Cooking Measurements
Recipes mix measuring systems freely. These charts convert the common kitchen volumes and oven settings, computed from the exact US unit definitions.
Spoon and cup equivalents (US)
| Measure | Equivalent | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | ⅓ tablespoon | 4.929 mL |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 3 teaspoons | 14.79 mL |
| 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) | 2 tablespoons | 29.57 mL |
| ¼ cup | 4 tablespoons | 59.15 mL |
| ⅓ cup | 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon | 78.86 mL |
| ½ cup | 8 tablespoons | 118.3 mL |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons = 8 fl oz | 236.6 mL |
| 1 pint (pt) | 2 cups | 473.2 mL |
| 1 quart (qt) | 4 cups | 946.4 mL |
| 1 gallon (gal) | 16 cups | 3.785 L |
Metric kitchen measures
Many countries use rounded metric measures instead of US ones. A metric cup is 250 mL (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa); a metric tablespoon is 15 mL and a metric teaspoon 5 mL. Australia uses a 20 mL tablespoon. The differences from US measures are small — about 5% for a cup — and rarely matter except in baking, where the safest approach is to use the measuring set the recipe was written for.
Oven temperatures
| Gas mark | Fahrenheit | Exact Celsius | Usual Celsius setting (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 275 °F | 135 °C | 140 °C |
| 2 | 300 °F | 149 °C | 150 °C |
| 3 | 325 °F | 163 °C | 170 °C |
| 4 | 350 °F | 177 °C | 180 °C |
| 5 | 375 °F | 191 °C | 190 °C |
| 6 | 400 °F | 204 °C | 200 °C |
| 7 | 425 °F | 218 °C | 220 °C |
| 8 | 450 °F | 232 °C | 230 °C |
| 9 | 475 °F | 246 °C | 240 °C |
Recipes round Celsius oven settings to the nearest 10 degrees because oven thermostats are not precise to a few degrees. For fan (convection) ovens, recipes commonly suggest lowering the temperature by about 20 °C (25 °F); check the recipe or your oven’s manual.
Volume is not weight
A cup measures volume, a gram measures mass, and how many grams fit in a cup depends on the ingredient and how it is packed: a cup of water weighs about 237 g, but a cup of flour weighs far less and a cup of honey far more. For exact results, weigh ingredients with a kitchen scale, or use a recipe that gives weights. Only water and water-like liquids convert reliably at 1 mL ≈ 1 g.