Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Charts

Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Charts

Kitchen conversions are essential for accurate and consistent cooking and baking. They allow for easy recipe scaling, ensure the correct balance of flavors, and make international recipes accessible. Accurate measurements minimize waste, save time, and support dietary and nutritional needs. For culinary professionals, precision in conversions maintains high standards and consistency.

While cooking measurements and equivalents can be confusing, they don’t have to be! This guide covers the basics, including converting metric to standard, common measurements, plus, a Kitchen Measurement Conversion Cheatsheet for quick reference.

Essential Tools for Kitchen Measurements:

Accurate cooking measurements are easy to achieve with the right kitchen tools. It’s important to use the proper tools for different types of ingredients: measure liquids in liquid measuring cups and dry ingredients in dry measuring cups. A kitchen scale is essential for recipes that require weighing ingredients, ensuring precision for more exact recipes or those that measure by weight (e.g., in grams). The basic kitchen measurement tools you’ll need include:

  • Liquid Measuring Cups
  • Dry Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • A Kitchen Scale
kitchen conversion cheat sheet

Kitchen Measurements Abbreviations:

Understanding and familiarizing yourself with these cooking measurement abbreviations is key to accurately interpreting and following any recipe.

(Abbreviation)(Measurement)
tspteaspoon
tbsptablespoon
c.cup
ozounce
fl. ozfluid ounce
ptpint
qtquart
galgallon
lbpound
mLmilliliter
ggrams
measuring cup in flour

Measuring Liquid Ingredients vs. Dry Ingredients:

To measure liquid ingredients, such as water or oil, use a liquid measuring cup. Pour the liquid into the cup until it reaches the desired marking at eye level for accuracy.
For dry ingredients, like flour or sugar, use dry measuring cups or spoons. Fill the measuring cup or spoon to the top, then level off with a straight edge for precise measurement. It’s important to note that liquid and dry ingredients should never be measured in the same type of measuring tool to ensure accuracy in recipes.


Ounces vs Fluid Ounces:
Ounces (oz) typically refer to weight measurements, while fluid ounces (fl oz) measure volume. When measuring dry ingredients, such as flour or sugar, you’re using ounces as a weight measurement. However, when measuring liquids like water or milk, you’re using fluid ounces to measure volume. It’s crucial to understand this difference to accurately follow recipes and achieve desired results in cooking and baking.

silver measuring cups

Basic Kitchen Conversions:

Having a grasp of fundamental cooking measurements and conversions is essential in the kitchen, especially when following a recipe. Occasionally, you may find yourself without a specific measuring tool, such as 1/4 cup, leading to improvisation. However, knowing that 1/4 cup equals 4 tablespoons offers a solution, allowing you to measure accurately without hesitation. By referring to these kitchen conversion charts often, they will gradually become second nature.

Liquid Measurements Conversion Chart:

Fluid OuncesCupsPintsQuartsGallons
8 fl. oz1 c1/2 pt1/4 qt1/16 gal
16 fl. oz2 c1 pt1/2 qt1/8 gal
32 fl. oz4 c2 pt1 qt1/4 gal
64 fl. oz8 c4 pt2 qt1/2 gal
128 fl. oz16 c8 pt4 qt1 gal

Dry Measurements Conversion Chart:

TeaspoonsTablespoonsCups
3 tsp1 tbsp1/16 c
6 tsp2 tbsp1/8 c
12 tsp4 tbsp1/4 c
24 tsp8 tbsp1/2 c
36 tsp12 tbsp3/4 c
48 tsp16 tbsp1 c

1 cup also Equals:

1 cup=48 teaspoons
1 cup= 16 tablespoons
1 cup=8 fluid ounces
1 cup=½ pint
1 cup=¼ quart
1 cup=1/16 gallon
1 cup=240 ml

Ounces to Grams:

1 ounce (oz) =28.35 grams (g)
2 ounces (oz) =56.70 grams (g)
3 ounces (oz) =85.05 grams (g)
4 ounces (oz) =113.40 grams (g)
5 ounces (oz) =141.75 grams (g)
6 ounces (oz) =170.10 grams (g)
7 ounces (oz) =198.45 grams (g)
8 ounces (oz) =226.80 grams (g)
butter sliced into pads

