Recipes can be so frustrating sometimes as they flit between various measurements. Whether it is imperial or metric, grams or ounces, cups, and tablespoons.
Some recipes define themselves by volume, which is why cups are used, while others use weight as a more traditional means of working out quantities.
When a recipe uses both tablespoons and cups it can get confusing. Both measurements are based on volume yet you may only have a selection of measuring cups at hand that goes from an eighth to a quarter, half, and a full cup.
While you have an idea of how much two-thirds of a cup would look like, it is far easier and more accurate if you knew that volume as measured in tablespoons, or even grams.
In this guide, we will look at how to use both tablespoons and cups to measure a certain ingredient in a recipe and how many tablespoons equal two-thirds of a cup.
Why Learning About Different Units Of Measurement Is Important
Any cook or amateur baker should know how to accurately measure out various ingredients for their recipes.
Over time, you may simply know when a batter is the right consistency to make exquisite soufflés or when a sauce has just the right amount of every component to make it truly sing.
Some recipes simply demand exact measurements as guesswork can lead to a dish that does not quite hit the mark.
Unfortunately, no one measurement system works across all recipes. Certain countries have their units of measurement and when you want to try a certain recipe it may mean having to do various calculations.
You may have to do a bit of math to work out the correct measurement. No algebra, no complex equations, just some simple math.
What You Will Need
To work out how many tablespoons are included in a cup, you will need some measuring spoons. These can come in sets of different sized-spoons that can all fit together for easy storage.
Each specific spoon should come with its measurement, either as a teaspoon or a tablespoon.
You can use both cups and spoons to measure volume so the two measurements can be converted quite easily. The measurements work for wet as well as dry ingredients as it is simply measuring the volume.
If the recipe only calls for cups and spoons then you can keep the measuring scales in the cupboard for now as you do not need to think about the weight, just the volume.
How Much Does A Tablespoon Measure?
As you will notice by comparing a tablespoon to a teaspoon, the tablespoon is noticeably bigger. To be exact, a tablespoon is the equivalent of three-level teaspoons.
As the smaller of the two, the teaspoon is typically used to measure an amount of sugar to put in a cup of tea, coffee, or any other beverage you want to sweeten up then stir.
A tablespoon is larger and is used to serve food at a dinner table but is seen more regularly as a measuring unit in recipes as it could get quite tiresome having to use three times as many teaspoons.
How Many Tablespoons Are In Two-Thirds Of A Cup?
If you have both teaspoons and tablespoons at hand, you could say that two-thirds of a cup equates to ten tablespoons and two teaspoons.
However, if you only had tablespoons available then two-thirds a cup is equal to ten and two-thirds tablespoons.
How To Use Tablespoons To Measure Out Two-Thirds Of A Cup In A Recipe
So now that you know ten tablespoons and two teaspoons are equivalent to two-thirds of a cup. No longer will the cup measurement seem as confusing and you know exactly how much it is.
If you do not have any teaspoons then do not worry as you can eyeball the two-thirds of a tablespoon as just over half of a tablespoon.
After that, it is simply a case of measuring out a single tablespoon of your ingredients.
For wet ingredients, that’s relatively straightforward as the liquid should level out on your tablespoon though it may spill. However, for dry ingredients that may prove to be a little more difficult.
For sugar or flour simply tap the tablespoon to the side so that the tablespoon is leveled out.
If you use heaped tablespoons you will simply be using an excessive amount, when you repeat that ten times you will have used far too much of that single ingredient.
Converting The Amount Into Grams
As cups and tablespoons measure volume, it becomes a bit harder to convert that into grams. For one, you have to consider the substance you are measuring.
Water, flour, golden syrup, and sugar all weigh slightly differently so their volume would vary in weight.
You can still use a digital scale to work out what two-thirds of a cup weighs though this is where some simple math comes in.
There should be an option on your digital scale to convert the cup measurement into grams rather than spoons.
First, make sure that the reading is at zero and put one level tablespoon of whatever ingredient onto the scale.
Make a note of what that weighs and multiply it by 10.67 which is the decimal representation of ten and two-thirds tablespoons.
That amount is what two-thirds a cup of your ingredient weighs, now that wasn’t too hard, was it.
Let’s say you were measuring out a certain ingredient and that one tablespoon weighed 15.12 grams. As you need ten and two-thirds tablespoons you need to multiply 15.12 by 10.67 which equals 161.3304.
Rounded off, that makes 161 grams which is how much you need to weigh out. Not 160 grams, not 165 grams, 161 grams which is equal to two-thirds a cup.
Final Thoughts
Getting your measurements exactly right is crucial to ensuring that your finished creation tastes exactly as the recipe intended.
Knowing how to differentiate between using different units of measurement, such as cups and tablespoons, is one of those skills that you can gain confidence in.
Like knowing when a batter feels just right, knowing how many tablespoons are in two-thirds of a cup can boost up your skills in the kitchen.
Hi, my name is Kunal Sharma, and I am a self-certified foodie. I love everything about food - from its preparation to cooking, raw ingredients to final dishes.
Some people relax by taking a walk outside or painting, but my release from the day is when I get to come home and cook for my wife and kids. Luckily they aren’t fussy eaters, because it’s a different meal every night!
If you are like me and can’t get enough of all things food related, then I invite you to come on a journey through my website.
