1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Chinese Food

How Do I Adjust Quantities in US Recipes?

By Rhonda Parkinson, About.com

Question: How Do I Adjust Quantities in US Recipes?
Answer: In the United States, quantities for both liquid and dry ingredients are measured by volume instead of weight, making it fairly easy to adjust recipes. (The main exceptions are meat, seafood and poultry, which are measured by weight). Here is a handy table of equivalent measurements, based on the standard of the US fluid ounce.

Liquid/Dry Measure Volume Equivalents

A pinch = 1/8 teaspoon (what you can squeeze together with your fingertips)
1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon
1 1/2 teaspoons = 1/2 tablespoon
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup = 2 ounces
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup = 2 2/3 ounces
8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup = 4 ounces
16 tablespoons = 1 cup = 8 ounces
2 cups = 16 ounces

Explore Chinese Food

About.com Special Features

Conquering High Cholesterol

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Mornings Made Easy

Reclaim the morning and your sanity with these easy recipes, tips, and timesaving ideas. More >

  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Chinese Food
  4. Chinese Cooking Basics
  5. Recipe Conversion FAQs
  6. Adjusting Recipe Quantities - How to Adjust Quantities in US or Imperial Recipes>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.