Thin, drinkable liquids

Thinner or lower concentration liquids, such as soup or miso soup, can be measured by placing a few drops of the sample directly on the sensor.

Thick, syrupy or paste-like liquids

Sauces, soup bases, seasonings, gravies and such need to be diluted to 10% for accurate measurement results. Anything that is highly concentrated (anything that measures above 6% Brix with a refractometer), must be diluted. The PAL-SALT and ES-421 measure the conductivity of electrolytes through electrical currents (conductivity). The thicker a solution is, the more closely the molecules are packed, and therefore, the less conductive. This makes the sample more difficult to measure. If not diluted, the measurement values may appear lower than the actual salt content.

Products with a salt content that exceeds the measurement range (above 10% salt)

Products that contain more than 10% salt, such as pickle brine, need to be diluted. For example, the 10 times dilution of 12% salt brine will measure 1.2%, and the 5 times dilution will measure 2.4%. Adjust the dilution factor so that the salinity falls within the measurement range.

Solid food

Solid foods (ham, bacon, dried foods, and fish) need to be minced, ground, or crushed, diluted with water (1:10 dilution), and mixed thoroughly. As a general guideline, let sit for a few minutes (approx. 3 minutes) to allow the salt to leach out of the food. Depending on the qualities of the sample (whether or not the salt is easily drawn out into the water), the salt concentration of the food, the mincing or crushing method, or how well the sample is mixed with the water, the time needed for the salt to be drawn out into the water will vary. Set a soaking period that works for each product (that allows the salt to be thoroughly drawn out). Measure the salinity of the water and multiply the reading by 10. The PAL-SALT PROBE also has a probe sensor that can be inserted directly into the solid sample for measurement.

Oily / fatty food

Foods containing oil or fats can also be measured. However, the measurement values of foods that have oil floating on their surface, such as Ramen soup (a Japanese noodle soup), may be unstable. If the readings fluctuate when measuring oily/fatty foods, try stirring the sample, and measure again for more stable readings. When measuring the salinity of oil-packed products, extract the sample from the oil and allow excess oil to drain. Mix 10g of sample with 90g of water to create a 10% dilution. Mix or shake very well and let settle. Residual oil should float to the top of the container. Take a sample from below the oil layer and place on the sensor. Multiply the displayed reading by 10 to obtain the salt concentration of the original sample.