Can salted capers be un-salted?
A family member picked up the wrong jar at the supermarket and now we have a (small) jar of salted capers instead of the brined ones they wanted to buy.
We were wondering if we could somehow wash the salted capers and remove enough salt to put them in the brine from the previous jar and not notice the difference.
I think the capers might have absorbed the salt, and that they're unsalvageable, but who knows?
Best Answer
Yes.
Brined capers also have a lot of salt, so you're not really trying to remove the salt, just dissolve it a bit. The way I've done this is to simply take out about 1/4 of the capers, at a tablespoon or so of wine vinegar, then fill the bottle to the top with water, shake, and wait a couple hours.
Alternately, if you want to use them immediately and they're just too salty: dump them in a sieve, rinse off all the exterior salt, and then dry. They will be somewhat different due to the lack of vinegar, but swappable in most recipes.
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Quick Answer about "Can salted capers be un-salted?"
Another method to desalt the capers is to wash them under running water and place them in a little white wine. The wine will dissolve the salt well and the capers will retain their flavor.Can you make capers less salty?
There is a way to make pickled capers less salty before adding them to a salad or soup. Put the capers in a sieve and wash them under running water for 15-20 seconds. Doing so will wash away some of the brine, making their taste noticeably milder.What do you do with salted capers?
Salads: Toss capers into a green salad, or add a teaspoonful to a vinaigrette. Add them to warm potato salad. Garnish or condiment: Decorate appetizers and main dishes, or use them in place of pickles or relish in recipes. This is one of my favorite sauces to serve with fish.Are capers always in vinegar?
Capers are never used fresh, and are preserved one of two ways: in a salt and water brine, sometimes with added vinegar, or in salt. More often, the flower buds are soaked in saltwater, then packed in brine or a mixture of brine and vinegar. This is how capers are sold in most supermarkets.How do you cook dried capers?
Heat oil until shimmering or 350F. Drain capers and dry on paper towels or kitchen towel. Add capers to pan without overcrowding, in batches if making a large quantity. Fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.How to Preserve Capers in Salt
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