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How to Measure Ingredients Without a Kitchen Scale
You can measure most baking ingredients without a scale by using cups and spoons. The amounts below are approximate, because weight depends on how packed the ingredient is. US measuring cups are 240 ml and a tablespoon is 15 ml. Use the chart as a guide, and weigh when a recipe needs precision, such as for bread or delicate pastry.
Measuring cups, ingredient weights
| Ingredient | 1 cup |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | about 120 g (4.25 oz) |
| Whole wheat flour | about 120 g (4.25 oz) |
| Granulated sugar | about 200 g (7 oz) |
| Powdered sugar | about 120 g (4.25 oz) |
| Brown sugar, packed | about 210 g (7.4 oz) |
| Shredded coconut, unsweetened | about 85 g (3 oz) |
| Ground nuts | about 100 g (3.5 oz) |
| Butter | about 227 g (8 oz, 2 sticks) |
| Uncooked white rice | about 185 g (6.5 oz) |
Tablespoons and teaspoons
| Ingredient | 1 tablespoon |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | about 8 g |
| Granulated sugar | about 12.5 g |
| Butter or other fat | about 14 g |
| Vegetable oil | about 14 g (13.5 ml by weight) |
| Honey | about 21 g |
| Jam or jelly | about 20 g |
| Cocoa powder | about 5 g |
| Cornstarch | about 8 g |
| Poppy seeds | about 9 g |
| Ground coffee | about 5 g |
| Heavy cream or milk | about 15 g |
| Table salt | about 18 g |
For small amounts: 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar is about 4 g, 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar about 2.5 g, and 1 teaspoon of table salt about 6 g.
How to measure accurately
- Fluff the flour. Stir it in the bag or canister first, because it settles and packs.
- Spoon, don't scoop. Spoon flour into the cup and level it with a knife. Scooping with the cup can add 20 percent or more flour, which makes cakes dry.
- Level every spoon. Scrape the back of a knife across the top of dry ingredients.
- Pack brown sugar. Press it down firmly into the cup until level.
- Use the right cup. Dry cups are used for flour and sugar. A liquid measuring cup with a spout is better for milk and oil, read at eye level.
Useful equivalents
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 15 ml
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons = 60 ml
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 240 ml
- 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons = 113 g (4 oz)
Spoon sizes vary between countries (a tablespoon is 15 ml in the US but 20 ml in Australia), and a table spoon from your cutlery drawer is not a measuring spoon. If you bake often, a digital scale costs little and is more reliable than any chart.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1 cup of flour?
About 120 g for all-purpose flour when spooned and leveled. If you scoop it straight from the bag, it can weigh 140 g or more.
How many grams is 1 tablespoon of butter?
About 14 g. A stick of butter is 8 tablespoons or 113 g.
How do I measure without a scale?
Use standard measuring cups and spoons, level every measurement, and spoon the flour into the cup instead of scooping. Treat chart values as close estimates.
Editorial team
BezvaRady.eu
BezvaRady.eu has been collecting practical kitchen, household and garden tips since 2015. We try the methods ourselves and explain them so you can use them right away.
