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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
MEASUREEQUIVALENT
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

FarenheitCelsiusGas 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

MeasureEquivalents
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

InchesCentimeters
9-by-13-inches baking dish22-by-33-centimeter baking dish
8-by-8-inches baking dish20-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 pan25-centimeter tart or cake pan
9-inch cake pan22-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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8 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!


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