CONVERSION GUIDELINES
Temperature
Weight
Length
Speed
Area
Volume (Liquid)
Fuel Consumption
Cooking Measurements
The United States does not use the metric system.
Temperature:
Definition: °F = 32 + 9 / 5 °C
Approximation: 2°F ~1°C (for small differences)
Weather:
°F
°C
Body Temperature: Normal is 98.6°F or 37°C
°F
°C
Cooking Oven:
°F
°C
Boiling
Weight:
Definition: 1 lb (pound) = 16 oz (ounces) = 454 g (grams)
Approximations: 1 lb + 10% ~ 1 metric pound (500 g) 1 oz ~ 28 g
Length:
Definitions:
1 in. = 1" = 2.54 cm
1 ft = 1' = 12 in.
1 yd = 3 ft = 36 in.
1 mi = 5,280 ft ("statute mile")
Approximations:
4 in. ~ 10 cm
10 ft ~ 3 m
1 yd + 10% ~ 1 m
1 mi ~ 1.6 km
25 mi ~ 40 km
Speed:
But 1 knot (=1 nautical mile per hour) ~ 1.85 km/h
Area:
Definition: 1 acre = 43,560 ft 2 (sq ft) = 1/640 sq mile
Approximations: 1 acre ~ 0.4 ha (hectare) 10 ft 2 ~ 1 m 2 (-7%)
Volume (Liquid):
Definitions:
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 231 in 3
1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups = 32 fl oz
1 fl oz = fluid ounce of water, weighs about 1 oz
Approximations:
1 gallon = 3.8 liter
1.06 quarts = 1 liter
1 fl oz = 30 cc
6 U.S. gallons (above) = 5 Imperial gal ( UK, Canada )
Fuel Consumption:
Cooking Measurements:
Common volume measures found in a cookbook are:
Unit |
Symbol |
Equivalent |
1 teaspoon |
t or tsp |
= 1/3 tablespoon |
1 tablespoon |
T or Tbsp |
= 3 teaspoons |
2 tablespoons |
oz |
= 1/8 of a cup = 1 ounce |
4 tablespoons |
|
= ¼ of a cup |
8 tablespoons |
|
= ½ of a cup |
16 tablespoons |
|
= 1 cup |
1 cup |
C or c |
= ½ pint |
2 cups |
|
= 1 pint |
2 pints |
pt |
= 1 quart |
4 quarts |
qt |
= 1 gallon |
1 fluid ounce |
fl oz |
= 2 tablespoons |
16 fluid ounces |
|
= 1 pint |
1 jigger |
|
= 1 ½ fluid ounces = 3 tablespoons |
Ingredients in American cookbooks and recipes are measured by volume not by weight. Sets of measuring spoons and cups can be purchased in any supermarket. Many measuring cups are now marked with metric volume equivalents. Kitchen scales are not normally used to measure quantities in recipes. Some food equivalents are:
Item |
U.S. Measure |
Cups |
Metric |
Granulated Sugar |
1 pound |
2 cups |
450 grams |
Brown Sugar |
1 pound |
2 ¼ cups packed |
450 grams |
Powdered Sugar |
1 pound |
3 ½ cups packed |
450 grams |
Coffee, instant |
2 ounce jar |
25 servings |
60 grams |
Cream, heavy |
1 cup or ½ pint |
2 cups whipped |
473 ml |
Four, cake |
1 pound |
4 ¾ cups |
450 grams |
Flour, all purpose |
1 pound |
4 cups |
450 grams |
Rice |
½ pound |
1 cup raw |
225 grams |
Butter |
¼ pound or 1 stick |
½ cup or 8 Tbsp |
115 grams |
Cheese, hard |
2 ounces |
½ cup shredded |
60 grams |
Chocolate |
1 square = 1 ounce |
4 Tbsp grated |
30 grams |
Coffee, ground |
1 pound |
40 cups brewed |
40 grams |
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