Cooking Measurement Guide

Accurate measurements are crucial in cooking and baking. While cooking often allows for flexibility, baking is a science that requires precision. This converter helps you adapt recipes from different sources and scale ingredients up or down.

US Volume Measurements

Unit	Equivalents
1 tablespoon	3 teaspoons = 15 ml
1 fluid ounce	2 tablespoons = 30 ml
1 cup	16 tablespoons = 8 fl oz = 237 ml
1 pint	2 cups = 16 fl oz = 473 ml
1 quart	4 cups = 32 fl oz = 946 ml
1 gallon	4 quarts = 128 fl oz = 3.79 L

Small Measurements

For very small quantities, cooking uses informal measurements:

• Pinch: About 1/16 teaspoon, or what fits between thumb and forefinger
• Dash: About 1/8 teaspoon, or a quick shake from a container
• Drop: Approximately 0.05 ml, often used for liquid flavorings

US vs. Metric

Many international recipes use metric measurements. Understanding both systems helps you cook recipes from around the world:

• 1 cup (US) = 236.6 ml (often rounded to 240 ml)
• 1 teaspoon = 4.93 ml (often rounded to 5 ml)
• 1 tablespoon = 14.79 ml (often rounded to 15 ml)

Tips for Accurate Measuring

• Use liquid measuring cups (with pour spout) for liquids
• Use dry measuring cups (flat top) for dry ingredients
• Level off dry ingredients with a straight edge
• Don't pack flour; spoon it into the cup
• Brown sugar should be packed firmly