Measurement and Conversion Charts

posted in Reference Charts, Measuring by Kathy Maister

Americans typically measure ingredients by volume, while just about everyone else measures them by weight. Here is a quick summery of some of the basic cooking conversions. At the end of this post there are links to food specific online conversion calculators.

This post contains ratios for
a) US Dry Volume Measurements
b) US Liquid Volume Measurements
c) Converting US Measurements to Metric
d) Converting Metric Measurements to US
e) Oven Temperature Conversions
f) Ratios for selected foods
g) Measures for pans and dishes

Measurements Conversion Chart

US Dry Volume Measurements
MEASURE	EQUIVALENT
1/16 teaspoon	dash
1/8 teaspoon	a pinch
3 teaspoons	1 Tablespoon
1/8 cup	2 tablespoons (= 1 standard coffee scoop)
1/4 cup	4 Tablespoons
1/3 cup	5 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
1/2 cup	8 Tablespoons
3/4 cup	12 Tablespoons
1 cup	16 Tablespoons
1 Pound	16 ounces
US liquid volume measurements
8 Fluid ounces	1 Cup
1 Pint	2 Cups (= 16 fluid ounces)
1 Quart	2 Pints (= 4 cups)
1 Gallon	4 Quarts (= 16 cups)
US to Metric Conversions
1/5 teaspoon	1 ml (ml stands for milliliter, one thousandth of a liter)
1 teaspoon	5 ml
1 tablespoon	15 ml
1 fluid oz.	30 ml
1/5 cup	50 ml
1 cup	240 ml
2 cups (1 pint)	470 ml
4 cups (1 quart)	.95 liter
4 quarts (1 gal.)	3.8 liters
1 oz.	28 grams
1 pound	454 grams
Metric to US Conversions
1 milliliter	1/5 teaspoon
5 ml	1 teaspoon
15 ml	1 tablespoon
30 ml	1 fluid oz.
100 ml	3.4 fluid oz.
240 ml	1 cup
1 liter	34 fluid oz.
1 liter	4.2 cups
1 liter	2.1 pints
1 liter	1.06 quarts
1 liter	.26 gallon
1 gram	.035 ounce
100 grams	3.5 ounces
500 grams	1.10 pounds
1 kilogram	2.205 pounds
1 kilogram	35 oz.
Pan Size Equivalents
9-by-13-inches baking dish	22-by-33-centimeter baking dish
8-by-8-inches baking dish	20-by-20-centimeter baking dish
9-by-5-inches loaf pan	23-by-12-centimeter loaf pan (=8 cups or 2 liters in capacity)
10-inch tart or cake pan	25-centimeter tart or cake pan
9-inch cake pan	22-centimeter cake pan

Oven Temperature Conversions

Farenheit	Celsius	Gas Mark
275º F	140º C	gas mark 1-cool
300º F	150º C	gas mark 2
325º F	165º C	gas mark 3-very moderate
350º F	180º C	gas mark 4-moderate
375º F	190º C	gas mark 5
400º F	200º C	gas mark 6-moderately hot
425º F	220º C	gas mark 7- hot
450º F	230º C	gas mark 9
475º F	240º C	gas mark 10- very hot

Ratios for selected foods

Measure	Equivalents
Butter
1 T. 1 stick	14 grams 4 ounces=113 grams	1 Tablespoon 8 tablespoons	½ cup
4 sticks	16 ounces=452 grams	32 tablespoons	2 cups
Lemon
1 lemon	1 to 3 tablespoons juice, 1 to 1½ teaspoons grated zest
4 large lemons	1 cup juice	¼ cup grated zest
Chocolate
1 ounce	¼ cup grated 40 grams
6 ounces chips	1 cup chips 160 grams
cocoa powder	1 cup 115 grams
Creams
Half and half	½ milk ½ cream	10.5 to 18 % butterfat
Light cream		18 % butterfat
Light whipping cream		26-30 % butterfat
Heavy cream	whipping cream	36 % or more butterfat
Double cream	extra-thick double cream, Clotted or Devonshire	42 % butterfat

Measures for Pans and Dishes

Inches	Centimeters
9-by-13-inches baking dish	22-by-33-centimeter baking dish
8-by-8-inches baking dish	20-by-20-centimeter baking dish
9-by-5-inches loaf pan (8 cups in capacity)	23-by-12-centimeter loaf pan (2 liters in capacity)
10-inch tart or cake pan	25-centimeter tart or cake pan
9-inch cake pan	22-centimeter cake pan

ONLINE METRIC CONVERSION CALCULATORS

BEST FOR COOKING:
Cooking Conversion Online -I use this one all the time. It is an excellent food specific metric converter (as long as you can look past the advertisements!)

