Running low on kosher salt? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.

About kosher salt
Kosher salt is a coarse-grained salt with flat, flaky crystals that dissolve quickly and adhere well to food surfaces. It is prized by chefs for its clean, pure flavour and ease of pinching and sprinkling by hand. Unlike table salt, it contains no iodine or anti-caking agents, which can impart a slightly bitter or metallic taste.
Best substitute
Flaky sea salt such as Maldon has a similar coarse, flaky crystal structure and pure, clean flavour, making it the closest match in texture and taste. It works well as a finishing salt and in most cooking applications.
Alternative
Coarse sea salt has a similar crystal size to kosher salt and no additives, giving a clean flavour. It may dissolve slightly more slowly due to denser, rounder crystals, so allow a little extra time when seasoning.
Alternative
Table salt has much finer, denser crystals that pack more tightly, making it significantly saltier by volume than kosher salt. Use less to avoid over-salting; it also contains iodine which can occasionally affect flavour in delicate preparations.
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| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | cooking salt |
| Canada | kosher salt |
| New Zealand | cooking salt |
| United Kingdom | coarse salt |
| United States | kosher salt |
Alternative
Pink Himalayan salt is available in coarse grinds that approximate kosher salt's crystal size and has no additives. Its mineral content gives a very slightly different flavour profile, though the difference is negligible in most cooked dishes.
Alternative
Pickling salt is a fine-grained pure salt with no iodine or anti-caking agents, making it a good additive-free alternative. Because of its fine grain it is denser by volume, so reduce the quantity used accordingly.