1 tablespoon (tbsp) is a volume measurement, and how many grams it converts to depends on the density of the substance being measured. Here are the typical conversions for various common ingredients, with their respective densities:
Water
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 15 grams
- Water has a density of approximately 1 gram per milliliter (g/mL). Since 1 tablespoon is roughly equal to 15 milliliters (mL), 1 tbsp of water weighs about 15 grams.
Sugar (Granulated)
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 12.5 grams
- Granulated sugar has a density of about 0.85 grams per milliliter. Since 1 tablespoon is 15 mL, multiplying this by the density gives us approximately 12.5 grams.
Flour (All-Purpose)
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 8 grams
- All-purpose flour has a density of around 0.53 grams per milliliter. With 1 tbsp being about 15 mL, the weight comes out to around 8 grams.
Butter (Unsalted)
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 14 grams
- Butter has a density of approximately 0.91 grams per milliliter. Since 1 tablespoon is roughly 15 mL, this results in 14 grams of butter per tablespoon.
Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 13.5 grams
- Olive oil has a density of about 0.91 grams per milliliter, so 1 tablespoon (15 mL) weighs around 13.5 grams.
Honey
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 21 grams
- Honey is denser than water, with a density of around 1.42 grams per milliliter. 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey weighs about 21 grams.
Milk
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 15 grams
- Milk has a density similar to water (approximately 1.03 g/mL), so 1 tbsp of milk weighs close to 15 grams.
Table Salt
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 18 grams
- Table salt has a density of about 1.2 grams per milliliter. So, 1 tablespoon of salt weighs approximately 18 grams.
Baking Powder
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 12 grams
- Baking powder has a density of about 0.8 grams per milliliter. Therefore, 1 tablespoon of baking powder weighs around 12 grams.
Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 8 grams
- Cornstarch has a density of about 0.55 grams per milliliter, so 1 tablespoon of cornstarch weighs around 8 grams.
Summary Chart
| Ingredient | 1 Tablespoon (grams) |
|---|---|
| Water | 15 grams |
| Granulated Sugar | 12.5 grams |
| All-purpose Flour | 8 grams |
| Unsalted Butter | 14 grams |
| Olive Oil | 13.5 grams |
| Honey | 21 grams |
| Milk | 15 grams |
| Table Salt | 18 grams |
| Baking Powder | 12 grams |
| Cornstarch | 8 grams |
The key takeaway is that volume-to-weight conversions vary based on the density of the substance. For more precise recipes, it’s always best to use a kitchen scale if you need an accurate gram measurement.