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Recipes always call for a “pinch of salt”, don’t they? But what is a pinch of salt? How do you measure a pinch of salt? What if your fingers are bigger/smaller than the recipe-maker’s fingers? Wouldn’t your pinch technically be bigger? Or smaller? And wouldn’t that alter the taste of the finished dish? How much is a pinch of salt?
You can take things with a pinch of salt.
You can throw a pinch of salt over your shoulder, if you’re superstitious.
But how much, exactly, is a pinch of salt?
How Much is a Pinch of Salt in Grams?
Nobody really knows how much a pinch of salt is. Everyone seems to have a different answer. It has been debated many times, especially over the internet, but it all comes down to one thing: your own personal taste.
There is no definitive amount of salt per pinch. Everyone’s hands are different, after all, as are everyone’s tastes.
Your pinch of salt might be just enough for you, but to someone else, it could be too salty, or not salty enough. As I’ve just said: everyone’s tastes are different.
But, if you were to measure an average pinch of salt, in grams, it would amount to between 0.36 grams and 0.55g.
Bigger hands (and a bigger pinch) might have slightly heavier amounts, but that’s thought to be the average amount of salt, in grams, per pinch.
Photo by mkupiec7 / Pixabay
How Much is a Pinch of Salt in Teaspoons?
Again, these are very rough amounts, for all of the reasons I’ve listed above.
But, if you were to measure a pinch of salt, with a teaspoon, it would usually amount to between one-eighth and one-sixteenth of a teaspoon.
Again, bigger pinches-bigger hands will equal a slightly larger amount.
If you’re not really in the mood to stand there and properly divide your teaspoon into halves, then quarters, then eighths, then sixteenths, you can buy a handy set of measuring spoons to make life easier… and a lot faster!
Using Salt in Cooking – A Little Advice
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
Use salt sparingly, and taste as you go.
Once you’ve added too much salt, that’s it. Your dish will effectively be ruined, because it will be too salty to enjoy. (You’re also likely to be really thirsty!)
Photo by Faran Raufi / Unsplash
If you don’t add enough salt, however, you can always add a bit more, and a bit more, and a bit more, until you eventually have enough for your personal taste.