Salt Questions · Cooking & kitchen
Can I use table salt instead of kosher salt in baking?
Short answer
Yes, but use less. Table salt has small, dense crystals, so a teaspoon holds more salt than a teaspoon of kosher salt. As a rough guide, use about half as much table salt as Diamond Crystal kosher salt, or about three-quarters as much as Morton kosher salt. Weighing the salt avoids the problem entirely.
About how much salt fits in one level teaspoon
Approximate weights; brands vary. Weigh salt for precise baking.
Why the swap changes your recipe
Salt measured by volume depends on crystal size. Fine table salt packs tightly; flaky Diamond Crystal kosher salt is mostly air between the crystals. The weight in one teaspoon is very different even though the salt is the same chemical.
A practical conversion
- Recipe says 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt: use about ½ teaspoon table salt.
- Recipe says 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt: use a scant ¾–1 teaspoon table salt.
- Recipe gives grams: use the same grams of any salt.
These are approximate. Brands change their crystals over time, and how you scoop matters too.
Anything else to watch?
In bread and pastry, salt affects yeast and gluten as well as flavour, so getting the weight right matters more than in a sauce you can taste as you go. Iodized table salt works fine in baking.
Related on The Salt Almanac
More cooking & kitchen questions
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- Why do recipes say to use unsalted butter and add salt later?
- How do you fix over-salted soup without adding water?
- Does salt make water boil faster or slower?
- What is the best salt for fermenting vegetables?
- Why does salt draw moisture out of meat?
Cite this page
For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). Can I use table salt instead of kosher salt in baking. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/can-i-use-table-salt-instead-of-kosher-salt-in-baking
“Can I use table salt instead of kosher salt in baking.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/answers/can-i-use-table-salt-instead-of-kosher-salt-in-baking. Accessed [today's date].
“Can I use table salt instead of kosher salt in baking.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/can-i-use-table-salt-instead-of-kosher-salt-in-baking.
Original sources
- Cook's Illustrated. Taste test: salt. https://cooksillustrated.com/taste_tests/51-salt
- Wikipedia. Kosher salt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosher_salt