Kitchen Unit Converter: Cooking Measurements Guide

Why Precise Conversion Matters in Cooking

Chinese cooking allows "a pinch of this," but baking is chemistry. One extra gram of yeast overproofs dough, 5g less sugar makes cookies limp, 10°F oven difference collapses a cake. Accurate unit conversion is the foundation of successful baking.

Common Volume Conversions

• 1 cup = 240 ml = 16 tbsp
• 1 tbsp = 15 ml = 3 tsp
• 1 tsp = 5 ml
• 1 oz = 30 ml
• 1 pint = 480 ml = 2 cups

Temperature Conversions

American recipes use Fahrenheit (°F); Chinese and European use Celsius (°C). Quick formula: °C = (°F - 32) × 5/9. Common baking temps: 350°F = 175°C, 375°F = 190°C, 400°F = 200°C, 425°F = 220°C.

Weight vs Volume

1 cup flour ≠ 1 cup sugar ≠ 1 cup butter — different densities mean the same volume has very different weights. Flour: 1 cup ≈ 120g. Sugar: 1 cup ≈ 200g. Butter: 1 cup ≈ 227g. Professional bakers weigh in grams with a kitchen scale.

Adapting International Recipes

An American YouTube recipe says "2 cups flour"? Convert to grams with a unit converter. Japanese recipes use "g" but portions are small (1 serving) — scale up proportionally. European recipes often use "dl" (deciliter), where 1 dl = 100 ml.

Altitude Effects on Cooking

• Above 1500m — water boils at lower temperatures, cooking takes longer
• Baking adjustments — increase temp by 15–25°C, add 1–2 tbsp liquid
• Yeast fermentation — faster at altitude, reduce yeast by 25%
• Sugar and baking powder — reduce sugar, increase baking powder at high altitude

FAQ

Grams in a cup of flour?

About 120g. Sugar: ~200g/cup. Butter: ~227g/cup. Use a scale.

Does altitude affect baking?

Above 1500m: raise temp 15–25°C, add liquid, reduce yeast 25%.