However, when you’re dealing with a complicated recipe with a bunch of exact measurements, cooking can sometimes feel like a complicated mathematics problem.

 

Never worry, this guide will help you through any tricky conversions. I've included all the measuring conversions you're likely to need for any kitchen adventures.

 

 

To keep the conversions to amounts that can be easily measured in the kitchen I've rounded them up:

Grams to the nearest gram

Millilitres to the nearest millilitre

Ounces to the nearest ¼ ounce

Cups to the nearest

¼ teaspoon (for under 1 teaspoon)

Teaspoon for under ¼ cup

Tablespoon for over ¼ cup

 

Metric vs Imperial Measurements 

The United States uses the imperial system for measurement, whereas the rest of the world uses the metric system. So, if you’re following a recipe from the States and the ingredients are listed using the imperial system, you’ll need to know how to convert it to the metric system, or vice versa. Or, you could just buy yourself some new kitchen kit (which, is exactly what I'd do). 

 

 

Metric to Imperial for Volume 

1 milliliter= 1/5 teaspoon

5 milliters= 1 teaspoon

15 milliliters = 1 tablespoon

240 milliliters = 1 cup (or 8 fl oz)

500 milliliters= 2 cups= 1 pint

1 liter = 4 cups = 2 pints = 1 quart (34 fl oz)

 

Metric to Imperial for Weight

1 gram = .035 ounces

100 grams= 3.5 ounces

454 grams = 1 pound

500 grams = 1.1 pound

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds = 35 ounces

 

Dry Measuremnet Conversions (Imperial)

Pinch or a dash= Less than 1/8 teaspoon

3 teaspoons (tsp) = 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 1/16 cup

6 tsp = 2 tbsp = ? cup

12 tsp = 4 tbsp = ¼ cup

5 tbsp + 1 tsp= 1/3 cup

24 tsp = 8 tbsp = ½ cup

36 tsp = 12 tbsp = ¾ cup

48 tsp = 16 tbsp = 1 cup

If using cups, use a knife or a spatula to level your ingredients, and remember that you should pack moist ingredients like brown sugar.

 

Liquid Measurement Conversions (Imperial)

8 fluid ounces (fl oz) = 1 cup (C) = ½ pint (pt) = ¼ quart (qt)

16 fl oz = 2 C = 1 pt = ½ qt32 fl

4 C = 2 pt = 1 qt = ¼ gallon

128 fl oz = 16 C = 8 pt = 4 qt = 1 gallon

If you are using cups, always place the cup on a surface, and then position yourself so that your eyes are level with the graduated markings on the cup. For smaller liquid quantities, use measuring spoons.

 

 

Measuring Out Common Baking Ingredients

The key to excelling at baking is to measure things out in perfect portions. Even an ounce off here or there can seriously screw up an entire recipe. Here are some things to keep in mind when measuring with common baking ingredients:

 

 

Flour

Flour is arguably the most important ingredient to measure accurately. Unfortunately, flour can be very difficult to measure by volume (in measuring cups). For this reason, it’s a good idea to invest in a kitchen scale so you can measure your flour by weight. However, if you don’t have a kitchen scale, here’s what you need to remember about measuring flour. Avoid scooping the flour out with the measuring cup, as this can cause the measurement to be way denser than it needs to be Instead, scoop it out with a spoon into the cup. Spoon it into your measuring cup and scrape the excess off the edge.

 

WHITE FLOUR - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup + 1 tbsp
100g	½ cup + 2 tbsp
200g	1¼ cups
250g	1½ cups + 1 tbsp
300g	1¾ cups + 2 tbsp
400g	2½ cups
500g	3 cups + 2 tbsp

 

BROWN FLOUR - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup + 1 tbsp
100g	½ cup + 2 tbsp
200g	1¼ cup + 1 tbsp
250g	1½ cup + 2 tbsp
300g	1¾ cups + 3 tbsp
400g	2½ cups + 1 tbsp
500g	3¼ cups

 

CORNFLOUR / CORNSTARCH - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup + 3 tbsp
100g	¾ cup + 1 tbsp
200g	1½ cups + 2 tbsp
250g	2 cups + 1 tbsp
300g	2¼ cups + 3 tbsp
400g	3¼ cups
500g	4 cups + 2 tbsp

 

Butter/Fats

1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup = 4 ounces = 113 grams

 

