Cooking Converter
Convert cups, tablespoons, grams, ounces for any ingredient
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🍳 Cooking Converter
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Quick conversions:
Cooking Measurement Guide
Common Cooking Conversions
| Measurement | Equals | Also Equals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 237 ml |
| 1 tablespoon | 3 teaspoons | 15 ml |
| 1 teaspoon | ⅓ tablespoon | 5 ml |
| 1 fluid ounce | 2 tablespoons | 30 ml |
| 1 cup | 8 fluid ounces | ½ pint |
| 1 pint | 2 cups | 473 ml |
| 1 quart | 4 cups | 946 ml |
| 1 gallon | 16 cups | 3.78 liters |
| 1 pound | 16 ounces | 454 grams |
Ingredient-Specific Conversions
| Ingredient | 1 Cup | 1 Tablespoon |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 237 g | 15 g |
| All-Purpose Flour | 120 g | 8 g |
| White Sugar | 200 g | 12.5 g |
| Brown Sugar (packed) | 220 g | 14 g |
| Powdered Sugar | 120 g | 8 g |
| Butter | 227 g | 14 g |
| Vegetable Oil | 218 g | 14 g |
| Honey | 340 g | 21 g |
| Cocoa Powder | 118 g | 7 g |
| Rice (uncooked) | 185 g | 12 g |
| Rolled Oats | 90 g | 6 g |
| Salt | 292 g | 18 g |
Understanding Cooking Measurements
Volume vs Weight
Important: Volume measurements (cups, tablespoons) measure space occupied. Weight measurements (grams, ounces) measure actual mass. The same volume of different ingredients weighs differently!
- ☕ 1 cup of flour = 120 grams
- 🍬 1 cup of sugar = 200 grams
- 💧 1 cup of water = 237 grams
- 🧈 1 cup of butter = 227 grams
Why Bakers Prefer Weight
Professional bakers use grams because:
- ⚖️ More accurate: 120g flour is always 120g, but 1 cup can vary by 20g+ depending on how you scoop
- 🎯 More consistent: Weight doesn't change if ingredient is packed, sifted, or aerated
- 🍰 Better results: Baking is chemistry - precise measurements matter!
- 🧹 Less mess: Pour directly on scale, no measuring cups to wash
Butter Measurements
Butter stick equivalents (US):
| Amount | Sticks | Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ stick | ¼ | ⅛ cup | 2 tbsp | 28 g |
| ½ stick | ½ | ¼ cup | 4 tbsp | 57 g |
| 1 stick | 1 | ½ cup | 8 tbsp | 113 g |
| 2 sticks | 2 | 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 227 g |
| 4 sticks | 4 | 2 cups | 32 tbsp | 454 g (1 lb) |
Recipe Scaling
How to double or halve recipes:
- ✖️ To double: Multiply all ingredients by 2
- ➗ To halve: Divide all ingredients by 2
- ⚠️ Exception - Baking time: Don't double or halve cooking time automatically. Check doneness early.
- 🧂 Taste as you go: Seasonings don't always scale linearly
- 🍳 Pan size matters: Larger batches may need larger pans and adjusted times
Common Baking Substitutions
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| 1 cup cake flour | 1 cup minus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour + 2 tbsp cornstarch |
| 1 cup self-rising flour | 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt |
| 1 cup buttermilk | 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice (let sit 5 min) |
| 1 cup sour cream | 1 cup plain yogurt |
| 1 large egg | 3 tbsp aquafaba (chickpea liquid) or 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water |
| 1 cup butter | 1 cup coconut oil or ⅞ cup vegetable oil |
Measuring Tips
Dry Ingredients
- 🥄 Flour: Spoon into cup, level off with knife. Don't scoop or pack.
- 🍬 White sugar: Scoop and level. No packing needed.
- 🟤 Brown sugar: Pack firmly into cup, should hold shape when turned out.
- 🧈 Butter: Use measurement marks on wrapper, or pack firmly in cup.
Liquid Ingredients
- 💧 Use liquid measuring cup: Glass cup with spout and markings
- 👁️ Check at eye level: Meniscus (curve) should hit the line
- 🍯 Sticky liquids: Spray cup with oil first for easier release (honey, molasses)
International Conversions
US vs UK vs Australia measurements:
- 🇺🇸 US cup = 237 ml (8 fl oz)
- 🇬🇧 UK cup = 250 ml (metric cup)
- 🇦🇺 Australian cup = 250 ml (metric cup)
- 🥄 UK tablespoon = 17.7 ml (vs 15 ml in US)
- ⚖️ Best practice: Use weight (grams) for international recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams in a cup of flour?
1 cup of all-purpose flour = 120 grams. This is the standard for properly measured flour (spooned and leveled, not scooped). If you scoop directly from the bag, you might get 140-150g, which can make baked goods dense.
How many tablespoons in a cup?
16 tablespoons = 1 cup. Also: 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons, so 1 cup = 48 teaspoons.
How many ml in a tablespoon?
In the US, 1 tablespoon = 15 ml. In the UK and Australia, 1 tablespoon = 17.7 ml (approximately 18 ml). For accuracy in international recipes, use weight measurements.
How do I measure 1 cup of flour correctly?
Spoon and level method: (1) Fluff flour with spoon, (2) Spoon flour into measuring cup without packing, (3) Level off top with flat edge. Never scoop directly from bag - this packs flour and can add 20-30g extra!
Why do my recipes fail when I use cups instead of grams?
Cup measurements are imprecise. 1 "cup" of flour can vary from 100g to 150g depending on how you scoop. Baking is chemistry - small variations cause big problems. Switch to a kitchen scale for consistent results!
How many grams in a stick of butter?
One US stick of butter = 113 grams (4 ounces). A full package of 4 sticks = 454 grams (1 pound). Most butter wrappers have tablespoon markings.
Can I use a liquid measuring cup for flour?
No! Liquid cups have a pour spout and aren't meant for dry ingredients. Use dry measuring cups (flat top, no spout) for flour, sugar, etc. Or better yet, use a scale!
Do I need to sift flour before measuring?
Most modern recipes assume unsifted flour. If recipe says "1 cup sifted flour," sift first then measure. If it says "1 cup flour, sifted," measure first then sift. When in doubt, don't sift - just fluff with a spoon.
Quick Reference Chart
Emergency conversions when you don't have the right tool:
- Don't have tablespoon? → 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
- Don't have ½ cup? → 8 tablespoons = ½ cup
- Don't have ¼ cup? → 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup
- Don't have ⅓ cup? → 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = ⅓ cup
- Don't have ⅛ cup? → 2 tablespoons = ⅛ cup
- Don't have measuring cups? → Buy a $10 kitchen scale!