Key Volume Conversions
Use this quick cheat sheet for the equivalents:
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 15 milliliters
- 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup = 60 milliliters
- 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons = 30 milliliters
- 1 cup = 8 oz. = 250 milliliters
- 1 pint = 2 cups = 500 milliliters
- 1 quart = 4 cups = 950 milliliters
- 1 quart = 2 pints = 950 milliliters
- 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 3800 milliliters = 3.8 liters
Volume vs. Weight Ounces
It is important to note that volume ounces are not the same as weight ounces. Liquids and other wet ingredients will likely be measured in volume ounces while dry ingredients (like beans, flour, or sugar) will be measured in weight ounces. On packaged goods, volume ounces are listed as ‘NET OZ FL’ where FL stands for fluid and weight ounces are listed as ‘NET WT OZ’ where WT stands for weight. To convert between volume and weight measurements you would need to know the density of the ingredient, so this is not done often.
Imperial vs. Metric Volume Conversions
Most recipes in the United States use volume measurements in imperial units like teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, ounces, pints, quarts, and gallons. Most other countries use the metric system with units such as liters and milliliters. One liter is roughly equal to one quart (1.06L = 1qt).
The advantage of using the metric system is that you don't have to know any messy proportions. Everything is done in multiples of 10 and 100, without any oddball measures such as tablespoons, cups, quarts, etc. which match up in ratios other than 10, such as 4 quarts per gallon or 3 teaspoons per tablespoon. It is much easier to double or half recipes using the metric system. Once you get to 1000 milliliters, you have one liter. Simple as that.
Use the Correct Measuring Device
Let us know in the comment section if you have any questions.