I have never used calculus in my real life.
But I use percentages and fractions all the time in the kitchen.
I've learned that kids truly understand and retain information when they have a real, immediate application.
Here's an awesome way to teach your kid about percentages:
The ideal amount of salt for pasta water is a 2% concentration.
Here's my simple visual to show what that looks like. For every 100 dots of water, just 2 of them need to be salt.
Here's a simple look at the math for a pot of pasta:
3 liters of water is adequate for the standard 1-pound package of dried pasta.
3 liters = 3000 grams
2% of 3000g = 60g
So, you need 60 grams of salt per 3 liters of water.
That's equivalent to:
- 6 Tbsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 4 Tbsp fine sea salt
- 3 Tbsp table salt
(The amounts differ because of crystal size and density.)
Parents are always nervous to see that quantity of salt.
But don't worry! After the VAST MAJORITY of the water is drained, only about ⅛ tsp is present in each serving of pasta—the equivalent of a small pinch.
Pasta cooked in properly salted water tastes seasoned all the way through. And kids actually want to eat it.
So be brave and put the right amount of salt in your pasta water. Everybody will love it.
You can measure your salt easily with this scale:
Chef Mark's product highlight: the OXO Good Grips 11-lb Kitchen Scale
A kitchen scale makes this (and so many other recipes) easier and accurate. Plus, it's a great way to teach kids measurement and math skills in a real life context.
Action Steps
- Watch my salting pasta water video 👆
- Do the math together—calculate 2% of your water volume
- Cook pasta with your child following my 7-step guide 👇
Download Pasta Cheat Sheet (PDF)
Understanding how to properly season food is one of the core skills my students learn in Kids Cooking Club. When kids learn the principles behind cooking—not just recipes—they become confident, capable cooks.
