How to Measure a Tablespoon Without Measuring Spoons

A tablespoon, which uses “tbsp” or “tbs” as its abbreviation in recipes, is a measurement of dry ingredients. You can use a measuring spoon to measure ingredients, such as baking powder, flour, salt, and baking soda. However, the most accurate way to measure these ingredients is with a kitchen scale.

The term tablespoon itself can be slightly confusing since a tablespoon is neither specifically a metric measurement nor an imperial measurement. Tablespoons are measuring tools specifically for cooking and baking (as opposed to the kitchen spoons that come in a cutlery set for dining). That said, a metric tablespoon is a volume unit of measure equal to approximately fifteen milliliters (wet) or fifteen grams according to the metric system—which the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and most of the world uses—or approximately one-half ounce (wet or dry) according to the imperial system, which the United States uses.

You can use a tablespoon tool for measuring small amounts of dry ingredients or wet ingredients, as a fluid ounce will be the same as a dry ounce. However, if a recipe calls for any type of cup measurement for liquid, you must use a liquid measuring cup as opposed to dry measuring cups for proper measuring.

Measuring a tablespoon while you’re baking can be risky since the wrong amount of a dry ingredient changes the recipe entirely. Below is a step-by-step guide for properly measuring a tablespoon of dry ingredients:

1. 1. Fluff the ingredient. Dry ingredients compact over time, which impacts how much of an ingredient actually ends up in the tablespoon. Use the tablespoon to aerate the dry ingredient and fluff it up a little to get a more accurate tablespoon measurement.
2. 2. Scoop the ingredient. Dip the tablespoon into the area where you fluffed the ingredient. For a heaping tablespoon, include some of the dry ingredient on top, too.
3. 3. Level the ingredient. Unless you’re using a heaping tablespoon, the tablespoon should be level to ensure an accurate measurement. Give the tablespoon a little shake to make the ingredient as level as possible. Another method is to use your index finger or middle finger to swipe the top of the measuring spoon to remove the excess ingredient.

There are a few ways to measure a tablespoon without measuring spoons, however, it’s important to keep in mind that they’re not fool-proof methods since they’re less standardized than measuring spoons.

1. 1. Use a dinner spoon. Cutlery sets usually come with two spoon sizes. Use the large one, which equals about the same measurement as an official tablespoon.
2. 2. Use a dessert spoon. In a cutlery set with two spoons, the smaller spoons, also known as dessert spoons or coffee spoons, are more in line with teaspoons than tablespoons. Since one tablespoon equals three teaspoons, use three of those smaller spoons to equal approximately one tablespoon.
3. 3. Use a kitchen scale. The most accurate way to measure ingredients is with a kitchen scale. Most kitchen scales have grams, kilograms, ounces, and pounds. This accommodates cooking measurements as well as baking measurements.
4. 4. Use a measuring cup. There are two different types of measuring cups: liquid measuring cups and dry measuring cups. Liquid measuring cups usually measure volume and US fluid ounces, while dry measuring cups measure weight. One tablespoon is equal to about one-sixteenth of a dry measuring cup. If the set comes with a one-eighth dry measuring cup, use half of that to approximate one tablespoon.

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