Measurements, Conversions, and Substitutions

Common Conversions
Pinch or dash = less than 1/8 teaspoon
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce
12 tsp = 1/4 cup
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
48 tsp = 1 cup
16 tablespoons = 1 cup
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
2 cups = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon

Cooking Calculators


Food Equivalents

This Measurement...	... Equals This Measurement
3 medium apples or bananas	about 1 pound
1 ounce baking chocolate	1 square
2 slices bread	about 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 pound brown sugar	2 1/4 cups packed
4 tablespoons butter	1/2 stick
8 tablespoons butter	1 stick
4 sticks butter	1 pound
6 ounces chocolate chips	about 1 cup
1 pound confectioners sugar	about 4 1/2 cups sifted
1 pound granulated sugar	2 cups
1/2 pound hard cheese (such as cheddar)	about 2 cups grated
1 cup heavy whipping cream	2 cups whipped cream
1 medium lemon	3 tablespoons juice, 2 to 3 teaspoons grated zest
1 pound macaroni	4 cups raw, 8 cups cooked
4 ounces nuts	about 2/3 cup chopped
1 large onion	about 1 cup chopped
1 cup uncooked rice	4 cups cooked
1 pint strawberries	about 2 cups sliced
1 large tomato	about 3/4 cup chopped
3 to 4 tomatoes	about 1 pound
1 pound all-purpose flour	about 4 cups sifted

Source: Cooking for Dummies



Substitutions

baking powder	1 tsp	1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar + 1/4 tsp corn starch
bread crumbs	1 cup	1 cup ground oats OR 4 slices bread, toasted and crumbled
brown sugar	1 cup, packed	7 oz (volume) white sugar + 2 oz (volume) molasses
butter	1 cup (8 Tbsp)	7 oz (volume) vegetable or olive oil may cause flattening in baking or extra moistness OR 1 cup unsweetened applesauce recommended for baking
buttermilk	1 cup	1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar + enough milk to make 1 cup
chocolate, semisweet	1 oz	1 oz unsweetened chocolate + 4 tsp sugar (or sugar substitute)
corn starch	1 Tbsp	2 Tbsp wheat or potato flour OR 1 Tbsp potato or rice starch
cream of tartar	1 tsp	2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar
egg	1 whole egg	1 Tbsp ground flax soaked in 3 Tbsp water OR 1/4 c. egg substitute OR 1/2 banana mashed with 1/2 tsp baking powder
garlic	1 clove	1/8 tsp garlic powder OR 1/4 tsp garlic, minced
ginger, fresh	1 tsp, minced	1/2 tsp ginger, dried and ground
Herbs, fresh	1 Tbsp, finely cut	1 tsp, dried
honey	1 cup	1-1/4 cup white sugar + 1/4 cup water + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
hot pepper sauce	1 tsp	3/4 tsp cayenne pepper plus 1 tsp vinegar
lemon grass	2 fresh stalks	1 Tbsp lemon zest
lemon juice	1 tsp	1/2 tsp vinegar
lemon zest	1 tsp	2 Tbsp lemon juice
mayonnaise	1 cup	1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt
Mushrooms, raw/fresh	1 lb	1 10 oz. can
oil, liquid (vegetable, olive, grapeseed, etc)	1 cup	1 cup any other kind of oil OR 1 cup applesauce
Onion, raw	1 small	1/4 cup, chopped green onions OR 1 Tbsp onion powder OR 2 Tbsp dried minced onion
nuts, any non-peanut	1 cup	1 cup any other kind of nut (non-peanut)
ricotta cheese	1 cup	1 cup dry cottage cheese (place cottage cheese in sieve and let liquid drip off)
saffron	1/4 tsp	1/4 tsp tumeric
shallots, chopped	1/2 cup	1/2 cup chopped onion
sour cream	1 cup	1 cup plain yogurt
Tahini	1 Tbsp	1 Tbsp peanut butter
tapioca (as thickener)	1 Tbsp	1-1/2 Tbsp flour
Tomatoes, canned	1 cup	1-1/3 cup diced tomatoes, simmered for 5-10 minutes
Tomatoes, fresh	2 cups, chopped	1 16 oz can
yogurt	1 cup	1 cup sour cream
vanilla bean	1 bean	2 Tbsp vanilla extract
vanilla powder	1 tsp	2 tsp vanilla extract
vinegar	1/4 cup	1/3 cup lemon juice