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.

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 Measurements Abbreviations:

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

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.

Liquid Measurements Conversion Chart:

Dry Measurements Conversion Chart:

1 cup also Equals:

Ounces to Grams:

Common Ingredient Conversions:

Butter Measurements Chart

Sugar (Cups to 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):

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.

Baking in Ounces (1 cup to oz):

Baking in Grams (1 cup to g):

Baking Pan Conversions:

Oven Temperatures Conversion:

Liquid Measurements (Volume):

Dry Measurements (Weight):