Can this electric spoon make food taste better?

Would you use an electronic spoon if it could make your food taste saltier without actually adding any sodium? That’s the promise of Kirin's Electric Salt Spoon, a utensil that uses a weak electric current to concentrate sodium ion molecules in the food you’re eating, creating a stronger salt flavor without adding salt.

As CES 2025 gets underway in Las Vegas this week, the Kirin booth has been one of the busiest we’ve seen, and its promise of delivering tastier food with less sodium is a worthy draw. While sodium intake is a concern around the world, this product is currently only available in Japan, where daily sodium intake is more than double the World Health Organization’s recommendation.

Before this utensil gains mass-market appeal, the delivery mechanism for this technology likely needs some refining. Those at the booth who were able to try the spoon reported that, while it seems to work, it is very difficult to hold and manipulate compared to a traditional spoon. It has a particularly chunky handle and requires constant pressure on the front of the spoon to keep the electric current activated. The spoon is rechargeable and runs on a lithium-ion battery. Kirin hopes to make the product available globally in the future.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to curb your sodium intake, we recommend going light on salt during cooking and then salting your food with Kosher or Maldon salt just before eating. A small sprinkling of larger salt crystals gives a greater flavor impact with less overall sodium.