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Kosher salt:
grams to cups.
Kosher salt density varies significantly by brand. Morton kosher salt weighs about 240 g per cup; Diamond Crystal kosher salt weighs about 135–145 g per cup due to its hollow, airy flakes. When a recipe says "kosher salt," which brand it was developed with changes everything.
Kosher Salt: grams to cups
Approximate cup fractions for common gram amounts. Based on 240 g per cup.
| Grams | Cups (approx) | Decimal |
|---|---|---|
| 25 g | ⅙ | 0.10 |
| 50 g | ¼ | 0.21 |
| 100 g | ½ | 0.42 |
| 150 g | ⅔ | 0.63 |
| 200 g | ¾ | 0.83 |
| 250 g | 1 ⅛ | 1.04 |
| 500 g | 2 ⅙ | 2.08 |
Kosher Salt: cups to grams
Based on 240 g per cup.
| Volume | Grams (g) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 240 g |
| ¾ cup | 180 g |
| ½ cup | 120 g |
| ⅓ cup | 80 g |
| ¼ cup | 60 g |
| 1 tbsp | 15 g |
| 1 tsp | 5 g |
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The Morton vs Diamond Crystal problem
This is the most brand-specific measurement issue in all of cooking. Morton kosher salt uses compacted, dense flake crystals with a cup weight around 240 g. Diamond Crystal kosher salt uses a proprietary evaporation process that creates hollow, irregular flakes with a cup weight around 135–145 g. That's a near 2:1 ratio for the same "1 cup kosher salt" measurement. When food writers, cookbook authors, and recipe developers say "kosher salt," they almost always mean Diamond Crystal — it's the industry standard in professional kitchens. If you only have Morton, use half the volume specified, or weigh your salt: whatever gram amount the recipe implies (based on which brand they used) is the correct quantity.
Kosher salt in brining and curing: where the measurement difference is critical
In brining — submerging meat or poultry in a saltwater solution — the salt concentration determines how much salt penetrates the meat. A brine made with 1 cup Diamond Crystal kosher salt (about 140 g) and a brine made with 1 cup Morton kosher salt (about 240 g) have very different concentrations: the Morton brine would be significantly saltier and could over-salt the meat if soaked for the same time. Many brine recipes published before 2010 don't specify brand, creating significant risk of over-salting. Always weigh salt for brines, or find a recipe that specifies both brand and gram weight.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does 1 teaspoon of kosher salt weigh?
- It depends on the brand: Diamond Crystal kosher salt ≈ 3 g per teaspoon; Morton kosher salt ≈ 4.8 g per teaspoon — a 60% difference.
- Can I substitute table salt for kosher salt at the same gram weight?
- Yes — gram for gram, all salts are sodium chloride. Use the same gram quantity of any salt. The texture and how fast it dissolves differs, but the saltiness is identical by weight.
- How many cups is 100 g of Morton kosher salt?
- 100 g ÷ 240 g/cup ≈ 0.42 cups — about 6.5 tablespoons.
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