Sugar is a common ingredient used daily in cooking and baking. When following recipes, sugar is often measured in pounds (lbs) or cups. It can be helpful to know how to convert between the two units of measurement.
Quick Answer
1 lb of sugar is equivalent to approximately 2 cups of sugar.
Calculating Cups in a Pound of Sugar
To find out exactly how many cups are in 1 lb of sugar, we need to know:
- 1 lb = 16 oz
- 1 cup = 8 oz
So if:
- 1 lb = 16 oz
- 1 cup = 8 oz
Then to calculate cups per pound:
16 oz (in 1 lb) / 8 oz (in 1 cup) = 2 cups
Therefore, 1 lb of sugar equals 2 cups of sugar.
More Precise Conversion
The conversion of 1 lb of sugar to 2 cups of sugar is an approximation. To be more precise, we need to take into account the density of granulated white sugar. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1 cup of granulated white sugar weighs:
- 7.05 oz if unsifted
- 6.5 oz if sifted
Using the unsifted density of 7.05 oz per cup, we can more accurately calculate cups per pound as follows:
1 lb = 16 oz
1 cup = 7.05 oz
16 oz (in 1 lb) / 7.05 oz (in 1 cup) = 2.27 cups
So 1 lb of granulated white sugar equals 2.27 cups if unsifted, or 2.46 cups if sifted. Let’s round to 2 1⁄4 cups per pound for unsifted sugar for an easy reference.
Converting Cups to Pounds of Sugar
We can also convert in the other direction, from cups of sugar to pounds. Using the same unsifted density of sugar:
- 1 cup = 7.05 oz
- 1 lb = 16 oz
So if:
2 1⁄4 cups = (2.25) x (7.05 oz per cup) = 15.86 oz
Then 2 1⁄4 cups of sugar is approximately 1 lb (which is 16 oz).
Handy Conversion Chart
For easy reference, here is a chart summarizing the key conversions between pounds and cups of granulated white sugar:
| Pounds | Cups (unsifted) | Cups (sifted) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 2 1⁄4 cups | 2 1⁄2 cups |
| 2 lbs | 4 1⁄2 cups | 5 cups |
| 3 lbs | 6 3⁄4 cups | 7 1⁄2 cups |
| 4 lbs | 9 cups | 10 cups |
| 5 lbs | 11 1⁄4 cups | 12 1⁄2 cups |
Tips for Measuring Sugar
When measuring out sugar, keep these tips in mind for best results:
- Use standard dry measuring cups, not liquid measures.
- Level off the sugar surface evenly, without packing it down.
- When specified in a recipe, sift the sugar first before measuring to aerate and break up any clumps.
- When adding sugar to a mixing bowl, pour it from above to let it sift naturally into the bowl.
- Store sugar in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Examples of 1 lb of Sugar in Cups
Here are some examples that use 1 lb of sugar and the cup measurement equivalents:
Recipe Making 2 Dozen Cookies
Many cookie recipes call for 1 lb (2 1⁄4 cups) of granulated sugar to make 2 to 3 dozen cookies.
Sweetening 1 Gallon of Tea
To make sweet tea, you can add 1 lb (2 1⁄4 cups) of sugar to 1 gallon of brewed tea while it’s hot to dissolve the sugar.
Canning Jams and Jellies
Ball/Kerr canning recipes often use 1 lb of sugar for making about 3 half-pint jars of jam or jelly.
Sweetening Fruit Crisps and Cobblers
Fruit crisps and cobblers are typically sweetened with 1 lb (2 1⁄4 cups) of sugar combined with the fruit filling before topping with streusel and baking.
Sugar Substitutes
There are many different sugar substitutes available if you are looking to cut back on regular white sugar. Some common alternatives include:
- Stevia – Extracted from the stevia plant, it has very little calories and carbs.
- Aspartame – An artificial sweetener known as Equal or NutraSweet.
- Sucralose – An artificial sweetener known as Splenda.
- Saccharin – An artificial sweetener known as Sweet’N Low.
- Xylitol – A sugar alcohol with fewer calories than sugar.
- Monk fruit – Extracted from monk fruit, providing natural sweetness.
- Honey – A natural sweetener that can be used in place of granulated sugar.
- Maple syrup – Provides flavored sweetness in recipes.
- Brown rice syrup – Made from brown rice, it’s gluten-free.
When substituting these alternative sweeteners for granulated sugar, you may need to adjust the amounts to achieve the desired sweetness.
