Cooking Conversions Deep Dive: Master Recipe Conversions Like a Pro Chef

Cooking conversions are essential for anyone who loves to cook, especially when following international recipes or scaling recipes up or down. Whether you're converting cups to grams, ounces to milliliters, or Fahrenheit to Celsius, accurate conversions are crucial for successful cooking and baking.

Quick Answer: Use our unit converter for instant, accurate conversions. We support all major measurement types including length, weight, volume, temperature, and more.

This comprehensive guide covers all cooking conversions you'll need, from volume and weight conversions to temperature conversions, with practical examples and conversion tables.

Why Cooking Conversions Matter

International Recipes

• American recipes use cups, tablespoons, ounces, and Fahrenheit
• European recipes use grams, milliliters, and Celsius
• British recipes use a mix of metric and imperial units
• Asian recipes often use metric units with traditional measurements

Understanding conversions lets you cook recipes from anywhere in the world.

Scaling Recipes

Converting measurements is essential when:

• Doubling or halving recipes
• Adjusting serving sizes
• Converting family recipes to smaller portions
• Scaling commercial recipes for home use

Volume Conversions for Liquid Ingredients

Cups to Milliliters

Standard Conversions:

• 1 US cup = 236.59 mL (commonly rounded to 240 mL)
• 1 metric cup = 250 mL (used in Australia, New Zealand, Canada)
• 1 UK cup = 284.13 mL

Common Liquid Measurements:

• 1/4 cup = 60 mL
• 1/3 cup = 80 mL
• 1/2 cup = 120 mL
• 2/3 cup = 160 mL
• 3/4 cup = 180 mL
• 1 cup = 240 mL

Use our volume converter for precise liquid conversions.

Fluid Ounces to Milliliters

Conversion: 1 US fluid ounce = 29.57 mL (commonly rounded to 30 mL)

Common Conversions:

• 1 fl oz = 30 mL
• 2 fl oz = 60 mL
• 4 fl oz = 120 mL (1/2 cup)
• 8 fl oz = 240 mL (1 cup)
• 16 fl oz = 480 mL (2 cups)

Convert fluid ounces to milliliters with our volume converter.

Tablespoons and Teaspoons

Volume Conversions:

• 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 mL
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL
• 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
• 16 tablespoons = 1 cup

Common Recipe Measurements:

• 1/4 tsp = 1.25 mL
• 1/2 tsp = 2.5 mL
• 1 tsp = 5 mL
• 1 tbsp = 15 mL
• 2 tbsp = 30 mL

Weight Conversions for Dry Ingredients

Cups to Grams (Flour)

Important: Weight varies by ingredient density. These are approximate:

All-Purpose Flour:

• 1 cup = 120-125 grams
• 1/2 cup = 60-63 grams
• 1/4 cup = 30-31 grams

Convert cups to grams using our weight converter or use these reference tables.

Cups to Grams (Common Ingredients)

Ingredient	1 Cup (grams)
All-purpose flour	120-125 g
Bread flour	127-130 g
Cake flour	100-115 g
Sugar (granulated)	200 g
Sugar (brown)	220 g
Sugar (powdered)	120 g
Butter	227 g (1 cup = 2 sticks)
Cocoa powder	100 g
Oats	90-100 g
Rice (uncooked)	185-200 g

Pro Tip: For accuracy, always weigh ingredients when possible. Use our weight converter for precise conversions.

Ounces to Grams

Conversion: 1 ounce = 28.35 grams

Common Conversions:

• 1 oz = 28 g
• 2 oz = 57 g
• 4 oz = 113 g (1/4 pound)
• 8 oz = 227 g (1/2 pound)
• 16 oz = 454 g (1 pound)

Convert ounces to grams instantly with our weight converter.

Pounds to Grams/Kilograms

Conversions:

• 1 pound = 453.59 grams = 0.454 kilograms
• 2 pounds = 907.18 grams = 0.907 kilograms
• 5 pounds = 2.27 kilograms

Use our pound to gram converter for precise conversions.

