Pantry Plan Share a recipe Sign in Menu

Salt and spices

Salt: what it is, how to pick and store it

Table salt is fine and often iodized; kosher salt has bigger, lighter crystals, so a spoonful holds less; flaky sea salt is for sprinkling on at the end.

How to pick it

Our recipes mean fine table salt unless they say kosher or flaky. Kosher salt brands differ a lot by the spoon, so if you use kosher, add it a little at a time and taste.

How to store it

Salt keeps indefinitely as long as it stays dry. A lid keeps moisture out so it doesn't clump.

Out of salt? What to use instead

  • Kosher salt: About twice as much Diamond Crystal, or about 1¼ times as much Morton. The same saltiness when measured this way.
  • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

Swaps for salt, with what changes

Salt: cups to grams

Table salt
MeasureGrams
1 cup292 g
½ cup146 g
⅓ cup97 g
¼ cup73 g
1 tablespoon18 g
1 teaspoon6.1 g

Weights from USDA FoodData Central. Table salt on the cups-to-grams chart

Recipes with salt (295)

More recipes with salt

Search every recipe with salt

More salt and spices

Black pepperGarlic powderCuminCinnamonPaprikaRed pepper flakesNutmegCayenneChili powderAll 60 ingredient guides

Pick and store tips are in our own words. Storage times and safe temperatures are only shown where a U.S. government source gives them, named on each line; for anything not listed here, see USDA's FoodKeeper app.