Measuring dry ingredients like flour, sugar, spices, etc. by weight with a kitchen scale is more accurate than measuring by volume with measuring cups and spoons. However, many recipes still call for volume measurements like cups, teaspoons, and tablespoons for convenience. So it’s helpful to know how these volume measurements convert to weights.
Specifically, if a recipe calls for 3 oz of a dry ingredient, how many tablespoons would that be? Let’s break this question down step-by-step.
Converting Ounces to Tablespoons
First, we need to know:
- How many ounces are in 3 oz?
- How many tablespoons are in 1 ounce of a dry ingredient?
Once we know those two conversions, we can calculate:
(3 oz) x (Number of tablespoons per 1 oz) = Total tablespoons in 3 oz
So let’s look at each conversion:
How Many Ounces are in 3 Ounces?
This one is straightforward:
- 3 oz = 3 oz
No conversion needed here. Let’s move on to the second part.
How Many Tablespoons are in 1 Ounce of a Dry Ingredient?
Here is where we need to know:
- How many teaspoons are in 1 tablespoon?
- How many teaspoons are in 1 ounce?
Once we know those, we can calculate:
(1 oz) x (Number of teaspoons per 1 oz) x (Number of tablespoons per 1 teaspoon) = Number of tablespoons per 1 ounce
So what are those conversions?
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
- 1 ounce = 6 teaspoons
Plugging this in:
(1 oz) x (6 teaspoons per 1 oz) x (3 tablespoons per 1 teaspoon) = 18 tablespoons
So there are 18 tablespoons in 1 ounce of a dry ingredient.
Calculating Total Tablespoons in 3 Ounces
Now we can plug our conversions into the original formula:
(3 oz) x (18 tablespoons per 1 oz) = 54 tablespoons
So 3 ounces of a dry ingredient equals 54 tablespoons.
To summarize:
- There are 3 oz in 3 oz
- There are 18 tablespoons in 1 ounce of a dry ingredient
- Therefore, there are 54 tablespoons (18 tbsp x 3 oz) in 3 ounces of a dry ingredient
Detailed Explanations
Now let’s break down each of these conversions in more detail for those who want to understand exactly where these numbers come from and how to do the conversions.
Ounces to Tablespoons
Here is a quick overview again of the ounces to tablespoons conversion:
- 1 oz = 18 tbsp
- 2 oz = 36 tbsp
- 3 oz = 54 tbsp
But why is it that 1 ounce equals 18 tablespoons? Here is a more detailed step-by-step explanation:
- First, 1 ounce equals 6 teaspoons. This comes from the fact that U.S. customary units are defined such that:
- 1 teaspoon = 1/6 ounce
- So flipping that: 1 ounce = 6 teaspoons
- Next, 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons. This is a standard culinary conversion.
- Putting these together:
- 1 ounce = 6 teaspoons
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
- So if 1 ounce contains 6 teaspoons, and 1 tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons, then 1 ounce must contain 2 tablespoons (because 2 tbsp x 3 tsp per tbsp = 6 tsp total).
- Likewise, if 1 ounce contains 6 teaspoons, and 1 tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons, then 1 ounce must contain 3 tablespoons (because 3 tbsp x 3 tsp per tbsp = 9 tsp total).
- Since 1 ounce contains 6 teaspoons total, it must contain between 2-3 tablespoons. More precisely, since 1 ounce is 6/3 = 2 times larger than 1 tablespoon, 1 ounce must be exactly 2.6666… tablespoons. Rounded to a whole number, 1 ounce equals approximately 3 tablespoons.
- And finally, since there are 3 tablespoons in 1 ounce, there must be 18 tablespoons in 6 ounces, or 18 tablespoons in 1 full ounce.
So in summary, based on the facts that:
- 1 tsp = 1/6 oz
- 1 tbsp = 3 tsp
We can calculate:
- 1 oz = 6 tsp
- 1 oz = 2 to 3 tbsp
- 1 oz ≈ 3 tbsp
- 1 oz = 18 tbsp
Ounces and Cups
For completeness, let’s also look at the relationship between ounces and cups for dry ingredients:
- 1 cup = 8 ounces
- 2 cups = 16 ounces
- 0.5 cup = 4 ounces
- 0.25 cup = 2 ounces
This comes from the fact that 1 cup is defined as exactly 8 fluid ounces. So for dry ingredients like flour, sugar, etc. which have similar densities to water, we can use the same conversion:
- 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
- = 8 ounces by weight
Some examples:
- 2 cups flour = 16 ounces
- 0.5 cup brown sugar = 4 ounces
- 0.25 teaspoon cinnamon = 0.2 ounces
So in summary:
- Cups and ounces are interchangeable for most dry ingredients
- 1 cup = 8 oz
- 2 cups = 16 oz
- 0.5 cup = 4 oz
Metric Conversions
For those using the metric system:
- 1 ounce = 28 grams
So the conversions are:
- 3 oz = 84 grams
- 1 oz = 28 grams
And in tablespoons:
- 3 oz = 54 tablespoons
- 1 oz = 18 tablespoons
When Accuracy Matters
While the approximate conversions above are handy for everyday cooking, there are some instances where more precision is needed.
