The long standing
general rule-of-thumb when applying Cure #1/Pink Salt in dry form is
"1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of meat." Which equates to ~156ppm nitrite (plenty of cure in the context of short-term curing).
One level teaspoon being 5 to 6 grams of Cure #1/Pink Salt.
Why?
Cure #1/Pink Salt is formulated (6.25% nitrite) in such a way that when 4 ounces is applied to 100 pounds of meat the ingoing nitrite is 156ppm.
4 ounces to grams= ~113
100/5=20
113/20=
5.65 (~weight (in grams) of a teaspoon of Cure #1/Pink Salt)
Because the weight of a given volume of Cure #1/Pink Salt can vary and teaspoons can vary a bit in volume measured (capacity), it's a good idea to use a calculator and accurate gram scale (it helps with cure consistency from batch to batch and also ensures that ingredients aren't unnecessarily over-used and wasted):
http://www.diggingdogfarm.com/page2.htmlOne pound is ~454 grams.
454x5=2270
Below is the calculation for 5 lbs. of meat.
Notice the amount of Cure #1/Pink Salt is consistent with what I detailed above.
Unfortunately, firmness of the meat isn't always a reliable way to judge the progress or effectiveness of cure.
Why?
Numerous factors can affect the firmness of cured meat.
Meat varies greatly in composition and quality.
Bellies, for example, can vary greatly in fat content, quality of the fat (soft fat responds to cure and salt differently than firmer fat), etc.
Some bellies expel appreciable liquid when cured and some don't, etc.
I hope this info helps.