CULINARY DENSITY CONVERSION
Equilibrium Salting & Dry-Brine Math
A tablespoon of Morton salt has almost twice the sodium of Diamond Crystal. Stop ruining good meat with volume-based guessing. Precise 1.0%–1.2% salt weight and teaspoon conversions.
1. CHOOSE YOUR EXACT SALT BRAND (CRUCIAL FOR VOLUME):
2. SELECT CUT & BRINING STYLE:
2 LBS (907g)
0.5 lb (Single Chop)2.0 lbs (Family Steak)5.0 lbs (Roast)15 lbs (Whole Bird)
VOLUME MEASUREMENT
1 tbsp + 0.6 tsp
Calibrated for Diamond density
EXACT GRAM WEIGHT (SCALE)
10g
1.1% of 907g meat
REFRIGERATOR REST
2–24 HRS
Uncovered on wire rack
THE KOSHER SALT DENSITY TRAP:
1 tsp of Morton Kosher Salt (4.8g) has nearly double the salinity of 1 tsp of Diamond Crystal (2.8g). Never substitute kosher salt brands 1:1 by volume without weighing or adjusting spoons.
DRY-BRINE PROTOCOL
Salt all surfaces evenly, place uncovered on wire rack over baking sheet in refrigerator. Surface dries to create glass-like crust when seared.
INDEXED PHYSICAL SALT DENSITIES
| Salt Variety | Density (Grams / Tsp) | Crystal Structure | Pinch Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt | 2.8g | Hollow pyramid flakes | Light, crushable between fingers, forgiving to over-salting |
| Morton Kosher Salt | 4.8g | Dense flattened flakes | Nearly twice as dense as Diamond Crystal per volume |
| Standard Table Salt (Iodized / Non-Iodized) | 5.7g | Dense cubic crystals | Extremely dense; 1 tsp table salt = over 2 tsp Diamond Crystal |
| Fine Sea Salt | 5.5g | Fine ground sea crystals | Heavy salinity per volumetric teaspoon |