AkCalculators

Cooking measurement conversion — kitchen units demystified

Cooking and baking often involve recipes written in different measurement systems. US cookbooks may use cups, tablespoons, and fluid ounces, while European and Asian recipes often use grams and milliliters. This Cooking Measurement Converter helps bridge the gap between imperial and metric, making it easier to follow recipes from around the world.

Why measurement accuracy matters in cooking

In baking, even small measurement differences can affect texture, rise, and taste. For example, an extra tablespoon of flour can make cookies dry, while too much water can make bread dough sticky. That’s why precision tools like digital scales and reliable unit converters are invaluable in the kitchen.

Common cooking units explained

• Teaspoon (tsp) — Common for spices, baking powder, and small ingredients. 1 tsp ≈ 4.92892 ml.
• Tablespoon (tbsp) — Equal to 3 tsp. 1 tbsp ≈ 14.7868 ml (US).
• Cup — 1 cup (US legal) = 240 ml. Often used for flour, sugar, liquids.
• Fluid ounce (fl oz US) — 1 fl oz = 29.5735 ml.
• Pint (US) — 1 pt = 473.176 ml.
• Quart (US) — 1 qt = 946.353 ml.
• Gallon (US) — 1 gal = 3.785 L.
• Milliliter (ml) — Metric volume unit; 1 ml = 1/1000 L.
• Liter (L) — Metric base volume unit.
• Gram (g) — Metric mass unit. For water, 1 ml = 1 g.

Conversion table (approximate)

Worked examples

Example 1: A recipe calls for 2 cups of milk, but your measuring jug is metric. Convert: 2 cups × 240 ml = 480 ml.

Example 2: You have 500 ml of broth and want to know cups: 500 ÷ 240 ≈ 2.08 cups.

Example 3: A recipe asks for 100 g water. Because water density = 1 g/ml, this equals 100 ml.

Tips for kitchen conversions

• For liquids, volume-to-mass (ml ↔ g) is accurate only for water. Other ingredients vary (e.g., oil ≈ 0.92 g/ml, honey ≈ 1.42 g/ml).
• For dry ingredients like flour and sugar, measuring by weight (grams) is more reliable than cups.
• US vs UK cups: UK traditional cup = 250 ml; this converter uses the US legal cup (240 ml).
• Always check whether recipes are written in US, UK, or metric units.

FAQ

Conclusion

This Cooking Measurement Converter simplifies recipe adaptation across countries. Use it to quickly convert teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, and grams into metric or imperial units. For precision, especially in baking, weigh ingredients in grams where possible.