Common Baked Goods Using a Pound of Sugar
Here are some common recipes that use 1 lb (2 1⁄4 cups) of sugar:
Cakes
- Standard 9×13 sheet cake
- Two layer 8-inch or 9-inch round cake
- Bundt or pound cake
Cookies
- Approximately 3 to 4 dozen cookies
- Chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter
- Snickerdoodles, sugar cookies, gingerbread
Bread
- Sweet bread loaves like banana, pumpkin, or cranberry
- Cinnamon swirl bread
- Fruit and nut quick breads
Pie
- One 9-inch double crust fruit pie
- Lattice-topped pie like apple or cherry
- Custard or cream-filled pie
Sugar’s Effects on Baking
When baking, sugar performs several important functions:
- Sweetens – Sugar adds sweetness to balance flavors in baked goods.
- Moistens – Sugar helps keep baked goods moist and tender.
- Leavens – Sugar assists with leavening as it caramelizes and produces gas when heated.
- Browns – Sugar accelerates browning in baked goods through the Maillard reaction.
- Helps retain moisture – Sugar forms bonds with proteins in baking, which retains moisture.
- Adds bulk and body – Sugar increases viscosity in batter and dough.
Reducing the sugar amount by a large quantity can impact a baked good’s texture, rise, color, moisture and overall flavor. Smaller sugar reductions may not have a noticeable effect.
Nutrition Facts for 1 lb of Sugar
Knowing the nutrition information for the amount of sugar used in a recipe can help with meal planning and diet tracking. Here are the nutrition facts for 1 pound or 2 1⁄4 cups of granulated white sugar:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1,790 |
| Total Carbohydrates | 479 g |
| Sugars | 479 g |
As you can see, 1 lb of sugar contains a large amount of calories and carbohydrates, purely from sugar. When enjoying baked goods and other foods made with sugar, moderation is key.
Cost of 1 lb of Sugar
The price of a 1 lb bag of standard white granulated sugar averages around $1 – $2 in U.S. grocery stores. However, prices can fluctuate based on factors like:
- Location – Regional prices vary across different parts of the country.
- Brand – Name brands are generally more than generic/store brands.
- Packaging – Individual bags versus large bulk packages affect per pound costs.
- Coupons and sales – Watch for discounts and deals on sugar prices.
- Season – Prices may rise around holidays when baking increases.
- Natural disasters – Events like hurricanes can impact sugar crops and supplies.
Purchasing sugar in bulk quantities can help lower the per pound price. Always check your local grocery store ads and apps for digital coupons to find the best deals.
Uses for 1 lb of Sugar
Here are some ideas for using up 1 lb of sugar in your kitchen:
Baking
- Bake cookies, cakes, pies, tarts, muffins, cupcakes, coffee cakes, breads
- Make homemade frosting, candy, fudge, brittle, marshmallows
- Sweeten oatmeal, granola, cereal, yogurt
- Make jam, fruit spread, marmalade, chutney
Beverages
- Sweeten coffee, tea, lemonade, iced tea, punch
- Make homemade sweet syrups for drinks
- Flavor milkshakes, smoothies, coffee drinks
- Sweeten sangria, cocktails, alcoholic drinks
Preserving
- Can fruits and make jellies, jams
- Make pickled fruits and vegetables
- Dehydrate fruits with sugar
- Prepare sugared fruit slices or peels
Other
- Make homemade play dough, slime, putty
- Create pinata filling
- Toss with oil and vinegar for sweet and sour salad dressing
- Sprinkle over oatmeal, yogurt, cereal
Storing Sugar
Properly stored, granulated white sugar will stay fresh and usable for 2 to 4 years in the pantry. For best quality over time:
- Keep sugar in a sealed airtight container at room temperature.
- Store away from moisture, steam and heat.
- Use clean, dry utensils to remove sugar from the container.
- Do not refrigerate or freeze sugar as this can cause clumping.
- Store brown sugar separately as it hardens white sugar.
If sugar does become hard, place a piece of bread in the container overnight to soften it. Storing sugar correctly prevents it from becoming stale, clumpy or contaminated.
Sugar Safety Tips
When handling sugar:
- Prevent burns by not overheating sugar when making candy or syrups.
- Be careful when working with hot sugar by wearing long sleeves and using pot holders.
- Keep track of measurements to avoid consuming excessive amounts.
- Wash hands and surfaces after working with sugar to remove stickiness.
- Store sugar out of reach of small children and pets.
- Talk to your doctor about how much is safe for individuals with diabetes to consume.
Consuming excessive sugar long-term can negatively impact health. But when safely handled and eaten in moderation, sugar can be used to sweeten and enhance many favorite recipes.
Conclusion
Knowing how to convert between pounds and cups of sugar allows flexibility when following recipes. One pound of granulated white sugar is approximately 2 1⁄4 cups.
Equipped with this conversion, as well as tips for measuring, substituting, storing and working with sugar safely, home bakers can confidently use, measure and substitute sugar in their recipes.
