A pinch of salt is whatever salt you can pick up with your thumb and index finger. But if you don't want to dump some salt out on the countertop, or in a bowl just to turn around and pick it up with your thumb and index finger, go ahead and do a couple of quick shakes of your salt shaker. Another dilemma about the pinch of salt question is everyone has different size thumbs and index fingers. Usually, depending on the size of a person's fingers, you can figure about 1/16 to 1/8 teaspoon for a pinch of salt. A great way to be completely accurate is to use these mini measuring spoons. The description for these mini measuring spoons says 1/8 of a teaspoon is a dash, 1/16 of a teaspoon is a pinch, 1/32 of a teaspoon is a smidgen, and 1/64 of a teaspoon is a nip.