Good Basic Calculator:
Worldwide Metric - General conversion chart (not food specific)

Everything Converter:
Ask Numbers - This is a fun one as it includes things like speed, power and shoe size! The cooking calculator is not food specific.

(Not Recommended: Many food sites have a widget on their sites called the Culiverter. This calculator is not food specific which is why I do not recommend using it.

Other Posts on Measuring:

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26 comments

Chef-Dezzie

This is very helpful, thanks!

Jon (Sacker)

As I have written about elsewhere on this site, cooking with weights is so much easier (but as that's what I grew up with, I wolud say that wouldn't I!!). The best site I know for conversions is at convert-me which is great for food as well as a host of other sorts of conversions.

Lillian

I love the conversion chart ! I will be using it often ! Thanks !!!

Kathy Maister

Thanks Lillian! My summer project is to develop every chart imaginable for cooking. Yikes! Well maybe not every chart but a really good reference for all cooks!

What charts would everyone like to see?

David

Hi Kathy,

If you could develop a chart that converts cup = milligrams / mililetres it would greatly help this metric user in England!

Many thanks!

Kathy Maister

I'll add it to the list! :-)

Nur Aisha

thank you, thank you, thank you so much!!

Lex

This is such a huge help. I felt so dumb for not knowing how to convert my grandmother's recipes but now I can cheat! Many thanks!

brooklyn banks

I love this site it helps alot with cooking!

startcooking

Lex, good luck recreating what I am sure are old family favorites!
BB, Thanks!
Cheers,
Kathy

Lesa

Thank you!!! This was so very helpful.....I will forever be indeted to you for these converts. I will pass them on to others that need the same help I did. Keep up the WONDERFUL things you do to help us keep measuring accurately

startcooking

Hi Lesa, glad I could help! Measuring ingredients should not be complicated but unfortunately everyone around the world uses different measures for what ends up to be the same amount!

Peggy

I am trying to figue out how many teaspoons of salt would be in a 1,500 mg suggested serving? I find all answers except the one I need. Can you help??? Thanks.

startcooking

Hi Peggy,

1500 mg of salt is just a bit more than 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

1/4 teaspoon salt = 575 mg sodium
1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,150 mg sodium
3/4 teaspoon salt = 1,725 mg sodium
1 teaspoon salt = 2,300 mg sodium

I hope this helps!
Cheers,
Kathy

jonathan

Hi,in and out of websites and really need some help with my, nutrition facts, for my jerky product.Very simple recipe and I have figured I use 1/4 teaspoon of salt in every 2oz bag.Just can't figure the percentage,is it by the calories,which would be 232 per serving or grams which would be 46 grams.Hope you can help.Thanks

startcooking

Sorry Jonathan, but I really have no idea how to answer your question!
This Nutrition Data link may be able to supply you with the information you need.
Good Luck,
Kathy

Carmen

How do I measure 1/2 pound butter?

startcooking

Hi Carmen,
1/2 pound of butter equals:

225 grams
or
1 Cup
or
16 Tablespoons
or
two sticks

Cheers,
Kathy

Joanie

While trying to figure out how much salt is in a pound of butter, my label states 90 mg. per 1 Tablespoon so 1#=452 grams of salt. Then you wrote 1 tsp.=2300 mg. sodium x3=6900 mg per Tablespoon. Help!

startcooking

Hi Joanie,

According to the American Heart Association:

1 teaspoon SALT has 2,300 mg sodium

According to the Nutrition Facts on my container of butter:

1 Tablespoon of BUTTER has 95 mg of sodium

I hope this helps!
Cheers,
Kathy

gloria chandler

my diet gives me 40g of cereal.

How do I measure this,what I have done is 4 dessertful which I hope measure 40 grams.

can you help me with this question please. I know there is a simple answer

startcooking

Hi Gloria,
All cereals do not weigh the same. 40g of one cereal may actually be a lot less or a lot more than what you think. In my grocery store you can buy small, single serving packets of cereal which takes the guess work out of measuring.

I think your best best might be to invest in a small food scale.

Good Luck,
Kathy

Andrea Arquitt

The answer to Jonathan's question about salt in his recipe--for labeling purposes the amount of sodium is listed as a percent of daily reccomdations which is 2300 mg/d for adults. Sodium is 39% of the weight of salt (sodium chloride). So you convert the measure of salt into milligrams of salt and then calculate the sodium content. One teaspoon is approximately 5 grams or 5000 milligrams.

Diana

how do i mesure 3/4 teaspoon of salt

thanks

Diane

startcooking

1/4 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon = 3/4 teaspoon

ankit

Hi Kathy,

This is the best site i have ever found for cooking...... i m a hotel management student and your site helps me a lot.

THANKS..

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