Complete Cooking Unit Conversion Guide: Tablespoons, Cups, Grams, and Oven Temperatures
How many grams is a tablespoon? How many ml is 1 cup? This guide answers every common cooking measurement question, including ingredient-specific weight conversions, Japanese vs US cup differences, and oven temperature °C to °F.
Cooking Measurements Made Simple
Recipes use many different units — tablespoons, cups, grams, ounces, even Fahrenheit vs Celsius for oven temperatures. Getting these right is crucial, especially when using recipes from different countries.
Basic Volume Units
| Unit | Volume |
|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon (大さじ) | 15ml |
| 1 teaspoon (小さじ) | 5ml |
| 1 cup (Japan) | 200ml |
| 1 cup (US) | ~240ml (236.6ml) |
| 1 合 (Japanese rice measure) | 180ml |
Key note: Japanese and US cups are different. Always check which standard a recipe uses.
Ingredient-Specific Weight Conversions (per tablespoon)
| Ingredient | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 1 tsp (5ml) |
|---|---|---|
| Water / Vinegar / Cooking Sake | 15g | 5g |
| Soy sauce | 18g | 6g |
| Mirin | 18g | 6g |
| Miso paste | 18g | 6g |
| White sugar | 9g | 3g |
| Salt | 15g | 5g |
| Sesame oil | 12g | 4g |
| Vegetable/Olive oil | 12g | 4g |
| Honey | 21g | 7g |
| Butter | 12g | 4g |
| Flour (all-purpose) | 9g | 3g |
| Starch (katakuriko) | 9g | 3g |
Oven Temperature Conversion (°C ↔ °F)
Conversion formulas:
- °C → °F: (°C × 9/5) + 32
- °F → °C: (°F − 32) × 5/9
Quick Reference
| Purpose | °C | °F |
|---|---|---|
| Low-temperature cooking | 100°C | 212°F |
| Cookies, cakes (gentle) | 150°C | 302°F |
| Madeleines, shortbread | 170°C | 338°F |
| Sponge cake, muffins | 180°C | 356°F |
| Standard baking | 190°C | 374°F |
| Bread, pizza | 200°C | 392°F |
| High-heat roasting | 250°C | 482°F |
Weight Conversions (g / oz / lb)
| Unit | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 ounce (oz) | ~28.35g |
| 1 pound (lb) | ~453.6g |
Common quick references:
- 100g ≈ 3.5 oz
- 500g ≈ 1.1 lb
- 1 lb ≈ 454g
Liquid Volume Conversions (ml / fl oz / pint)
| Unit | mL |
|---|---|
| 1 US fluid ounce (fl oz) | ~29.6ml |
| 1 US pint | ~473ml |
| 1 US quart | ~946ml |
| 1 US gallon | ~3,785ml |
Japanese Rice Measurements
- 1 合 = 180ml (volume)
- 1 合 uncooked ≈ 150–165g (weight, varies by variety)
- After cooking: approximately doubles (330–350g)
Most Japanese rice cooker measuring cups are marked in 合 (180ml increments).
Microwave Power Conversion
When a recipe specifies 600W but your microwave is 500W, adjust the cooking time:
Formula: Adjusted Time = Recipe Time × Recipe Wattage ÷ Your Wattage
Example: 600W for 2 minutes → 500W: 2 min × 600 ÷ 500 = 2 min 24 sec
FAQ
Q: How many ml is "1 cup" in Japanese recipes? A: Japanese recipes use 200ml as 1 cup. US recipes use ~240ml. Always verify which standard you're following.
Q: Is 1 tablespoon of sugar the same weight as 1 tablespoon of salt? A: No. Salt is denser, so 1 tablespoon ≈ 15g. Granulated white sugar packs less densely: 1 tablespoon ≈ 9g. This difference matters significantly in recipes specified by weight.
Q: What does "level" (すり切り) mean? A: A "level" teaspoon or tablespoon means the ingredient is filled to the rim and leveled flat — not heaped. In Japanese cooking, measurements are almost always level unless otherwise specified.
Conclusion
Cooking unit conversions require ingredient-specific knowledge — the same volume means different weights depending on what you're measuring. The Japan vs US cup difference and °C vs °F conversions are particularly important when using international recipes.
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