[OJFord]

Alternatively (edit - in the product itself): because it's delicious.

If you like 'salted caramel' ice cream, try sprinkling some salt on vanilla ice cream. (I bet you'll find it's the 'salted' you like more than the 'caramel'.)

[dmd]

The salt being discussed here does not end up in the ice cream.

[OJFord]

No, but 'alternative' uses of salt can.

[distortedsignal]

The article is specifically talking about salting the ice in a homemade ice cream maker like this[0]. The ice is used to reduce the temperature of the milk/sugar/etc. to "freeze" the ice cream. None of this salt gets into the ice cream.

I agree with you - people should try salting their ice cream. But the article is about a different part of the ice cream making process.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Nostalgia-WICM4L-Electric-4-Quarts-Mi...

[OJFord]

Yes, that's why I said 'alternatively'. I anticipated something more along the lines of reasons for salt in the product going in. TFA was much more interesting, frankly, just thought I'd offer the other use in comments.

[ndiddy]

Do you happen to know if MSG also works? I’m a big MSG fan, I would try this myself but I don’t have any vanilla ice cream at the moment

[OJFord]

No, sorry, I've never used it (as an artificial/extracted additive I mean) - not opposed to it, I'm curious to experiment with it vs. 'natural'/more traditional ingredient sources.

I've seen ice cream served with parmesan crisp though, which is probably fairly salty too, but that's close.