Flour is a pantry staple used in baking for making everything from breads and pastries to sauces and coatings. When a recipe calls for flour by weight (e.g. 150g), it can be useful to know how to convert that amount to volume measurements like cups. Here’s a quick look at how to determine cup equivalents for 150g of flour.
The Quick Answer
150 grams of flour is equal to about 1 1/4 cups of flour. More precisely, since 1 cup of all-purpose flour weighs 120 grams, 150 grams equates to 1.25 cups.
The Explanation
Determining flour equivalents between grams and cups requires knowing the following conversion rates:
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour weighs 120 grams
- 1 cup of cake or pastry flour weighs 115 grams
- 1 cup of bread flour weighs 140 grams
So for all-purpose flour, the most commonly used type, the conversion rate is:
- 1 cup = 120 grams
- 1 gram = 0.0083 cup
To find the cup measure of 150 grams, divide the grams by 120 (the grams in 1 cup):
150 g / 120 g per cup = 1.25 cups
So 150 g all-purpose flour equals approximately 1 1/4 cups.
Gram to Cup Conversions for Other Flour Types
Using the gram weights listed above for the different flour varieties, here are the conversions for 150 grams of each type:
- All-purpose flour: 150 g = 1 1/4 cups
- Cake or pastry flour: 150 g = 1 1/3 cups
- Bread flour: 150 g = 1 1/8 cups
So weigh your flour for the most accurate measurement. But when you need to substitute in cups, use these handy conversions for 150 grams.
Why Weight is More Accurate Than Cups
When baking, measuring flour by weight (in grams or ounces) is always more accurate and reliable than using cup measurements. Here are some reasons why:
Packing can vary
Flour can be packed to different degrees in a measuring cup, resulting in varying densities and volumes. The same weight of flour can produce different cup measures based on how densely it is packed.
Settling happens over time
Flour settles after being stored or sifted, so the volume changes. What fits in a cup today may be slightly different tomorrow after settling.
Scooping techniques differ
How someone scoops and levels flour into a cup can differed person to person, introducing inconsistency.
Humility affects volumes
Flour absorbs ambient humidity, which causes its volume to change. Dry flour takes up more space in a measuring cup than humid flour.
By weighing flour instead of using cup measures, you eliminate these vulnerabilities to user error and environmental factors. So for best baking accuracy, invest in a kitchen scale and measure flour by grams or ounces.
Factors that Impact Cup to Gram Conversions
While the gram-to-cup conversions provided above are commonly used, the actual equivalents can vary slightly based on the following factors:
Type of flour
As shown above, the weight per cup changes based on the flour variety: all-purpose, cake, bread, etc. Heavier flours like bread and whole wheat generally pack more grams into a cup.
Sifting
Sifting aerates flour, causing it to take up more volume in a measuring cup. Unsifted flour weighs more per cup.
Humidity & altitude
Humidity causes flour to absorb ambient moisture, while high altitudes have lower air density. Both affect packing density and weight per cup.
Brand of flour
Different milling techniques and wheat varieties can result in small gram weight variations between brands.
For accuracy when substituting between cups and grams, check the package for the exact gram weight per cup of the specific flour you are using.
Tips for Measuring Flour
When precision matters most, weighing flour is always the best policy. But when you need to measure flour by the cup, here are some tips for consistent results:
- Use the “spoon and sweep” method: Use a spoon to lightly scoop flour into a cup, then sweep off excess with a knife for level fullness.
- Avoid packing or tapping the cup, which makes flour denser.
- Use the same style cup for consistency. Liquid and dry measuring cups vary in size.
- Sift flour first for airy lightness if the recipe specifies.
- Consult the flour package for the specific weight per cup.
Sample Cup to Gram Conversions
Here is a table with some common conversions between cups and grams for reference when making substitutions in recipes:
| Cups | Grams (All-Purpose Flour) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 120 grams |
| 2 cups | 240 grams |
| 1/2 cup | 60 grams |
| 1 1/4 cups | 150 grams |
| 3 1/2 cups | 420 grams |
Use these conversions as a guide, but check flour packages for precise gram weights to get perfectly accurate measurements for your recipes.
The Takeaway on Converting Grams to Cups for Flour
So in summary, here are some key tips on converting flour measurements:
- All-purpose flour: Approximately 120 grams per 1 cup
- For best accuracy, weigh flour instead of using cup measures
- Different flour varieties have different gram weights per cup
- Several factors can alter the gram-to-cup conversion
- When using cups, spoon and sweep evenly for consistent volumes
Checking your specific flour package for the exact gram weight per cup can help you fine-tune conversions for perfect measurements every time. But for ultimate reliability, break out the kitchen scale and measure flour by grams instead of cups whenever possible. Your baking will benefit from the precision!
