Substitutions

What can I use instead of table salt?

Q: Can I use diamond crystal kosher salt instead of table salt?

1 tsp table salt = 2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Its hollow, flaky crystals pack about half as densely by volume, so measuring by the spoon needs roughly double. This is not a rounding difference — it is the single most common cause of an accidentally under-seasoned dish. Identical once dissolved. The difference is entirely one of volume, not of the salt itself.

Q: Can I use morton kosher salt instead of table salt?

1 tsp table salt = 1 1/4 tsp Morton kosher salt. Morton's crystals are rolled flat rather than hollow, so they pack more densely than Diamond Crystal and need a much smaller adjustment. The two kosher brands are not interchangeable with each other either, which surprises most cooks.

Q: Can I use fine sea salt instead of table salt?

1 tsp table salt = 1 tsp fine sea salt. A comparable crystal size means a comparable density, so it measures one-to-one. No iodine, which some people can taste in table salt.

Finely ground salt, often iodised and treated with anti-caking agents. Its small crystals pack densely, so a teaspoon holds far more salt than a teaspoon of a flaky variety.

What it does in a recipe: Seasoning, and in baking a genuine functional ingredient — it regulates yeast and strengthens gluten. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

Also called: Fine salt, Iodised salt

3substitutes

3close matches

Baking staplescategory

Quick answer

Diamond Crystal kosher salt

1 tsp table salt = 2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt

All substitutes, best first

3 ways to replace table salt

Diamond Crystal kosher salt

Closest match

1 tsp table salt = 2 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt

Its hollow, flaky crystals pack about half as densely by volume, so measuring by the spoon needs roughly double. This is not a rounding difference — it is the single most common cause of an accidentally under-seasoned dish.

Trade-offIdentical once dissolved. The difference is entirely one of volume, not of the salt itself.

CookingBakingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Morton kosher salt

Closest match

1 tsp table salt = 1 1/4 tsp Morton kosher salt

Morton's crystals are rolled flat rather than hollow, so they pack more densely than Diamond Crystal and need a much smaller adjustment.

Trade-offThe two kosher brands are not interchangeable with each other either, which surprises most cooks.

CookingBakingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Fine sea salt

Closest match

1 tsp table salt = 1 tsp fine sea salt

A comparable crystal size means a comparable density, so it measures one-to-one.

Trade-offNo iodine, which some people can taste in table salt.

CookingBakingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Worth knowing

Weigh salt if you can. Every salt weighs the same per gram; only the volume differs. Where a recipe just says 'salt', it almost always means table salt.

At a glance

Table salt in summary

Category	Baking staples
Job in a recipe	Seasoning, and in baking a genuine functional ingredient — it regulates yeast and strengthens gluten
Suits	Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free
Swaps available for	Dairy-free Egg-free Gluten-free Nut-free Soy-free Vegan Vegetarian
Number of substitutes	3

More baking staples

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Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.