When cooking and baking, it’s important to accurately measure ingredients. Using the right abbreviations for measurements can help ensure your recipes turn out perfectly. In this article, we’ll go over the common abbreviations for weights, volumes, and sizes used in recipes.
Weight Measurements
Weight measurements are often abbreviated using the following:
- g – Gram
- kg – Kilogram
- oz – Ounce
- lb – Pound
Understanding these basic weight abbreviations allows you to correctly measure ingredients like flour, sugar, meats, and more. Here are some examples of how weight abbreviations are used in recipes:
- 250g all-purpose flour
- 1 lb boneless chicken breasts
- 8 oz cheese
- 2 kg potatoes
Grams
The gram (g) is the basic unit of weight in the metric system. Grams are used to measure small amounts of ingredients like spices, leavening agents, and some vegetables.
Kilograms
The kilogram (kg) is equal to 1000 grams. Kilograms are suitable for measuring larger ingredient quantities like meat, flour, and produce.
Ounces
Ounces (oz) are used in the imperial system along with pounds. Ounces measure smaller amounts like nuts, chocolate, and cheese.
Pounds
The pound (lb) is the main unit of weight in the imperial system. Pounds work well for ingredients measured in bulk like meat, potatoes, apples, and more.
Volume Measurements
Volume measurements indicate the space an ingredient takes up. Common abbreviations for volumes include:
- tsp – Teaspoon
- Tbsp – Tablespoon
- c – Cup
- pt – Pint
- qt – Quart
- gal – Gallon
- l – Liter
- ml – Milliliter
Volume abbreviations allow you to correctly measure both liquid and dry ingredients. Here are some examples:
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1⁄4 c milk
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 qt strawberries
- 500 ml vegetable broth
Teaspoons and Tablespoons
The teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (Tbsp) are the most commonly used volume measurements in recipes. A teaspoon is equal to 5mL while a tablespoon is 15mL.
Cups
A cup (c) is equal to 16 tablespoons or 8 fluid ounces. Cup measurements are great for ingredients like flour, sugar, milk, juice, and more.
Pints, Quarts, and Gallons
A pint (pt) is 2 cups, a quart (qt) is 2 pints, and a gallon (gal) is 4 quarts. These are larger volumes best suited for measuring sizeable amounts of liquids.
Milliliters and Liters
The milliliter (ml) and liter (l) are metric volume units. There are 1000 milliliters in a liter. These abbreviations work for measuring water, stocks, wines, and other liquids.
Food Size Abbreviations
In addition to weight and volume, some recipe instructions use size abbreviations. Common food size abbreviations are:
- oz – Ounce
- ct – Count
- in – Inch
- cm – Centimeter
Here are examples of how size abbreviations are used:
- 1 oz chocolate chips
- 2 ct large eggs
- 1 in piece ginger
- 5mm thick steak
Ounces
When referring to food size, ounces (oz) typically indicate a count rather than a weight. For example, “8 oz strawberries” means 8 individual berries.
Count
The count (ct) abbreviation indicates quantity when items are measured individually vs. by weight/volume. For instance, “2 ct carrots” means 2 whole carrots.
Inches and Centimeters
Whole inches (in) or centimeters (cm) denote the size and thickness of foods. “1 in cubed cheese” means cheese cut into 1-inch squares. “0.5cm slices ginger” indicates ginger cut into 0.5cm thin slices.
Common Recipe Abbreviations
There are also several recipe-specific abbreviations to be aware of:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| c. | Cup |
| qt. | Quart |
| t. | Teaspoon |
| T. | Tablespoon |
| oz. | Ounce |
| lb. | Pound |
| g | Gram |
| kg | Kilogram |
| doz. | Dozen |
| pk. | Pack |
| env. | Envelope |
| cans | Cans |
You’ll see these pop up in ingredient lists and cooking directions. Knowing that “c.” means cup or “env.” stands for envelope helps ensure you add the proper amounts.
Tips for Using Abbreviations
Here are some top tips for utilizing food measurement abbreviations:
- Double check any abbreviations you’re unfamiliar with to avoid confusion.
- Use a conversion chart to switch between metric, imperial, and US customary units.
- Stick to the abbreviations given in a recipe – don’t substitute or shorten them.
- Write out abbreviations the first time they’re used, e.g. “1 teaspoon (tsp)”.
- Purchase a set of measuring tools like cups, spoons, and scales.
- Use level, not heaping or packed, measurements unless specified.
Conclusion
Knowing the proper abbreviations for ingredients and measurements is an important part of following recipes accurately. With this guide to common weight, volume, size, and recipe abbreviations, you’ll be able to decode any recipe efficiently. Understanding these standardized labels for amounts will set you up for cooking and baking success.