Salt percentage

2.25% salt — lightly-salted brine-pickle

Clean, mild. Let the vegetable's natural sweetness through. Less brine coating on the palate.

Salt calculator

Enter your vegetable weight and a salt percentage. We return the exact salt mass in grams, plus teaspoons for each common grain.

grams
%

Grain matters: one teaspoon of Diamond Crystal weighs half as much as one teaspoon of fine sea salt. Weigh in grams when you can.

22.5g salt
3.95 tsp 1.32 tbsp 0.79 oz

Based on Fine sea salt at 5.69 g/tsp.

Safe range for lacto-fermentation. 2% is the most common default for cabbage, kimchi and pepper mash.

All salt grains
GrainGramsTeaspoonsTablespoons
Diamond Crystal kosher22.5 g7.922.64
Morton kosher22.5 g4.691.56
Fine sea salt22.5 g3.951.32
Pickling / canning22.5 g4.091.36

Safety and use at 2.25%

Good for brine-pickling cucumbers, peppers, and similar high-moisture vegetables. Below 3% is acceptable only for short ferments (<7 days) at <72°F. Not recommended for long ferments or warm rooms.

Technique notes

Use when you want a mild pickle — e.g. pepper jars for sandwich garnish. At this salt level, monitor daily and refrigerate at first taste-check-pass.

Typical ferments at 2.25%

Frequently asked questions

How much salt is 2.25% for fermentation?

2.25% salt = 22.5g salt per 1000g vegetables. For 500g: 11.3g salt. Multiply vegetable weight by 0.0225. Use non-iodised salt and weigh in grams — teaspoon equivalences vary by salt grain type.

Is 2.25% salt safe for fermentation?

Good for brine-pickling cucumbers, peppers, and similar high-moisture vegetables. Below 3% is acceptable only for short ferments (<7 days) at <72°F. Not recommended for long ferments or warm rooms.

What does 2.25% salt taste like?

Clean, mild. Let the vegetable's natural sweetness through. Less brine coating on the palate. Use when you want a mild pickle — e.g. pepper jars for sandwich garnish. At this salt level, monitor daily and refrigerate at first taste-check-pass.

What ferments use 2.25% salt?

Common ferments at 2.25%: brine pickle modern half sour, pepper fermentation. Compatible vegetables: 9 types — see list above for full pairings.

Vegetables at 2.25%

9 vegetables are commonly fermented at 2.25% salt. Each page gives timing at 68 °F, pH target, and species-specific technique.

Sources

Salt percentage guidance from the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP), FDA fermented vegetable guidelines, and Sandor Katz, The Art of Fermentation (Chelsea Green, 2012). Information is provided for educational purposes. Consult your local food safety authority for commercial production. Last verified 2026-05-17.