First, we are using three different systems:
US Standard (Customary): US Standard and US Customary are the same. It is a system of measures based on teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, quarts, ounces, and pounds; chefs and home cooks use it.
Imperial: There is a slight difference between US Standard (or Customary) and Imperial measurements. Both liquid and dry measurements are a little different. A US gallon is about 17% less than an Imperial gallon, and Imperial dry measures are about 3% larger than their US counterparts. Of course, Great Britain now uses the metric system as almost everyone in the world does, but it is good to know if you are working with older British recipes. It is rarely used anymore, but some still confuse it with US Standard measurements.
Metric: The metric system is decimal, meaning it is based on multiples of 10. Gram (g) is the basic unit of weight, and liter (l) is the basic unit of liquid. It is used by elite chefs, bakers, scientists, researchers, and technicians.
Second, US standard measurements in cooking pose several challenges due to their inherent complexity, inconsistency, and reliance on volume measurements. Also, can we please eliminate measurements like handfuls, cans, packets, sticks, and envelopes. These factors can lead to difficulties in achieving precise, consistent results, complicated scaling and conversions, and limit the system’s effectiveness globally. Switching to the metric system, with its straightforward decimal-based approach and emphasis on weight over volume, can simplify many of these issues and lead to more reliable and efficient cooking practices.
The metric system uses weight rather than volume for measurements, which is more accurate. Measuring dry ingredients by volume is more complicated because each item is different in weight, density, and size. Also, the condition can differ; is the item whole, chopped, or ground? Is it loose or packed? All reasons why the volume can be different.
The metric measuring system is an international standard for measurement based on the decimal system. It uses units scaled by powers of ten, making it simple and consistent for measuring various quantities.
1 kilo (kg) = 1000 grams (g)
1 liter (l) = 1000 milliliter (ml)
1 liter of water weighs 1 kilo (easy math!).
1 ml of water weighs 1 gram under standard conditions, making it easy to use and convert
Scaling recipes becomes effortless. You can quickly multiply or divide quantities by 10, 100, or 1000. For example, converting from grams to kilograms involves shifting the decimal point three places to the left, and doubling 250 grams of an ingredient to 500 grams is straightforward compared to doubling 8.8 ounces.
Elimination of Fractions: Using metric measurements avoids the need for dealing with fractions, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors, especially for those who aren’t comfortable with math,
Exceptions:
Some ingredients (like herbs or spices) are sometimes measured by volume (teaspoons or tablespoons) rather than weight.
Be mindful that computer programs able to convert measurements will use the size of the measuring vessel (cup, ½ cup, etc.) and not the ingredient, which is accurate for liquids only (water, wine), not for dry ingredients.
Common Weight-to-Volume Conversions:
Ounces to Cups:
1 ounce (weight) = 0.125 cups (volume) for water.
While temperature can slightly affect the density of water, these changes are minimal for everyday purposes—however, density matters for other ingredients.
Pounds to Cups:
1 pound (weight) = 2.33 cups (volume) for water.
Ingredient-Specific Conversions:
Different ingredients have unique density factors. Some examples:
Flour: 1 cup = 128 grams (all-purpose flour).
Sugar: 1 cup = 200 grams (granulated sugar).
Butter: 1 cup = 226 grams (unsalted butter).
Milk: 1 cup = 245 grams (whole milk).
See more examples below.
1 US cup of water = 240 ml = 240 grams = 0.529 pounds.
Liquids: water, wine, vinegar, etc. *See below
1 teaspoon = 5 ml
1 tablespoon = ½ ounce = 15 ml = 15 grams
1 fl. ounce = 1/8 cup = 30 ml
¼ cup = 60 ml
1/3 cup = 80 ml
½ cup = 120 ml
2/3 cup = 160 ml
1 cup = 8 ounces = 240 ml = 240 grams * See below
1 ½ cup = 12 ounces = 360 ml
2 cups = 1 pint = 16 ounces = 480 ml
4 cups = 1 quart = 32 ounces = 960 ml
4 quarts = 1 gallon = 3.84 L
Understanding the precise weight of water is crucial in many scientific and culinary contexts, where accurate measurements can impact outcomes and results.
To determine the accurate weight of 1 cup of water in ounces, we need to perform a series of conversions, from volume in milliliters to weight in grams, finally converting grams to ounces.
Conversion Steps:
1 US customary cup = 240 milliliters (ml).
Since 1 ml of water weighs 1 gram:
Weight in grams = 240 ml = 240 grams
There are 0.03527396 ounces in a gram
Weight in ounces = 240 \times 0.03527396 = 8.46575 ounces
* The weight of 1 cup of water is 8.47 ounces.
