# Single most critical/key/amazing food/ingredient

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 21, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478 "2010-11-21T21:57:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478/41 "2010-11-26T06:25:37Z")

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> [@iamnotbatman](#):
>
> I think **Chefguy** is confusing salt with pepper and other spices, which at times _were_ worth more than their weight in gold. Nonetheless, salt was worth a lot more than it is now – due in part to its crucial utility in food preservation.

I’ve been cooking all day and am tired. Statement retracted.

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**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478/42 "2010-11-26T08:22:08Z")

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I won’t step up to the sodium podium, but only because the OP says so. I was going to say the number one ingredient was pizza but wait, I want to change my vote.

The no. 1 best ingredient is refined **sugar**.

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**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478/43 "2010-11-26T13:57:31Z")

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Bacon.

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**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478/44 "2010-11-26T14:35:40Z")

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Salt - and it isn’t even close.

Without salt food tastes bland. Salt is a preservative. Your body needs salt. Salt created empires and fortunes.

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**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478/45 "2010-11-26T16:54:29Z")

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Salt. With fat in hot pursuit.

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**Author:** ![acetylene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@acetylene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acetylene)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-most-critical-key-amazing-food-ingredient/561478/46 "2010-11-26T17:21:10Z")

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What was Ghandi’s beef with the British? He wanted to make **salt** without being taxed.

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