Metric Measures
In most of the world, recipes use the metric system of litres (L) and millilitres (mL), grams (g) and kilograms (kg), and degrees Celsius (°C). The word litre is almost always spelled liter in the USA.
The USA measures weight in pounds (avoirdupois), while recipes in the UK tend to be first in metric quantities and in pounds and ounces or may exclusively be in metric. The USA also uses volume measures based on cooking utensils and pre-metric measures. The actual values frequently deviate from the utensils on which they were based, and there is little consistency from one country to another.
| Measure | AUS | CND | UK | FDA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaspoon | 5.00 | 5.00 | 4.93 | ||
| Dessertspoon | 10.00 | — | — | ||
| Tablespoon | 20.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 14.79 | |
| Fluid ounce | 28.41 | 30.00 | 29.57 | ||
| Cup | 250.00 | 284.10 | 240.00 | 236.59 | |
| Pint† | 570.00 | 568.26 | — | 473.18 | |
| Quart | 1136.52 | — | 946.35 | ||
| Gallon | 4546.09 | — | 3785.41 | ||
† In South Australia, a "pint" of beer is traditionally 425 mL, while most other states have metricated this value to 570 mL.
The volumetric measures here are for comparison only. See below for the definition of Gallon for more details.
In addition, the "cook's cup" above is not the same as a "coffee cup" which can vary anywhere from 100 to 200 mL (3.5 to 7.0 imp fl oz; 3.4 to 6.8 US fl oz), or even smaller for espresso.
In Australia – since 1970 – metric utensil units have been standardized by law and imperial measures no longer have legal status. However – it is wise to measure the actual volume of the utensil measures – particularly the 'Australian tablespoon' – see above – since many are imported from other countries with different values. Dessertspoons are standardized as part of the metric system at 10 mL, though they are not normally used in contemporary recipes. Australia is the only metricated country with a metric tablespoon of 20 mL, unlike the rest of the world, which has a 15 mL metric tablespoon.
In Europe older recipes frequently refer to pounds (e.g. Pfund in German, pond in Dutch, livre in French). In each case, the unit refers to 500 g, about 10% more than an avoirdupois pound (454 g). Dutch recipes may also use the ons, which is 100 g.
Read more about this topic: Cooking Weights And Measures
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