Temperature Conversions for Cooking

Oven Temperature Conversions

Standard Oven Temperatures:

Description	Celsius	Fahrenheit
Very low	120°C	250°F
Low	150°C	300°F
Warm	160°C	320°F
Moderate	180°C	350°F
Moderately hot	190°C	375°F
Hot	200°C	400°F
Very hot	230°C	450°F
Extremely hot	260°C	500°F

Convert any cooking temperature with our temperature converter. For a deep dive into temperature conversions, check out our complete temperature conversion guide.

Meat Cooking Temperatures

Safe Internal Temperatures:

Meat	Celsius	Fahrenheit
Beef (rare)	49-52°C	120-125°F
Beef (medium rare)	54-57°C	130-135°F
Beef (medium)	60-63°C	140-145°F
Beef (well done)	71°C+	160°F+
Pork	63°C	145°F
Poultry	74°C	165°F
Fish	63°C	145°F
Ground meat	71°C	160°F

Baking Temperature Guide

Bread Baking:

• 190-220°C (375-425°F) - Most breads
• 230-260°C (450-500°F) - Pizza, flatbreads

Cake Baking:

• 175-190°C (350-375°F) - Most cakes
• 160-175°C (320-350°F) - Delicate cakes, cheesecakes

Cookie Baking:

• 175-190°C (350-375°F) - Most cookies
• 160-175°C (320-350°F) - Soft cookies

Pie Baking:

• 200-220°C (400-425°F) - Fruit pies
• 175-190°C (350-375°F) - Custard pies

Use our temperature converter to convert any recipe temperature.

Common Ingredient Conversion Tables

Flour Conversions

Measurement	All-Purpose Flour	Bread Flour
1 cup	120-125 g	127-130 g
1/2 cup	60-63 g	64-65 g
1/4 cup	30-31 g	32 g
1 tbsp	8-9 g	8-9 g
1 tsp	3 g	3 g

Sugar Conversions

Measurement	Granulated	Brown	Powdered
1 cup	200 g	220 g	120 g
1/2 cup	100 g	110 g	60 g
1/4 cup	50 g	55 g	30 g
1 tbsp	12.5 g	14 g	7.5 g

Butter Conversions

Measurement	Grams	Ounces
1 cup	227 g	8 oz
1/2 cup	113 g	4 oz
1/4 cup	57 g	2 oz
1 tbsp	14 g	0.5 oz
1 stick	113 g	4 oz

Note: 1 US stick of butter = 1/2 cup = 4 oz = 113 g

Scaling Recipes

Doubling Recipes

When doubling a recipe:

• Volume: Multiply by 2

  • 1 cup → 2 cups
  • 1/2 cup → 1 cup
  • Use our volume converter for precise conversions

• Weight: Multiply by 2

  • 100 g → 200 g
  • 1 lb → 2 lbs
  • Use our weight converter for accuracy

• Temperature: Keep the same (don't double!)

Halving Recipes

When halving a recipe:

• Volume: Divide by 2

  • 1 cup → 1/2 cup
  • 1/3 cup → 1.5 tbsp + 1 tsp
  • Use our volume converter

• Weight: Divide by 2

  • 200 g → 100 g
  • 1 lb → 8 oz
  • Use our weight converter

Converting to Different Serving Sizes

Formula: New Amount = (Desired Servings ÷ Original Servings) × Original Amount

Example: Recipe serves 4, you need 6 servings

• Original: 2 cups flour
• New: (6 ÷ 4) × 2 = 3 cups flour

International Recipe Conversions

American to Metric

Volume:

• 1 cup → 240 mL
• 1 tbsp → 15 mL
• 1 tsp → 5 mL

Weight:

• 1 oz → 28 g
• 1 lb → 454 g

Temperature:

• Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter

Metric to American

Volume:

• 250 mL → 1 cup (metric) or 1.06 US cups
• 100 mL → ~6.7 tbsp
• 50 mL → ~3.3 tbsp

Weight:

• 100 g → 3.5 oz
• 500 g → 1.1 lbs
• 1 kg → 2.2 lbs

Use our weight converter and volume converter for precise conversions.

