A pinch is a small, indefinite amount of a substance, typically a powder like

salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quanti ...

, sugar,

spice A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices a ...

, or snuff. It is the "amount that can be taken between the thumb and forefinger". Some manufacturers of measuring spoons and some U.S. cookbooks give more precise equivalents, typically , , or even

teaspoon A teaspoon (tsp.) is an item of cutlery. It is a small spoon that can be used to stir a cup of tea or coffee, or as a tool for measuring volume. The size of teaspoons ranges from about . For cooking purposes and dosing of medicine, a teaspoonf ...

, but there is no generally accepted standard.

References

Customary units of measurement Cooking weights and measures Units of volume {{Measurement-stub