Weight Conversions:
1 ounce = 28.35 grams
2 ounces = 56.70 grams
4 ounces = 113.40 grams
8 ounces = 226.80 grams
16 ounces = 1 pound = 453.60 grams
1 gram = 0.035 ounce
10 grams = 0.35 ounce
100 grams = 3.5 ounce
1000 grams = 1 kilogram = 35 ounces
Convert US Standard in a recipe to metric. (or use both)
Example:
Lemon Beurre Blanc
Butter 6 tablespoons 90 g
Shallot 1 small 1 small
Lemon juice 2 tablespoons 30 ml
White wine ¼ cup 60 ml
Heavy cream ¼ cup 60 ml
Salt and pepper
Understanding the differences between US Standard and Metric measurements and how to convert between weight and volume ensures you can follow recipes accurately, resulting in delicious and consistent culinary creations.
Here is a cup to grams conversion for some common ingredients: (1 cup in grams)
nutritional yeast: 40
banana, chips: 70
carrot, grated: 70
broccoli flowerets: 71
flaked coconut: 75
sliced almonds: 80
desiccated coconut: 80
parmesan (finely grated): 80
flaked almonds: 85
rolled oats: 85
chia, milled: 90
oats: 90
flax, milled: 110
banana, dried: 115
millet, flakes: 115
chopped walnuts: 120
chopped pecans: 120
cornstarch: 120
dried apples: 120
walnuts: 120
almond meal: 125
cocoa powder: 125
flour, all-purpose flour: 128
pumpkin seeds: 128
powdered sugar: 133
cashew: 135
pistachio: 135
hazelnuts: 135
pumpkin seeds: 135
polenta (fine): 135
bread flour: 136
pine nuts: 140
almonds: 140
Brazil nuts: 140
dates, pitted: 140
frozen peas: 140
macadamia: 140
sesame seeds: 140
sunflower seeds: 140
poppy seeds: 144
flaxseeds, ground: 148
yeast: 148.8
breadcrumbs: 150
butternut, chopped: 150
peanuts chopped: 150
chopped nuts: 150
pineapple, chopped: 150
sweet potato, chopped: 150
chocolate chips: 160
chopped cashew nuts: 160
raisins: 165
strawberries: 165
chia seeds: 170
black-eyed peas, dry: 175
oatmeal: 175
white rice: 178
couscous: 180
kidney beans: 180
prunes: 180
caster sugar: 190
lentils, red: 190
vegetable shortening: 190
amaranth: 200
buckwheat, grain: 200
chickpeas, dried: 200
potato, mashed: 200
stevia: 200
quinoa: 200
sultanas: 200
white sugar, granulated sugar: 200
brown sugar: 201
barley: 208
lentils: 210
agave syrup: 216
pumpkin puree: 220
packed brown sugar: 220
tomato paste: 220
cream cheese: 225
cottage cheese: 226
butter: 226
Greek yogurt: 228
margarine: 230
water: 240
wine: 240
canned chickpeas: 240
whipping cream, heavy cream: 240
creme fraiche: 240
sour cream: 240
mascarpone: 240
milk, whole milk: 245
yogurt: 245
ricotta cheese: 248
banana, mashed: 250
Philadelphia cream cheese: 250
raw sugar: 250
canned beans: 252
nut butter: 270
table salt: 300
sweetened condensed milk: 306
maple syrup: 322
honey, molasses, syrup, corn syrup: 340
Detailed measurements of often-used items:
Salt 1 teaspoon = 6.25 g
1 tablespoon = 18.75 g
Ground pepper 1 teaspoon = 2.7 g
1 tablespoon = 8.1 g
Butter
1 Tablespoon = 0.50 ounce = 14 grams
1/4 cup = 2 ounces = 56 grams
1/3 cup = 2.6 ounces = 75 grams
1/2 cup = 4 ounces = 113 grams
1 cup = 8 ounces = 226 grams
Granulated Sugar
1 cup = 7 ounces = 200 grams
1/2 cup = 3.5 ounces = 100 grams
1/3 cup = 2.3 ounces = 66 grams
1/4 cup = 1.75 ounces = 50 grams
1 Tablespoon = 0.45 ounces = 12.50 grams
1 teaspoon = 4.2 grams
Yeast
1 packet = 7 grams
1 teaspoon = 3 1/2 grams
1/4 teaspoon = 1 gram
Oven Baking Temperatures
225 degrees F = 110 degrees C
250 degrees F = 130 degrees C
275 degrees F = 140 degrees C
300 degrees F = 150 degrees C
325 degrees F = 165 degrees C
350 degrees F = 180 degrees C
375 degrees F = 190 degrees C
400 degrees F = 200 degrees C
425 degrees F = 220 degrees C
450 degrees F = 230 degrees C
475 degrees F = 245 degrees C
500 degrees F = 260 degrees C
Length
0.4 inch = 1 cm
1 inch = 2.5 cm
10 inches = 25 cm
12 inches = 1 foot = 30 cm
Conclusion
Switching to metric measurements in cooking offers numerous benefits, including increased precision, ease of use, and global standardization. Whether you are a home cook or a professional chef, adopting the metric system can enhance the accuracy of your recipes, simplify the cooking process, and make your culinary creations accessible to a broader audience. The transition might require some initial adjustment, but the long-term advantages make it well worth the effort.
