How many teaspoons in a tablespoon

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How many teaspoons in a tablespoon? Have you found yourself asking this question when in the kitchen? 

Measurements are an important part of cooking and baking. There are a few common ones that are great to know by memory.

Measuring spoons with spices


 

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?

There are exactly 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon.

This is a useful measurement to memorize especially when it comes to measuring ingredients such as leaveners, spices, like this sloppy joe spice mix and oils. It also saves you time when you are in the kitchen. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the kitchen and wanted to double or half a recipe, especially when it comes to spice blends like this apple pie spice and had to search how to adjust the measurements on my phone or computer.

That’s why I made this printable cheat sheet. I laminated the sheet and keep it in my kitchen for quick reference. 

Download this Kitchen Conversion Reference Chart:

Kitchen Conversion Chart

Download Kitchen Conversion Chart Reference

More common kitchen conversions

Now that you have the answer to this common kitchen conversion question, here is a list of other common ones that might come in handy.

  • How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?           3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
  • How many tablespoons in a 1/4 cup?            1/4 cup =4 tablespoons
  • How many tablespoons in 1 oz?                        1 oz = 2 tablespoons 
  • How many ounces in 1 cup?                               1 cup = 8 fluid ounces

Difference between Imperial and Metric measurements?

The United States, Liberia and Myanmar use the Imperial system when it comes to measuring. The rest of the world uses the metric system. 

  • One U.S. teaspoon equals 1/6 fluid oz (4.94 mL) which is a little less than the metric 5 mL teaspoon.
  • One U.S. tablespoon equals 1/2 fluid oz (14.79 mL) and a metric tablespoon equals exactly 15 mL

The difference is very small so when it comes to cooking they can be used the same. 

Did you know there is also something called a dessert spoon? This is a measurement used in Australia, New Zealand and Canada equal to 10 mL.

Are wet and dry ingredients measured the same?

Yes, they are measured the same when it comes to cups, tablespoons and teaspoons. Wet ingredients should be measured in a liquid measuring cup so that they don’t spill.

To measure dry ingredients, fill the spoon or cup all the way to the top and then level off with a knife or spoon.

One thing to note, measuring dry and wet ounces is not the same because it is the weight of the ingredient.

Abbreviations for teaspoon and tablespoon

When following recipes you will notice that many times measurement abbreviations are used. 

Teaspoon is all lowercase “tsp” and Tablespoon is “Tbsp” with a capital “T”. 

measuring cups

Best measuring spoons and cups

When we moved last year I finally decided to get a new set of measuring cups and spoons. I had been using the same ones since college!

I found these awesome magnetic ones that stick together so you don’t loose them and makes them easy to store. They come in these fun colors or black. 

Don’t forget to download this Kitchen Conversions reference so you can easily find answers to your measuring questions. 

Download Kitchen Conversion Chart Reference

***Let me know if you have anymore questions about measuring ingredients in the comments below. 

More kitchen conversions

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10 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for sharing this. Without measuring spoons, I honestly wouldn’t know how to measure for anything.

  2. I have a friend who is good at “winging it” when it comes to baking. Not me! I have to follow directions to a T. I need exact measurements of things.

  3. I’m always having to look up these questions. I tend to go online a lot to check. I think I need to print this out so I can hang it up somewhere.

  4. I found out a lot of useful and interesting info! And i will definitely print and have that tab in my kitchen!

  5. This is so interesting I am awful at measurements and I recently lost my tablespoon measure it was a nightmare! Thankfully I’ve found it now, but I so could have done with knowing this.

  6. This is really helping me a lot! I do sometimes forget things in the kitchen and this Kitchen Conversion Reference Chart will a very big help for me.

  7. Thank you so much for this conversion table. Now I don’t need to do a google search for when I need to convert from Imperial to Metric. Downloading and printing the chart for easy reference. Thank you so much!

  8. This is so helpful! I have no idea what to do in the kitchen, so this will come in handy for sure. I’ve messed up many a recipe!

  9. I had a fabulous home Ec teacher in high school. We cooked using both methods and memorized the conversion charts early on. It has been the best thing that came out of Home Ec!!