How To Measure Recipe Ingredients (With Printable Chart)

Why Proper Measurement Matters

Precision is essential to culinary success. While cooking often allows for some improvisation, baking and other precise types of recipes typically require exact ingredient measurements to ensure consistent results. With various measurement systems and units in use, navigating the world of recipes can feel daunting.

In this article, we're going to look at different measurement systems used in recipes worldwide and help you switch between the two most common systems easily with conversion tables and a cheat sheet.

Measurement Systems: Imperial vs. Metric

Different parts of the world use different measurement systems in recipes. Let's look at the two most common ones:

The Imperial System

The measurement system primarily used in the United States is the imperial system, which measures ingredients in US cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, and ounces.

• Advantages: Familiar for those in the U.S., particularly home cooks, with measuring utensils widely available.
• Limitations: It can be inconsistent for ingredients like flour, where weight varies depending on how it’s scooped, sifted, or packed. However, the expert tips given below will help you reach more consistent results.

The Metric System

The metric system, dominant in most other countries (including the one we reside in), measures ingredients in grams, milliliters, and liters.

• Advantages: It’s considered more precise and replicable based on weight and volume, which is particularly useful for professional baking.
• Limitations: It may require a kitchen scale and familiarity with the metric units, which some home cooks might find intimidating initially. If you're one of them, you're in the right place to remove the veil of confusion from the cooking process, so keep reading.

Expert Tips for the Most Accurate Measurement

Below, you'll find some expert tips that might be useful when measuring recipe ingredients, especially for new bakers.

Measuring Liquid Ingredients

Wet ingredients like milk, oil, or syrup require precision to avoid altering a recipe’s texture and moisture level. Here are some additional tips that might be useful:

1. Use a Liquid Measuring Cup: Choose a clear glass or plastic cup with measurement marks. Always measure on a flat surface and check the measurement at eye level to ensure accuracy.
2. Measuring with Spoons: The key principle when measuring liquid ingredients with a spoon (be it a tablespoon or a teaspoon) is to pour the liquid until it reaches the rim of the spoon. Precise measurements might not be as critical for certain dishes, such as salads or soups. However, with others like cakes or puddings, it’s essential to be cautious and avoid overfilling the spoon, as this could cause it to leak and add too much of the liquid ingredient.
3. Sticky Ingredients: For honey or syrup, lightly coat your measuring utensil (and the cup/bowl into which you're measuring the ingredient) with oil or nonstick spray for easy release. Otherwise, some of the ingredient might remain on the cup, spoon, or bowl, leading to a shortage of that ingredient in the dish.

Measuring Dry Ingredients

Dry ingredients such as bread flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and spices can pose challenges due to their tendency to clump or compact. Here are some of the things you can do to ensure accurate results each time:

1. Spoon and Level: For flour and similar ingredients, avoid scooping directly with the measuring cup, which compacts the ingredients. The best way is to spoon it into the cup and level it off with a straight edge (like the back of a knife) at the top of the cup. You might have seen chefs doing it this way, and now you'll know why.
2. Weigh for Accuracy: Use a kitchen scale to weigh dry ingredients—particularly for baking—as this ensures consistent results. For example, one cup of flour can range from 120 to 150 grams, depending on how it’s packed.
3. Brown Sugar: When recipes call for packed brown sugar, press it firmly into the measuring cup to ensure you’re using the intended amount.

Conversion Tables

Due to the different measurement systems used, recipes from creators residing in different parts of the world will use different measurement units. If you are from the U.S. and want to recreate a recipe with European units of measurement (or vice versa), the following conversion tables might come in handy. 

Volume and Weight Conversions

Understanding conversion principles can save time when measuring dry and liquid ingredients. To make things easier, we've provided a list of the most common measurement units along with their equivalents in other units, so you can quickly find the appropriate conversions.

