Grams, cups, teaspoons and tablespoons units conversions

Most of my recipes are in grams (metric system), however cups and spoons are often used.  Metric (actually measuring the mass of the ingredient) is more accurate, as soon as the recipes become a bit complex, this becomes a necessity!

There is a very slight difference between UK/European/Australian cups and US cups. The UK cups are 250 ml, US cups are 240 ml.  So UK half cups are 125 ml whereas US half cups are 120 ml. Smaller volumes tend to be the same as they are rounded up. For most recipes the difference is small and will not affect the finished dish.

For large cakes, the cup system works fine, with kids it is sometimes easier. Generally, the metric system is more accurate, and this is what I would use. You can find digital cooking scales for 20-40 AUD and they last a while, great investment!

Liquids Cups & metric

Metric                                                Cup & Spoons
250 mL                                                       1 cup
125 mL                                                     1/2 cup
60 mL                                                      1/4 cup
5 mL                                                         1 teaspoon
20 mL (15 mL – US&UK)                 1 tablespoon

Cups, tablespoons and teaspoons

1/2 tbsp = 1 1/2 tsp
1 tbsp = 3 tsp
1/4 cup = 4 tbsp
1/3 cup = 5 tbsp + 1 tsp
1/2 cup = 8 tbsp
2/3 cup = 10 tbsp + 2 tsp
3/4 cup = 12 tbsp
1 cup = 16 tbsp

Ingredient weight to cups & spoons conversion

butter, 1 tablespoon = 14 g
butter, 1 cup = 227 grams
flour 1 cup = 150 g
white sugar 1 cup = 225 g
castor sugar 1 cup = 220 g
icing sugar 1 cup = 120 g
brown sugar, firmly packed 1 cup = 200 g
cocoa powder 1 cup = 100 g
dry breadcrumbs 1 cup = 100 g
rice, long grain 1 cup = 200 g
couscous 1 cup = 200 g
rolled oats 1 cup = 90 g
coconut, desiccated 1 cup = 95 g
Honey 1 tbsp = 21 g

Fresh and dry Yeast

Rule of thumb: Dry yeast x 3 (in grams) = fresh yeast in grams