BUTTER / MARGARINE - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	3 tbsp + 2 tsp
100g	¼ cup + 3 tbsp
200g	¾ cup + 2 tbsp
250g	1 cup + 2 tbsp
300g	1¼ cups + 2 tbsp
400g	1¾ cups + 1 tbsp
500g	2¼ cups

 

OIL - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	3 tbsp + 2 tsp
100g	¼ cup + 3 tbsp
200g	¾ cup + 3 tbsp
250g	1 cup + 3 tbsp
300g	1¼ cups + 2 tbsp
400g	1¾ cups + 2 tbsp
500g	2¼ cups + 1 tbsp

 

Milk/Cream

MILK / CREAM - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	3 tbsp
100g	¼ cup + 2 tbsp
200g	¾ cup + 1 tbsp
250g	1 cup
300g	1 cup + 3 tbsp
400g	1½ cups + 1 tbsp
500g	1¾ cups + 3 tbsp

 

Cocao

Make sure you sift your cocoa powder as it can form clumps in your baking.

 

COCOA POWDER - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup + 3 tbsp
100g	¾ cup + 2 tbsp
200g	1¾ cups + 1 tbsp
250g	2¼ cups
300g	2½ cups + 3 tbsp
400g	3½ cups + 2 tbsp
500g	4½ cups

Sugar

Here are the conversions you need to know:

 

Granulated White Sugar

1 cup = 7.05 ounces = 200 grams

 

CASTER SUGAR - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup
100g	½ cup
200g	1 cup
250g	1¼ cups
300g	1½ cups
400g	2 cups
500g	2½ cups

 

GRANULATED SUGAR - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	3 tbsp + 2 tsp
100g	¼ + 3 tbsp
200g	¾ cup + 3 tbsp
250g	1 cup + 3 tbsp
300g	1½ cups + 2 tbsp
400g	1¾ cups + 2 tbsp
500g	2¼ cups + 1 tbsp

 

Brown Sugar

1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar = 7.05 ounces = 200 grams

If using a recipe in cups pay close attention to the instructions, as it will usually say brown sugar “lightly packed” or “densely packed”.

 

BROWN SUGAR (PACKED) - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup
100g	½ cup
200g	1 cup
250g	1¼ cups
300g	1½ cups
400g	2 cups
500g	2¼ cups + 3 tbsp

 

Icing Sugar

If you’ve baked with icing (also known as confectioners or powdered) sugar before, then you know what a mess it makes when trying to measure it out.

The easiest and most accurate way to measure with powdered sugar without making too much mess is to spoon the sugar into your measuring cup. Then, scrape the excess off from the sides. Also, make sure you sift icing sugar.

1 cup sifted powdered sugar = sift the sugar before measuring

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted = Wait to sift until after measuring

 

ICING / POWDERED/ CONFECTIONERS SUGAR - GRAMS TO CUPS
Grams	Cups
50g	¼ cup + 1 tbsp
100g	½ cup + 3 tbsp
200g	1¼ cups + 2 tbsp
250g	1½ cups + 3 tbsp
300g	2 cups + 1 tbsp
400g	2¾ cups
500g	3¼ cups + 3 tbsp

 

Liquid Sweeteners

If the recipe calls for both liquid sweetener and oil, measure out the oil first, as this will help grease the measuring cup. 

Honey: 1 cup = 8 ounces = 225 grams

Molasses/treacle: 1 cup = 12 ounces = 340 grams

Maple/golden syrup/corn syrup: 1 cup = 11 ounces = 310 grams

 

 

Oven Temperature Conversions

275 Fahrenheit = 140 Celsius = Gas Mark 1 = Very Cool

300 Farhrenheit = 150 Celsius = Gas Mark 2 = Cool

325 Farhrenheit = 160 Celsius = Gas Mark 3 = Warm

350 Farhrenheit = 180 Celsius = Gas Mark 4 = Moderate

375 Farhrenheit = 190 Celsius = Gas Mark 5 = Moderate

400 Farhrenheit = 200 Celsius = Gas Mark 6 = Moderately Hot

425 Farhrenheit = 220 Celsius = Gas Mark 7 = Hot

450 Farhrenheit = 230 Celsius = Gas Mark 8 = Hot

475 Farhrenheit = 240 Celsius = Gas Mark 9 = Very Hot

500 Farhrenheit = 260 Celsius = Gas Mark 10 = Very Hot

 

 

There are a lot of conversions you may be required to do but, luckily whenever you forget something or need to make those changes you can refer back here for help. 

 

All photos here are from the stock photography website, Unsplash, except one which has kindly been provided by Wooden Earth Cutlery 

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