Dry ingredients:

CUPS	TABLESPOONS	TEASPOONS
1 cup	16 tbsp	48 tbsp
¾ cup	12 tbsp	36 tbsp
½ cup	8 tbsp	24 tbsp
¼ cup	4 tbsp	12 tbsp
⅛ cup	2 tbsp	6 tbsp
1/16 cup	1 tbsp	3 tbsp

Liquid ingredients:

1 tsp = 5 ml 1 tbsp = 15 ml 1 fl oz = 30 ml

CUPS	FLUID OUNCES	PINTS	QUARTS	MILLILITERS/ LITERS
1 cup	8 fl oz	½ pt	¼ qt	237 ml
2 cups	16 fl oz	1 pt	½ qt	473 ml
4 cups	16 fl oz	1 pt	½ qt	473 ml
-	35 fl oz	-	-	1 l
16 cups	128 fl oz	8 pt	4 qt	3,8 l

Weight measurements:

• 1 g = .035 oz
• 10 g = .35 oz
• 28 g = 1 oz
• 100 g = 3.5 oz
• 454 g = 1 lb
• 500 g = 1.1 lb
• 1 kg = 35 oz = 2.2 lb

Here's also a list of common ingredient amounts that you're most likely to encounter daily:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour = 120 g = 4.3 oz
• 1 cup of granulated sugar = 200 g = 7 oz
• 1 cup of powdered sugar = 120 g = 3.5 oz
• 1 cup of packed brown sugar = 200 g = 7 oz
• 1 cup of heavy cream = 240 mL = 8.5 oz
• 1 cup of sour cream = 245 g = 8.7 oz
• 1 cup of milk = 245 g = 8.7 oz
• 1 cup of olive oil = 213 g = 7.5 oz
• 1 cup of rolled oats = 105 g = 2.8 oz
• 1 cup of butter = 227 g = 250 mL = 8 oz
• 1 large egg = 55 g = 1.9 oz
• 1 stick of butter = 113 grams = 8 tablespoon = 4 oz

Temperature Conversions

Temperature is another dimension of the conversion maze that we need to shed light on. When cooking or baking, you may encounter recipes written in Fahrenheit or Celsius. The temperature measurement units used also depend on the region and can easily be converted. Here's how temperature measurement conversion works:

• Fahrenheit to Celsius: °C = (°F – 32) × 5/9
• Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

But don't panic; you won't have to do the math each time! Check the conversion table below for a quick reference.

Temperature Conversion Table

°C	°F
30 °C	86 °F
40 °C	104 °F
100 °C	212 °F
120 °C	250 °F
160 °C	320 °F
170 °C	338 °F
175 °C	347 °F
180 °C	350 °F
185 °C	365 °F
190 °C	374 °F
200 °C	392 °F
205 °C	400 °F
210 °C	410 °F
220 °C	425 °F
225 °C	437 °F

You can also use this handy conversion cheat sheet that can be printed (using the below link) and used for reference in your kitchen to know the exact amount of each ingredient required for your chosen recipe. It'll also help you set the correct oven temperature so your cinnamon buns or cookies don't return as black as night.

Tools for the Perfect Measurement

Inaccurate measurement of ingredients can lead to flat cakes, dense bread, or sauces that don’t emulsify. Moreover, accurate measurements ensure you follow dietary needs or scale recipes for larger gatherings or smaller portions.

To measure ingredients properly, you need the right measuring tools, like these:

• Dry Measuring Cup: For flour, sugar, and similar ingredients. Comes in sets (¼ cup, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, etc.).
• Liquid Measuring Cups: Glass or plastic cups with a spout for convenient pouring.
• Measuring Spoon: For small amounts, like spices and extracts.
• Digital Scale: A must-have for metric measurements and accurate baking. Modern digital scales make conversion a breeze with the option to switch between different measurement units.

Some of our favorite kitchen scales and measuring cups are referenced in this article. Your measurement tools don't have to be plain and boring, and it can be much more fun to cook your favorite recipes using bold and beautiful tools!

Final Thoughts

Investing time and effort into proper measurement might feel tedious initially, but it pays off in the quality of your cooking and baking. Using the right tools, understanding measurement systems, and converting measurements accurately can elevate your culinary skills, ensuring consistent and delicious results every time. Happy cooking!