Common Ingredient Conversions:

Butter Measurements Chart

SticksCupsTablespoonsOuncesGrams
1/2 stick1/4 c4 tbsp2 oz57.5 g
1 stick1/2 c8 tbsp4 oz115 g
2 sticks1 c16 tbsp8 oz230 g

Sugar (Cups to Grams):

1/4 cup of sugar =50 grams
1/3 cup of sugar =67 grams (approximately)
1/2 cup of sugar =100 grams
1 cup of sugar =200 grams

These conversions are approximate and may vary slightly based on factors such as the type and density of the sugar. It’s always a good idea to use a kitchen scale for precise measurements, especially in baking, where accuracy is crucial.

Flour (Cups to Grams):

1/4 cup of flour =30 grams
1/3 cup of flour =40 grams (approximately)
1/2 cup of flour =60 grams
1 cup of flour =120 grams

Again, these conversions are approximate and can vary slightly depending on factors like the type of flour and how it’s measured. For the most accurate results, it’s recommended to use a kitchen scale for precise measurements, especially in baking.

kneading dough

Common Baking Measurements & Conversions:

Getting comfortable with common baking conversions isn’t just about precision—it’s the key to consistently turning out scrumptious baked treats. From adjusting recipes to swapping ingredients, these conversions empower you to navigate the kitchen confidently, ensuring your culinary creations always rise to perfection.

Baking in Ounces (1 cup to oz):

Measurement/IngredientOunces
1 large egg (white + yolk)1.7 oz
1 c. all-purpose flour4.5 oz
1 c. butter8 oz.
1 c. granulated sugar7.1 oz
1 c. unsifted powdered sugar4.4 oz
1 c. packed brown sugar7.75 oz
1 c. vegetable oil7.7 oz
1 c. milk8 oz.
1 c. heavy cream8.4 oz

Baking in Grams (1 cup to g):

Measurement/IngredientGrams
1 large egg (white + yolk)48 g
1 c. all-purpose flour127 g
1 c. butter227 g
1 c. granulated sugar200 g
1 c. unsifted powdered sugar125 g
1 c. packed brown sugar220 g
1 c. vegetable oil218 g
1 c. milk227 g
1 c. heavy cream238 g

Baking Pan Conversions:

9-inch round cake pan =12 cups
9-inch springform pan =10 cups
9 x 5 inch loaf pan =8 cups
9-inch square pan =8 cups
10-inch bundt pan =12 cups
liquid measuring cup

Metric vs. Standard/Imperial Cooking Measurements:

In the United States, we mainly rely on the Imperial or “Standard” measurement system, using units such as tablespoons and cups into our recipes. However, across much of the globe, the metric system takes precedence, with recipes typically measured in grams and milliliters.


Below, you’ll find some helpful charts for those moments when you encounter a recipe using unfamiliar cooking measurements. Whether you’re converting volume to weigh, or tweaking oven temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius, these charts are invaluable for maintaining precision in your culinary pursuits.

Oven Temperatures Conversion:

(Degrees) Celsius(Degrees) Fahrenheit
120° C250° F
160° C320° F
180° C350° F
205° C400° F
220° C425° F

Liquid Measurements (Volume):

MetricStandard
1 mL1/5 tsp
5 mL1 tsp
15 mL1 tbsp
240 mL1 c (8 fl. oz)
1 liter34 fl. oz

Dry Measurements (Weight):

MetricStandard
1 g.035 oz
100 g3.5 oz
500 g17.7 oz (1.1 lb)
1 kg35 oz

Kitchen Conversion Cheatsheet:

Mastering cooking measurements and conversions opens up a world of possibilities in the kitchen. Whether you’re scaling recipes, adapting to international cuisines, or simply improvising with the tools at hand, understanding these fundamentals empowers you to cook with confidence and precision. From converting between metric and imperial systems to accurately measuring ingredients, the knowledge gained from this post equips you with the skills needed to elevate your culinary creations. So next time you step into the kitchen, armed with your newfound understanding, let your creativity flourish and your dishes shine. Happy cooking!

Additional Resources:

This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing through these links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please know, I only suggest products that I have used and loved. Thank you for your support.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *