Hi, I’m Michael Anderson, the voice behind Overreacting To Salt.
Yes, the name usually gets a laugh. And no, I am not actually afraid of salt. In fact, understanding salt and flavor balance is what inspired this entire blog.
Overreacting To Salt is my space to talk honestly about cooking mistakes, kitchen wins, and the small details that make a big difference in flavor. I created it for home cooks who want to understand food better without feeling intimidated.
Where It All Started
I grew up in Portland, Oregon, in a family that loved food but did not always get it right. My mom experimented often. Some nights were unforgettable in the best way. Other nights, we reached for extra water because something had gone a little heavy on the seasoning.
Those moments stuck with me.
I became curious about why certain dishes worked and others did not. Why did one soup taste balanced while another felt overwhelming? Why did one pasta sing while another fell flat?
As a teenager, I started helping in the kitchen more intentionally. I began tasting everything carefully and asking questions. I realized that cooking was not just about following a recipe. It was about understanding how ingredients interact.
Education and Early Career
I studied food science at Oregon State University because I wanted to understand cooking on a deeper level. I was fascinated by the chemistry behind flavor, especially the role of salt in enhancing taste and texture.
During college, I worked part time in a small bistro where I learned professional kitchen discipline. Timing, seasoning in stages, tasting constantly. These habits shaped how I cook today.
After graduating, I worked in product development for a specialty food company. My job involved testing sauces, spice blends, and prepared meals. I learned how small adjustments in sodium levels could dramatically change a product’s appeal.
That experience gave me a practical understanding of balance. Salt was never the villain. It was simply powerful.
The Story Behind Overreacting To Salt
The name of the blog comes from a dinner party years ago.
I had invited friends over and made a large batch of roasted tomato soup. After tasting it, I panicked and thought it needed more salt. I added a little extra. Then a little more.
When we finally sat down to eat, one friend jokingly said, “You overreacted to the salt.”
We laughed about it, but the comment stayed with me.
I realized how common that reaction is. Home cooks often swing between underseasoning and overcorrecting. We second guess ourselves. We panic adjust.
I wanted to create a space that demystified seasoning and encouraged thoughtful cooking instead of reactive cooking.
Why I Started Food Blogging
Overreacting To Salt began as a simple blog where I shared recipe experiments and explained what I learned from them.
Instead of just posting instructions, I wrote about the reasoning behind each step. Why salt early? Why add acid at the end? Why does resting meat matter?
Readers appreciated the transparency. They told me they felt less anxious in the kitchen because they understood the “why” behind the process.
That feedback motivated me to take the blog seriously. I invested in better photography, tested recipes more rigorously, and committed to posting consistently.
What started as a hobby grew into a passionate, full time focus.
My Cooking Philosophy
I believe cooking should be confident, curious, and balanced.
Here is what guides me:
• Season gradually and taste often
• Understand the function of each ingredient
• Learn from mistakes instead of fearing them
• Focus on balance over perfection
• Keep recipes approachable and practical
Salt is a tool. So are acid, fat, heat, and texture. When you understand how they work together, cooking becomes intuitive.
What You Will Find Here
On Overreacting To Salt, you will find:
• Detailed, well tested recipes
• Flavor balancing tips
• Simple explanations of food science
• Weeknight friendly meals
• Honest reflections on kitchen successes and failures
I write the way I cook, thoughtfully but without unnecessary complexity. My goal is to help you feel capable and informed.
Life Beyond the Blog
When I am not testing recipes or writing, I enjoy exploring local farmers markets, hiking in the Pacific Northwest, and experimenting with homemade bread.
Cooking is both my profession and my creative outlet. It keeps me grounded and constantly learning.
Thank You for Being Here
If you have ever worried about adding too much salt, second guessed a recipe, or wanted to understand flavor more deeply, you are in the right place.
Thank you for being part of the Overreacting To Salt community. Let’s cook with intention, learn from our mistakes, and build better flavor together.
