3.5% salt for Leek
10.0 days at 68 °F · pH target 3.60 · within recommended range
Salt calculator
Enter your vegetable weight and a salt percentage. We return the exact salt mass in grams, plus teaspoons for each common grain.
Grain matters: one teaspoon of Diamond Crystal weighs half as much as one teaspoon of fine sea salt. Weigh in grams when you can.
All salt grains
| Grain | Grams | Teaspoons | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Crystal kosher | 35 g | 12.32 | 4.11 |
| Morton kosher | 35 g | 7.29 | 2.43 |
| Fine sea salt | 35 g | 6.15 | 2.05 |
| Pickling / canning | 35 g | 6.36 | 2.12 |
About Leek
A mild allium that ferments into a savory, oniony condiment without the harsh bite of raw leek. Often fermented as a component of kimchi and mixed-vegetable ferments rather than alone. Thorough washing between the layers is essential — grit hides in the tightly furled stalk.
Fermentation data
- Default salt
- 3%(you are viewing 3.5%)
- Salt range
- 2.5–3.5%
- Time at 68°F
- 10.0 days
- pH target
- 3.60
- Water content
- 83%
- Preferred styles
- lacto ferment, kimchi component, mixed veg component
Technique
Split lengthwise and rinse well between the layers, then slice into half-moons. Salt at 3% of weight and pack firmly, or brine at 3% (30g salt per liter). Ferment 7-14 days at 65-72°F. Use as a sharp, savory accent; pairs naturally with fermented garlic and ginger.
Salt level notes at 3.5%
Kimchi salting is a 2-stage process: 3.5-4% dry salt → 2-4 hour rest (flip halfway) → 3x rinse → paste application. The salt drawn into the water during rest is what rinses away. Final kimchi effective salt is ~2%.
Safety: Flavour-forward. Ferment will be slower; brine will taste salty. Good for pickles and hot-sauce mashes that need long shelf life.
Explore other salt levels for Leek
Sources
- NCHFP (UGA) — fermented brine-pickle method
- NCHFP (UGA) — Fermented and Pickled Products
- Sandor Katz, The Art of Fermentation (Chelsea Green, 2012)
For educational use only. Consult your local food safety authority for commercial production.
The kit for fermenting Leek
A short, honest kit for lacto-fermentation. The scale is the one that matters most — everything here is by weight.
- Digital kitchen scale (0.1 g)Salt % is by weight, not volume — a 0.1 g scale is what makes the math above accurate.View on Amazon →
- Glass fermentation weightsKeep vegetables submerged under the brine line so they ferment safely without mould.View on Amazon →
- Airlock fermentation lidsLet CO₂ escape while keeping oxygen out — wide-mouth lids that fit standard jars.View on Amazon →
- Wide-mouth mason jarsThe workhorse vessel for kraut, kimchi and brine pickles — 1 qt and ½ gal sizes.View on Amazon →
- Pickling / fine sea saltPure salt with no iodine or anti-caking agents, which can cloud brine and inhibit fermentation.View on Amazon →
- Stoneware fermentation crockFor scaling past the jar — a water-sealed crock for 5 L+ batches with built-in weights.View on Amazon →
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