Cooking can be a daunting task, especially when you’re not familiar with the measurements and equivalencies used in recipes. It’s important to know how to measure ingredients accurately to make sure your dishes turn out the way you want them. In this article, we will explain the most common cooking measurements and equivalents you need to know to become a master in the kitchen!
Measurement Basics
Before we dive in, let’s go over the basics of measuring. When measuring wet ingredients like oil, milk, or water, use a liquid measuring cup. These are usually made of glass or plastic and have a pouring spout. When measuring dry ingredients like flour, sugar, or spices, use a dry measuring cup or a kitchen scale. Measuring spoons are used to measure small amounts of ingredients like teaspoons or tablespoons.
Kitchen Equivalents Chart
Here is a chart of the most commonly used kitchen equivalents. Use these measurements to easily switch between units and make adjustments when needed:
| Measurement | Imperial Equivalent | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | 1/6 fluid ounce | 5 milliliters (ml) |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 1/2 fluid ounce | 15 milliliters (ml) |
| 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) | 1/8 cup | 30 milliliters (ml) |
| 1 cup | 8 fluid ounces | 240 milliliters (ml) |
| 1 pint (pt) | 16 fluid ounces | 480 milliliters (ml) |
| 1 quart (qt) | 32 fluid ounces | 960 milliliters (ml) |
| 1 gallon (gal) | 128 fluid ounces | 3.8 liters (l) |
| 1 pound (lb) | 16 ounces | 454 grams (g) |
Small Volume (Liquid)
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 1/2 fluid ounces
- 2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup = 1 fluid ounce
- 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup = 2 fluid ounces
- 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup
- 16 tablespoons = 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
Large Volume (Liquid)
- 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 1/2 pint
- 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces = 1 pint = 1/2 quart
- 3 cups = 24 fluid ounces = 1 1/2 pints
- 4 cups = 32 fluid ounces = 2 pints = 1 quart
- 8 cups = 64 fluid ounces = 2 quarts = 1/2 gallon
- 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces = 4 quarts = 1 gallon
Dry Measurements
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
- 1 pound dry = 16 ounces
Equipment
- 2 1/2-by-1 1/2-inch muffin-pan cup = 1/2 cup
- 8-by-1 1/2-inch round cake pan = 5 cups
- 9-by-1 1/2-inch round cake pan = 6 cups
- 9-by-1-inch pie plate = 4 cups
- 8-by-8-by-2-inch square pan = 7 cups
- 9-by-9-by-1 1/2-inch square pan = 8 cups
- 9-by-9-by-2-inch square pan = 10 cups
- 11-by-7-by-1 1/2-inch rectangular pan = 7 cups
- 13-by-9-by-2-inch rectangular pan = 14 cups
- 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by 2 1/2 inch loaf pan = 6 cups
- 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan = 8 cups
- 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-by-1-inch jelly-roll pan = 16 cups
Additional Equivalents to Know
Besides the measurements listed in the chart, there are a few additional equivalents you should be aware of when cooking:
- 3 teaspoons (tsp) = 1 tablespoon (tbsp)
- 16 tablespoons (tbsp) = 1 cup
- 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons (tbsp) = 1/2 cup
- 4 cups = 1 quart (qt)
Converting Recipes
It’s not uncommon to come across a recipe that uses a different measurement system than you’re used to. Luckily, it’s easy to convert measurements with the help of the kitchen equivalents chart. Simply take the measurement listed in the recipe and convert it using the appropriate equivalent. For example, if a recipe calls for 2 cups of flour but you only have a metric measuring cup, you can convert 2 cups to 480 milliliters.
