Alright, so the other day I got it into my head that I needed to know exactly how much salt weighs. Not just any salt, but different kinds of salt, like table salt, kosher salt, and that fancy sea salt I sprinkle on my avocados. It started with a recipe, as most of my kitchen adventures do. This one called for a certain weight of salt, and I only had a measuring cup. It got me thinking, “Does a cup of salt always weigh the same?”
Weighing Out the Salt
First, I grabbed my trusty kitchen scale, the one I usually use for making sure my sourdough starter is perfectly fed. Then, I collected all the salt I could find in my pantry. I had regular table salt, some kosher salt, and a bit of sea salt left over from that time I tried to make salted caramels.
I started with the table salt. I zeroed out the scale with an empty measuring cup on it, then carefully spooned in the salt until it was level at the one-cup mark. I jiggled it a bit to make sure it was settled, just like I do with flour. Then, I noted down the weight. It came out to be around 290 grams. I was not surprised, because I’ve searched for something online, and it says about 287 grams, so I think it was pretty accurate.
Next up was the kosher salt. These flakes are bigger and coarser than table salt. I did the same thing, filling the cup to the top and then checking the weight. This time, it was less, around 240 grams. The bulky flakes don’t pack the cup as well as the small grains of table salt. And I saw someone online mentioned that one cup of kosher salt should be around 240 grams.
Finally, I measured the sea salt. It was similar to the kosher salt in weight, also around 240 grams, ’cause the flakes were pretty similar in size.
My Little Experiment
Here’s what I found, in a simple list:
- Table Salt: About 290 grams per cup
- Kosher Salt: About 240 grams per cup
- Sea Salt: About 240 grams per cup
So, there you have it. The weight of salt can change depending on what kind you’re using. Table salt is heavier by volume because it’s more finely ground and packs tighter. Kosher and sea salts, with their larger flakes, weigh less because they don’t pack in as densely.
This little experiment taught me that when a recipe calls for a weight of salt, it’s best to use a scale. If you only have measuring cups, remember that a cup of table salt will be heavier than a cup of kosher or sea salt. And honestly, it’s kind of fun to see the differences. Cooking is all about learning, right?
Anyway, I thought I’d share my findings in case any of you ever find yourself in the same situation. Happy cooking, and remember to measure your salt carefully!
