How Large Is a Salt Spoon?
Some historic recipes measure ingredients using historic utensils, which is about the only way you will come across a reference to a salt spoon. The salt spoon is actually a liquid measurement and commonly has no reference to the amount of salt called for in the recipe. A salt spoon is equivalent to 1/4 of a modern teaspoon. The actual salt spoons may be collector's items, depending on the design and style. Does this Spark an idea?
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Historic Use
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Prior to the late 1890s, a teaspoon or tablespoon were not units of measurement but the utensils on the table. The salt spoon would have been part of the table setting in a small bowl of salt. It was used to add salt to food in the days prior to the saltshaker.
Other Period Measurements
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Drops were a common liquid measurement used for minor ingredients. The gill was actually equivalent to a half cup in modern measurements while the tumbler was a full cup. A recipe may call for a pottle of a dry ingredient, which is about 4 lbs. or a "piece of butter the size of a walnut," which is about 2 tsps.
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Use in Modern Cooking
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Converting a historic recipe to modern measurements requires a little math. The salt spoon is 1/4 of a teaspoon, so three salt spoons would be 3/4 of a teaspoon. A salt spoon was also equal to 15 drops of liquid.
Collecting
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Salt spoons, especially ornate examples, are collectible. Highly collectible examples include those with distinctive backs or rare manufacturers. In many cases, a salt spoon may complete a set of dinnerware along with a wide variety of specialty utensils not commonly used today.
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