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Conversion of Weights

Conversion of Weights

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Conversion of weights and measures can some times be tricky and a real pain sometimes when converting American or Australian recipes to European (and vice versa), especially since not many realize their cup and tablespoon measurements are different.

Here is a quick reference on them, as well as conversions for oven temperatures. I shall keep this post on the footer of my blog, for easy reference.

Things get worse  in Greece or Cyprus where our measurements are not very precise. The traditional recipes given by mother to daughter say some salt, little pepper, some rice, some parsley, a handful of that, a glass of this or a tea cup of that etc., and we have practically learnt cooking by experience.

Measurements with a glass:

Here is an example of measuring some ingredients in a regular glass of water:

  • 1 glass  of milk is  200 grams
  • 1 glass of sugar is 215 grams
  • 1 glass of flour is 130 grams.

However, the glass is not filled to the rim.  My advice is the use the same glass to measure your ingredients.

collage measurements with a glass image

I will try from now on  to be more specific in my recipes and especially in baking.

I am cooking and baking my recipes again and shall try and update all the recipes which were posted before November, 2008.  From now on, I shall be using either cups or grams, or tbsp or tsp, which are the ones shown below.

Measuring spoons image

Personally I also have problems converting butter measurements and I am sure that others as well will have similar problems so according to some measurements I have found on the internet, I shall use these as a guideline for my recipes.

Conversion of measuring cups to grams

flour image

1.  Flour / semolina / corn flour (starch) / cocoa powder / baking powder / baking soda:

  • 1 cup all purpose flour = 125 grams
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour = 120 grams
  • 1 cup semolina = 170 grams
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour = 7.5 gr.
  • 1 tbsp corn flour (starch) = 7 gr.
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder = 7.4 gr.
  • 1 tbsp baking powder = 13.8 gr.
  • 1 tbsp baking soda = 13.8 gr.
sugar image

2.  Sugar:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar = 200 grams
  • 1 cup brown sugar = 220 grams
  • 1 cup icing sugar = 120 grams

3.  Fluid:

  • 1 cup milk = 240 grams
  • 1 cup water = 240 grams
  • 1 cup olive oil = 215 grams
  • 1 cup vegetable oil = 218 grams

4.  Eggs:

  • 1 small egg =  upto 53 grams
  • 1 medium egg =  53 – 63 grams
  • 1 large egg =  63 – 73 grams
  • Extra large =  more than 73 grams

5.  Other:

  • 1 cup rice=  185 grams / 1 tbsp rice = 12 grams
  • 1 cup grated almonds = 150 grams
  • 1 cup dried bread crumbs = 105 grams
  • 1 cup honey = 350 grams

Note:  If a recipe calls for a pinch of something, this is what you can pinch using your three fingers.

Butter image

6.  Butter:

  • 1 cup butter = 227 grams
  • 1 stick of butter = 1/4 pound
  • 1 stick of butter = 1/2 cup
  • 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons
  • 1 stick of butter = 4 ounces
  • 1 stick of butter = 113 grams
  • 1 tablespoon = 20 grams
  • 1/4 cup = 63 grams
  • 1/3 cup = 75 grams
  • 1/2 cup = 125 grams
  • 1 cup = 250 grams
Gelatine image

7. Gelatin sheets vs gelatin powder:

One Knox powdered gelatin envelope (US)
= 1/4 oz, about 7 grams.

1 (US) envelope:
= 7 g,
= 7 (1-gram) sheets,
= 4 (1.66-gram) sheets,
= 3 or 3 1/2 (2-gram) sheets.

1 (Europe) envelope:
= 11 g
= 11 (1-gram) sheets,
= 6.5 or 7 (1.66-gram) sheets
= 5 (2-gram) sheets

Source: Recipe Link

Note:   for 1 litre of liquid I use 12 sheets of gelatine  or 2 sachets equivalent to 2 tablespoons (20 grams) gelatine powder.

oven temperatures image

8. Oven Temperature Conversions

Gas

Mark

Fahrenheit

Celcius

Description

1/4

225

110

Very cool/very slow

1/2

250

130

1

275

140

Cool

2

300

150

3

325

170

4

350

180

very moderate

5

375

190

6

400

200

moderately hot

7

425

220

hot

8

450

230

9

475

240

very hot

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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Theis Kuhre

Saturday 22nd of November 2014

First of all I would like to say great blog! Thanks for sharing this amazing and informative article. Thank you ivy you are right some periods it gets too complicated.

Heni

Friday 3rd of July 2009

Your measurement page is ingenius ... esp the butter and gelatine part. May I link this page?

Heni's last blog post..A kind invitation to cooking: Walima cooking club

Ivy

Friday 14th of November 2008

I am very glad that this post might be also helpful for you all. Lore's Culiverter is still very useful and I do use it whenever necessary but this is quite different having all these measurements in one post. So if you have something I can add to the post, please let me know.

Cassoulet Cafe

Thursday 13th of November 2008

I am bookmarking this important post! thank you!!!

Sam Sotiropoulos

Monday 10th of November 2008

Ivy, I find Lore's 'Culiverter' to be quite helpful when it comes to sorting out and converting measurements, but thanks for your valuable input on this matter.

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