For example, when baking it’s often crucial to measure dry ingredients like flour and sugar by weight rather than volume. That’s because how tightly you pack a measuring cup can vary each time you scoop and level it, leading to slight inconsistencies. Over multiple cups of flour or sugar in a recipe, those little inconsistencies can add up.
When precision is needed, you should use a kitchen scale to weigh out ingredients by ounces or grams rather than relying on measuring cups and spoons. Kitchen scales designed for home use are widely available and inexpensive. Many people consider them indispensable once they start using them for baking.
As another example, certain ingredients like spices are so potent that small measurement differences matter. 1 tablespoon of cinnamon versus 1.5 tablespoons can make a big difference in how intense the cinnamon flavor is in a recipe. For spices, it’s also better to weigh them out for accuracy.
Here is a quick table summarizing some of the key conversion numbers covered in this article:
| Volume | Weight |
|---|---|
| 3 ounces | 84 grams |
| 1 ounce | 28 grams |
| 3 ounces | 54 tablespoons |
| 1 ounce | 18 tablespoons |
| 1 cup | 8 ounces |
| 0.5 cup | 4 ounces |
So in summary:
- For convenience, use the approximate conversions for everyday cooking
- When precision matters, weigh dry ingredients instead of using measuring cups
How Different Ingredients Compare
While we’ve focused on how Dry ingredient quantity conversions, it’s worth noting that the densities and therefore conversion ratios can vary slightly between different dry ingredients.
For example, 1 cup of flour weighs slightly more than 1 cup of granulated sugar, due to the different densities of each ingredient.
But for most common baking ingredients like flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, etc. the differences are minor enough that the same conversions can be used interchangeably.
However, here are some examples of dry ingredients that diverge more significantly from the standard conversions:
Butter
Butter contains a considerable amount of water, so 1 cup of butter weighs much less than 1 cup of dry flour or sugar. Specifically:
- 1 cup butter = 8 oz = 2 sticks butter
- As compared to:
- 1 cup flour = 4.25 oz
So you cannot substitute butter for other fats or oils in a 1:1 ratio when converting between cups and ounces.
Coconut flour
Coconut flour is much lighter and fluffier than wheat flour. 1 cup weighs:
- 1 cup coconut flour = 3 oz
So if substituting coconut flour for regular flour, you need to use about 2.5x more coconut flour by weight than you would regular flour.
Nuts
Due to their high oil content, nuts also weigh less by volume:
- 1 cup chopped walnuts = 4 oz
- As compared to:
- 1 cup flour = 4.25 oz
So in summary:
- Conversion ratios are similar for most dry baking ingredients
- But can vary more significantly for ingredients like butter, coconut flour, nuts
- When substituting uncommon ingredients, check conversion ratios
Handy Conversion Tips
Here are some handy tips for easily converting between volumes and weights in the kitchen:
Use Your Cups as Scales
Since most measuring cups and spoons are labeled with both volumes and weights, you can use them as makeshift scales in a pinch.
For example, if you needed to convert 3 oz of a dry ingredient to tablespoons:
- Place an empty 1 cup measure on the scale and tare/zero it out
- Add ingredient to the 3 oz line
- Note how many tablespoons that reaches on the cup – it will be around 18 tbsp
This allows you to convert weights to volumes using just a scale and measuring cups you already own.
Memorize Key Conversions
Memorizing a few key conversions between ounces, cups, and tablespoons simplifies things greatly:
- 1 cup = 8 oz = 16 tbsp
- 1 tbsp = 0.5 oz
- 0.25 cup = 2 oz = 8 tbsp
Knowing those by heart allows you to quickly translate ingredients listed in any of those units.
Use Apps and Charts
There are many apps and online charts that provide handy conversion references. Keep one bookmarked on your phone or posted on the fridge for easy access while cooking.
The key is finding a conversion resource that works naturally with your cooking style so it actually gets used on a regular basis!
Conclusion
To summarize:
- 3 ounces of a dry ingredient equals approximately 54 tablespoons
- This conversion comes from:
- 1 ounce = 18 tablespoons
- 3 ounces = 3 x 18 = 54 tablespoons
- Knowing how to convert between cups, ounces, and tablespoons allows you to work with any recipe
- Use scales for precision, conversions for convenience
Understanding dry ingredient conversions is an essential kitchen skill that unlocks the ability to adapt any recipe to the units you have on hand. Whether you prefer to measure by weight or volume, knowing these basic conversions provides all the information you need to stick to the recipe or improvise with what’s in your pantry. Happy baking and cooking!
