Kitchen conversions: grams, ml, cups

Following an American recipe in cups when you have a scale in grams, or converting ounces to milliliters for a British cake — kitchen conversions are a classic headache. This guide gathers all the essential equivalencies and explains why accuracy in the kitchen starts with the scale.

Steps

1

Master the basic ratios

1 cup = 240 ml = 16 tablespoons. 1 tablespoon = 15 ml. 1 teaspoon = 5 ml. 1 oz = 28.35 g. 1 lb = 453.6 g. These ratios cover 90% of the conversions needed in the kitchen. Post them on your fridge.

2

Convert volume to weight based on the ingredient

1 cup of flour ≠ 1 cup of sugar by weight. Flour: 1 cup = 120-130 g. Sugar: 1 cup = 200 g. Butter: 1 cup = 225 g. Raw rice: 1 cup = 185 g. Conversion depends on the ingredient's density — that's why volume is imprecise.

3

Invest in a kitchen scale

A digital scale accurate to the gram costs less than $15 and will transform your cooking. Volume measurements (cups, spoons) can vary by 10-20% depending on how packed they are. In baking, this margin of error can ruin a recipe. A scale eliminates the guesswork.

4

Handle special cases

Butter is often measured in tablespoons (1 tbsp = 14 g). Viscous liquids (honey, syrup) stick to the spoon — oil it before measuring. Dry ingredients should be leveled with a knife, not packed down. Fresh herbs are measured after chopping.

5

Convert temperatures

American recipes use Fahrenheit: 350°F = 175°C = gas mark 4 (thermostat 6), 400°F = 200°C = gas mark 6 (thermostat 7), 450°F = 230°C = gas mark 8 (thermostat 8). Formula: (°F - 32) x 5/9 = °C. Add 10-20°C if the recipe is for a convection oven and you're using a traditional one.

Common conversion table

Flour: 1 cup = 125 g, 1 tbsp = 8 g. White sugar: 1 cup = 200 g. Brown sugar: 1 cup = 220 g (packed). Butter: 1 cup = 225 g, 1 stick = 113 g. Milk/water: 1 cup = 240 ml. Oil: 1 cup = 220 g. Raw rice: 1 cup = 185 g. Rolled oats: 1 cup = 90 g. Cocoa powder: 1 cup = 85 g. These values are standards — brand and packing can cause 5-10% variation.

Why grams are more reliable than cups

The cup system measures volume, not weight. However, the same volume of flour can weigh between 110 g (spooned in) and 155 g (packed). In baking, this 40% difference can turn a fluffy cake into a dense brick. Professional recipes and most European recipes use grams for this reason. If you remember only one thing: buy a scale.

Regional differences to know

US cup = 240 ml, Australian cup = 250 ml, Japanese cup = 200 ml. Australian tablespoon = 20 ml (vs 15 ml in the USA). 'Large' eggs in the USA correspond to the 63-73 g size in Europe. American 'all-purpose flour' is a T55-T65 blend in France. These differences are subtle but real — always check the recipe's origin before converting.

FoodCraft Tip

Built-in kitchen converter

FoodCraft's conversion tool handles volume-to-weight conversions for the most common ingredients, along with Fahrenheit-to-Celsius equivalents. Faster than looking through a table every time.

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Frequently asked questions

How many grams is 1 cup of flour?
About 125 g for all-purpose flour, measured by spooning (not packing). If using a measuring cup, level it with the back of a knife. If the recipe calls for '1 packed cup', pack it down — that's closer to 155 g.
Are tablespoons standardized?
In the USA and Europe, 1 tablespoon = 15 ml. In Australia, it's 20 ml. Your regular table spoons (not measuring ones) vary between 10 and 20 ml — use real measuring spoons for accuracy.
How do I convert a 9-inch (23 cm) round pan to a square pan?
A 9-inch (23 cm) round pan has the same surface area as an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan. To adapt a recipe, calculate the surface area ratio between the two pans and adjust quantities proportionally. Baking times will also change.
What temperature is thermostat 6?
Thermostat 6 = 180°C = 356°F. The rule: multiply the thermostat number by 30 to get the temperature in °C. Thermostat 7 = 210°C, thermostat 8 = 240°C. Simple and reliable.

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