Baking-Specific Conversions

Yeast Conversions

Type	Amount	Equivalent
Fresh yeast	1 oz	0.6 oz active dry yeast
Active dry yeast	1 tsp	0.25 oz
Instant yeast	1 tsp	0.25 oz

Leavening Agents

• 1 tsp baking powder = 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda = 4 tsp baking powder (but not recommended as substitute)

Common Cooking Conversion Mistakes

Mistake 1: Confusing Volume and Weight

Problem: Trying to convert 1 cup flour to 1 cup weight Solution: Flour weighs approximately 120-125 g per cup, but this varies by type and how it's measured

Prevention: Use weight measurements for accuracy, especially in baking. Use our weight converter when converting.

Mistake 2: Incorrect Temperature Conversion

Problem: Adding 32 to Celsius to get Fahrenheit Solution: Use the formula: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

Prevention: Use our temperature converter for accurate oven temperatures.

Mistake 3: US vs UK Cups

Problem: Using US cups for UK recipes Solution: UK cups are larger (284 mL vs 240 mL)

Prevention: Always check which cup measurement is used. Use our volume converter for precise conversions.

Essential Conversion Tools

Use our comprehensive conversion tools for accurate cooking:

• Volume Converter - Cups, milliliters, fluid ounces, liters
• Weight Converter - Ounces, grams, pounds, kilograms
• Temperature Converter - Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin

Quick Reference Card

Common Conversions:

• 1 cup = 240 mL = 8 fl oz
• 1 tbsp = 15 mL = 0.5 fl oz
• 1 tsp = 5 mL
• 1 oz = 28 g
• 1 lb = 454 g
• 180°C = 350°F (moderate oven)
• 200°C = 400°F (hot oven)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert cups to grams for baking?

Converting cups to grams depends on the ingredient. For all-purpose flour, 1 cup = 120-125 grams. For granulated sugar, 1 cup = 200 grams. For butter, 1 cup = 227 grams. Use our weight converter for precise conversions based on your specific ingredient.

What is 350°F in Celsius for baking?

350°F equals 175°C (rounded to 180°C). This is one of the most common baking temperatures. Use our temperature converter for any oven temperature conversion.

How many ounces are in a cup?

There are 8 fluid ounces in 1 US cup for liquids. For dry ingredients measured by weight, it varies: 1 cup of flour = approximately 4.5 ounces, while 1 cup of sugar = approximately 7 ounces.

Related Articles

You might also find these guides helpful:

• The Complete Cooking Conversion Cheat Sheet (Free Printable): Never mess up a recipe again! This comprehensive cooking conversion guide covers cups to grams, tablespoons to ml, Fahrenheit to Celsius, and every measurement bakers and chefs need.

• 10 Unit Conversion Mistakes That Could Cost You (And How to Avoid Them): Learn about the most common unit conversion errors that lead to costly mistakes in cooking, construction, travel, and more. Includes real-world examples and prevention tips.

• Area Conversions for Real Estate: Square Feet, Square Meters, Acres & More: Complete guide to area conversions for real estate. Convert square feet to square meters, acres to hectares, and understand property sizes for buying and selling.

Your Next Steps

Now that you understand these conversions, here's what to do:

1. Bookmark Our Converters (for instant access):

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2. Explore Related Guides:

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Conclusion

Mastering cooking conversions opens up a world of recipes and ensures your cooking turns out perfectly every time. Whether you're following international recipes, scaling portions, or converting between measurement systems, accurate conversions are essential.

Key Takeaways:

• Use weight measurements for accuracy in baking
• Always convert temperatures correctly for oven settings
• Be aware of US vs UK cup differences
• Use our unit converter tools for precise conversions

For accurate cooking conversions anytime, use our volume converter, weight converter, and temperature converter to ensure perfect results in the kitchen!