a low sodium diet:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease (i.e.: COPD)
- Menier’s disease
- …any many more!
Special diets that could include Benson’s Table Tasty
Examples of “diets” for which it could be beneficial include:
- 2 Gram Sodium/low sodium (of course!)
- Heart healthy (low fat, low sodium),
- Renal/kidney-friendly (low sodium and often low potassium and low phosphorus)
- Diabetic
- Anyone choosing to reduce their sodium intake as part of a healthy diet
Who shouldn’t use it?
Those who should not use Benson’s Table Tasty include:
- Anyone with an allergy or intolerance to any of the ingredients
- Possibly those prone to heartburn or gastric reflux disease (GERD), if any of the ingredients such as red bell pepper, onion or lemon/citric acid are a trigger for them. However, it is likely that those ingredients are present in small enough quantities that it would not cause a problem.
Can I use it in cooking?
According to the website, Benson’s Table Tasty loses some of its flavor when exposed to heat for prolonged periods. Therefore, for the most intense flavor, they recommended adding it to food at the very end of the cooking process or at the table.
However, some people have reported good results when using it in cooking. For example, one person mentioned using it in breading for pork chops.
On what foods should I use it?
You can use Benson’s Table Tasty on any food! However, because of its savory ingredients, I don’t think it would taste good on a dessert or sweet food such as salted caramel…(fill-in-the-blank). The website half-jokingly (I think?) mentions that it does not go well on watermelon or margaritas!
What does it taste like? Does it taste like salt?
In my opinion, it does have a pleasant salt-like flavor with undertones of other spices. The salty flavor was even surprising to my husband! (And this is coming from someone who likes salt a little too much!). And, very importantly, it had NO bitter aftertaste like salt substitutes that contain potassium chloride do!
We perceived it as tasting similar to a seasoning salt. The saltiness comes from a combination of the nutritional yeast and the lemon/citric acid. The salty flavor was more intense at first, but then gradually became milder (kinda like salt!).
Now, I’d like to get into the specifics of my tasting experiment with Benson’s Table Tasty on various foods!
My Benson’s Table Tasty Experience
I tried Benson’s Table Tasty on a variety of foods because I wanted see if it complemented or tasted better on some more than others. I also selected foods that are often described as "needing" salt to taste good. The unsalted foods in my experiment on which I added Benson's Table Tasty at the table included:
- Scrambled eggs
- Broccoli
- Popcorn
- Grilled chicken breast
- Plain white rice
- Unsalted beef broth (I wanted to get an idea of how it would taste in a low salt soup).
Benson's Table Tasty significantly improved the flavor of all the food that I tried! It’s hard to pick a winner, but if I had to, I would say it enhanced the natural flavor of the scrambled eggs best.
On all the foods, it added a pleasant, salty taste (but not too salty) that blended well with the other spices. The essence of the spices was just right! Not too overpowering, and not too subtle!
I could specifically taste just a hint of the red pepper and carrots. I could taste other flavors as well, but it was hard to distinguish between them. This was also true for all the foods.
Compared to the others, I needed to use more of the product in the unsalted broth to get the flavor I was looking for. Which makes sense because on solid food, you can sprinkle it on top, so it hits the taste buds first. But with soup, it gets diluted in the liquid.
Interestingly, I also noted with the broth that it gave it a "beefier" flavor somehow. The website mentions that Benson's Table Tasty tastes great in gravies, sauces and soups. I can definitely see how this is true!
Are there any negatives that were discovered about this product?
One negative feature of Benson’s Table Tasty is that it is, unfortunately, a little pricier than many other spices or salt substitutes. However, some would argue that the ability to enjoy food again is worth the price. (I'll get into specifics about the cost below).
Also, in some reviews, people complained of it clumping up over time. To help mitigate this, their website recommends a few things:
- Don’t store it on the stove top. This not only helps avoid clumping from steam/moisture when cooking, but also prevents flavor loss from heat exposure. (Side note: keeping it away from the light, such as near a window, will also help preserve its flavor.
- Don’t use it on steaming food where moisture could get into the bottle.
- Keep the lid tightly closed and don’t transfer the product to a salt shaker or bottle without a lid.
One reviewer on-line stated she solved the problem of caking or clumping by dumping the product out of the bottle and then putting it back in layered with a dried bean here and there to absorb moisture.
Where can I purchase it?
You can purchase it through the Benson’s Gourmet Seasoning website or on amazon.
To avoid some confusion, I would like to mention that Benson’s Table Tasty used to be called Benson’s Gourmet Popcorn Seasoning, so you may see it associated with that name in some areas of the website or on amazon.
According to the website, it was originally developed as a popcorn seasoning, but it was soon discovered that it made other foods taste great as well. It was eventually rebranded under the current name of Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute.
How much does it cost?
The prices on the website and amazon are almost identical. At the time of publishing this article, a 3 oz shaker costs $12.99. This is similar in size to a larger bottle of other spices.
However, you may purchase Benson’s Table Tasty in bundles of 3 or 6 bottles, or in a 1- or 2-pound bulk bag. The larger the quantity purchased, the lower the price per ounce.
For example, those who really like it can invest in a 2-pound bag for $75.99. This is equivalent to over ten, 3-ounce bottles, and brings the price for a bottle-equivalent down to ~$7.00. Which is a little over half the price for a bottle bought as a single.
The website claims that, as your tastebuds get used to less salt, you actually need to add less of the Benson's Table Tasty to your food to get the flavor you're craving. If true, this would help with the cost.
Also, it's worth noting that you can order a sample for $2.00 on the Benson's Gourmet seasoning website so you can try it before purchasing a larger amount.
Key Takeaways on Benson’s Table Tasty?
We talked about some “pros” and a few “cons” of this product. Let’s review:
Pros of Benson’s Table Tasty
- It contains no potassium chloride or other high potassium ingredients, so it's therefore safe for those with chronic or end-stage kidney disease.
- Anyone can use it except those with an allergy or intolerance to its ingredients
- It’s sodium-free and free from other often unwanted ingredients such as sugar, MSG and preservatives.
- It tastes great! Not only does it add a salt-like flavor, but the other herbs, spices & ingredients blend together well to complement each other and enhance the flavor of the food.
Cons of Benson’s Table Tasty
- It is more expensive than many other salt substitutes.
- Some report clumping issues, although we talked about things to do to help prevent this.
- Some may consider it a con that it is not available in stores (and therefore must be ordered on-line), while others would consider this a pro.
Final Verdict on Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute
I'm a fan! I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found a great-tasting salt substitute that is safe for anyone, especially those with kidney disease! I only wish I had known about it sooner so I could have shared it with my former patients and clients.
In my opinion, it could be a game-changer for those struggling to enjoy food on a low sodium diet. In conclusion, I agree that it just might be the “tastiest salt substitute of all salt substitutes”!
If you’re looking for a way to add robust flavor to your food without salt, give Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute a try!
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