Americans! Quick question

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Pablosammy
Pablosammy Posts: 52 Member
in Recipes
Ok, I'm doing P90X, nutrition guide and all, but am having a bit of trouble with imperial measurements, being from across the pond. I've nearly got my head around ounces being for both volume and weight, but am struggling with 'cups'... silly thing to admit, but the recipes seem to ask for cups of things that don't really fit in a cup. Like asparagus (surely it just sticks out the top!). Is there a trick I'm missing? Or can a cup be a weight too?!

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  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
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    a cup is 8 oz
  • Pablosammy
    Pablosammy Posts: 52 Member
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    Weight ounces?
  • itsuki
    itsuki Posts: 520 Member
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    No, a cup is a volume measurement. I know it's silly to put asparagus into a measuring cup, but when they say a cup of asparagus, that's what they mean. :P
  • Zylahe
    Zylahe Posts: 772 Member
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    A cup is 250ml, or about 1/2 a pint

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_(unit)
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
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    The nutrition guide is being silly, assuming they mean whole asparagus stalks and not chopped asparagus (does anyone chop asparagus - that seems weird). Don't worry; you're cool.
  • tubway
    tubway Posts: 86 Member
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    Can you cut up the asparagus to get it to fit in a measuring cup?
  • samblanken
    samblanken Posts: 369 Member
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    Weight ounce is not the same as a volume ounce
    Weight 1 ounce = 28 grams.

    Volume 1 ounce = 29 millitlers

    I am an engineer and I use this website for conversions:

    http://www.onlineconversion.com/
    It's got everything.
  • clehman71
    clehman71 Posts: 139 Member
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    certain items (bulky in size) can be done either as weight 1 cup is 8 oz or you cut up the asparagus and put the cut up pieces in a measuring cup until you have a cup. Most times, when doing veggies, close is good enough.:smile:
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,738 Member
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    No, a cup is a volume measurement. I know it's silly to put asparagus into a measuring cup, but when they say a cup of asparagus, that's what they mean. :P

    ^^ This. A cup is only 8 oz. if it's talking about a liquid cup. Liquid 8 oz. is not the same as putting food on a scale and measuring 8 oz. Honestly, I never measure vegetables, I just load up my plate. But it's true that when they are saying a cup of asparagus, they are talking about filling a solids measuring cup with asparagus. I really hate it when they give cup measurements for fruits/veggies. Those should always be in oz/grams.
  • chubby_checkers
    chubby_checkers Posts: 2,354 Member
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    Weight ounces?

    I recommend weighing everything (except fluids) instead of measuring. You'll get a better count that way. From what I could find, 85 grams (around 3 oz) is a serving of fruit/vegetables.
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
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    If you go to the USDA food database, it will show you items in different measurement terms.

    For example, 1 cup of asparagus is 134 grams or 7 large spears. That might be a more useful measure to you.

    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2892

    It is limited to basic foods but that's usually what you need for recipes.

    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/list
  • Pablosammy
    Pablosammy Posts: 52 Member
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    No, a cup is a volume measurement. I know it's silly to put asparagus into a measuring cup, but when they say a cup of asparagus, that's what they mean. :P

    Gotcha. I suppose I could use displacement theory to work out the volume of a spear of asparagus, and work from there... ;-)
  • thoshowski
    thoshowski Posts: 135 Member
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    A cup is roughly 250 ml.
  • Pablosammy
    Pablosammy Posts: 52 Member
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    If you go to the USDA food database, it will show you items in different measurement terms.

    For example, 1 cup of asparagus is 134 grams or 7 large spears. That might be a more useful measure to you.

    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2892

    It is limited to basic foods but that's usually what you need for recipes.

    http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/list

    Great links, thanks! I'll stop making myself look stupid now.
  • zitandemanu
    zitandemanu Posts: 32
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    bump
  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
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    Doesn't asparagus come in a bottle in the UK?!?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,108 Member
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    Some people don't have Food Scales, and cup measuring devices are in just about everyone's home. I think it s a good way for beginning users to estimate...until they become obsessively preoccupied with every calorie...*sigh* those were the days.
  • GnochhiGnomes
    GnochhiGnomes Posts: 348 Member
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    Doesn't asparagus come in a bottle in the UK?!?

    lol wut? No they come in bunches.
  • Pablosammy
    Pablosammy Posts: 52 Member
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    Doesn't asparagus come in a bottle in the UK?!?

    Don't mess with my poor, confused head any more than it needs to be...

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