How many grams of salt are in a tablespoon?

Question

I am trying to follow a new recipe for bread, and it lists the salt in grams... All I have are my regular measuring spoons... How many grams of salt are in one level tablespoon??

I have seen so many different answers online depending on if it is fine salt or coarse salt!!! Can someone please explain this clearly? I just need a simple conversion for my baking.

Answer 1

It's so dependent on the type of salt, it's a bit of a nightmare lol. As a rule of thumb, 1 tbsp fine table salt is ~18g, but 1 tbsp of flaky/coarse salt can be as little as 9-10g. For baking, a cheap digital scale is a lifesaver, honestly! :)

Answer 2

The difference you're seeing is all about density, which cooks call "bulk density." The salt itself is the same, but the crystal shape changes how much you can fit in a spoon. It's like the difference between fine sand and coarse gravel.

Fine table salt crystals are small and cubic, so they pack together tightly with very little air. One level tablespoon is about 18 grams.
Coarse kosher salt has larger, irregular flakes that don't pack well, leaving a lot of air. For a brand like Diamond Crystal, a tablespoon is only about 9-10 grams. Morton Kosher salt is denser, about 14 grams per tablespoon.

For bread, the salt percentage is critcal for controlling yeast fermentation and gluten structure. If a recipe gives grams, it's because that precision matters. Your best bet is to get a cheap digital scale. It will make all your baking more consistent and true to type.

Answer 3

The weight of a tablespoon of salt depends on the crystal size. Fine salt is denser and weighs more than coarse salt. A level tablespoon of standard table salt is about 18 grams. A level tablespoon of a coarse kosher salt like Diamond Crystal is about 9 grams. For baking it is best to buy a small digital scale for accuracy.

Answer 4

See, this is the trouble with all these modern recipes. Everything must be in grams. My mother never used a scale in her life and her bread was perfect every time! She used the palm of her hand.

But if you must follow this recipe, then a tablespoon of regular fine salt is heavy, around 18 grams. If you are using the big chunky salt for grilling, it is much lighter, so you might need almost two spoons for the same weight. It is better to just buy a small scale, they are not expensive and will make things eaiser.

Answer 5

Salt is difrent. Small salt very hevy, maybe 18 gram. Big salt is lite, maybe 10 gram. For bred must be careful.