Approximate Equivalents

Every cook needs a reliable measurement reference, and this one covers the conversions that actually come up in real recipes.

Volume conversions: 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon, 16 tablespoons = 1 cup, 2 cups = 1 pint, 4 cups = 1 quart.

Weight in metric: 1 oz = 28.35 grams, 1 lb = 453.6 grams, 2.25 lbs = 1 kilogram.

How much fits in a pound: - 1 lb granulated sugar = 2¼ cups - 1 lb brown sugar = 1½ cups - 1 lb powdered sugar = 3¾ cups - 1 lb butter = 2 cups - 1 lb all-purpose flour = 3¾ cups - 1 lb whole wheat flour = 3⅓ cups

Standard can sizes: #1 and #2 cans both hold 1½ cups; #3 = 4 cups; #10 = 13 cups.

Cooked-to-raw ratios: - 1 cup uncooked rice = 4 cups cooked - 1 cup uncooked macaroni = 2⅔ cups cooked - 1 lb uncooked meat = 2⅔ cups cooked - 2 tablespoons cocoa = 1 square baking chocolate

Kitchen Tips

• The flour measurement by weight is the one home bakers get wrong most often; always spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off for accuracy
• Rice expanding to 4x its volume is why the standard “1 cup of dry rice feeds 2-3 people” rule works
• The can size guide is especially useful when scaling older recipes that call for specific numbered cans