Tablespoon vs. Tablespoon

mustnothrowcantelopes
mustnothrowcantelopes Posts: 116 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay this is really bugging me. I bought a set of measuring spoons that are 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon , 1 tablespoon 5ml and 1 tablespoon 15 ml. Obviously one is bigger than the other but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?
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Replies

  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    mustnothrowcantelopes wrote: »
    Okay this is really bugging me. I bought a set of measuring spoons that are 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon , 1 tablespoon 5ml and 1 tablespoon 15 ml. Obviously one is bigger than the other but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?

    Scale
  • j6o4
    j6o4 Posts: 871 Member
    Teaspoon is 5ml and tablespoon is 15ml. If you are going to measure food, use a scale.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    I agree, neither. Always use your scale.

  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    mustnothrowcantelopes wrote: »
    Okay this is really bugging me. I bought a set of measuring spoons that are 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon , 1 tablespoon 5ml and 1 tablespoon 15 ml. Obviously one is bigger than the other but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?

    I imagine the 5ml T is actually a 1/2 T and as was shared by ncboiler89 a scale is best for solids. Far more accurate!
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited April 2015
    I don't use a scale, I only use measuring spoons and cups.

    Most of the dry things that I use measuring spoons for are in the database already, for volume (in tablespoons, or teaspoons, or whatever). Just be a little stingy when you fill up the spoon (no rounded tablespoons, they should be filled flat & just beneath the line) and you'll be ok.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    I bought a teaspoon cookie scoop not for cookies, but for something else where I needed an exact teaspoon. Seems the cookie scoop was measured for "rounded teaspoons" which were really nearly two teaspoons. As ncboiler89 said, use your scales.
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    A t. is a teaspoon and is 5 ml. A T. is a tablespoon and is 15 ml. Full stop.

    When possible though, use a food scale.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited April 2015
    The ml does stand for milliliters, which is used for liquids, not dry foods, which are usually measured in grams.

    However, in the database, volume measurements are (usually, or often) given in "tablespoons" or "teaspoons", so it doesn't matter that your spoons say ml and not grams.

    If you type in "white refined flour - 1 tablespoon" using your ml-labelled spoon, it will be the right amount. (If you don't overfill the spoon.)
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,211 Member
    I don't understand the question. While it is better to measure solids by weight and not volume, if you eat a teaspoon of something, log a teaspoon of it. If you eat a tablespoon of something log a tablespoon of it. Neither is better for foods, they're just different measurement.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    blankiefinder wrote: »
    A t. is a teaspoon and is 5 ml. A T. is a tablespoon and is 15 ml. Full stop.

    When possible though, use a food scale.

    *nods*
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    Is the 5ml label tsp and the 15 labeled tbsp or some slight difference that you might be over looking?
  • OldHobo
    OldHobo Posts: 647 Member
    mustnothrowcantelopes wrote: »
    Okay this is really bugging me. I bought a set of measuring spoons that are 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon , 1 tablespoon 5ml and 1 tablespoon 15 ml. Obviously one is bigger than the other but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?
    I've never seen spoons labeled that way but I'm sure you have:
    1. 1/4 teaspoon
    2. 1/2 teaspoon
    3. 1 teaspoon (approx. 5 ml)
    4. 1 tablespoon (approx. 15 ml)
    Obviously the second and third in the list should be double the previous one.
    The last spoon (tablespoon) should be 3 times the third (teaspoon). You can check by volume or weight as long you are measuring the same thing with all spoons.

    To those who are saying always use a scale I pose two questions.
    1. Which weighs more, a pound of feathers, or a pound of lead?
    2. What if your recipe called for a tablespoon of feathers and a tablespoon of lead?
    All dry measurements, used in cooking anyway, are related to weight; specifically the weight of water. The old expression "A pint's a pound the world around" refers to a pint of water. A pint (or a teaspoon) of fat weighs less than a pint (or a teaspoon) of water. Need proof? Fat floats. A tablespoon of dried herb, like sage for instance, weighs a lot less than a tablespoon of water.
    mustnothrowcantelopes wrote: »
    ...but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?
    So use all the spoons and your scale (if you have one) for measuring liquids and solids. Choose the one appropriate to the task.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    edited April 2015
    j6o4 wrote: »
    Teaspoon is 5ml and tablespoon is 15ml. If you are going to measure food, use a scale.

    Good catch! I didn't even think to notice that!
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    OldHobo wrote: »
    mustnothrowcantelopes wrote: »
    Okay this is really bugging me. I bought a set of measuring spoons that are 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon , 1 tablespoon 5ml and 1 tablespoon 15 ml. Obviously one is bigger than the other but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?
    I've never seen spoons labeled that way but I'm sure you have:
    1. 1/4 teaspoon
    2. 1/2 teaspoon
    3. 1 teaspoon (approx. 5 ml)
    4. 1 tablespoon (approx. 15 ml)
    Obviously the second and third in the list should be double the previous one.
    The last spoon (tablespoon) should be 3 times the third (teaspoon). You can check by volume or weight as long you are measuring the same thing with all spoons.

    To those who are saying always use a scale I pose two questions.
    1. Which weighs more, a pound of feathers, or a pound of lead?
    2. What if your recipe called for a tablespoon of feathers and a tablespoon of lead?
    All dry measurements, used in cooking anyway, are related to weight; specifically the weight of water. The old expression "A pint's a pound the world around" refers to a pint of water. A pint (or a teaspoon) of fat weighs less than a pint (or a teaspoon) of water. Need proof? Fat floats. A tablespoon of dried herb, like sage for instance, weighs a lot less than a tablespoon of water.
    mustnothrowcantelopes wrote: »
    ...but which do I use for measuring food and not liquid?
    So use all the spoons and your scale (if you have one) for measuring liquids and solids. Choose the one appropriate to the task.

    Many items such as peanut butter, will list a serving size as 1 T (19g) or something like that. In that case, use a food scale, or you will probably be very off in your serving size.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    If you aren't aware, the labels of many products are extremely misleading. When both measures are listed (tablespoons, cups) and also the weight, the weight is the only accurate measure. I have found that out with many items, most notably popcorn. In any event, I use measuring spoons and cups when following an American recipe that measures that way and scales for all other eating purposes.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    j6o4 wrote: »
    Teaspoon is 5ml and tablespoon is 15ml. If you are going to measure food, use a scale.

    This!

    And buy a food scale.
  • Dreamyriver
    Dreamyriver Posts: 91 Member
    And of course, to add to the confusion, entries in the database could be in metric tablespoons (20ml) or American tablespoons (15ml) ... use your scale where you can!

    (Don't get me started on the varying volumes of cups across the world)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Dreamyriver wrote: »
    And of course, to add to the confusion, entries in the database could be in metric tablespoons (20ml) or American tablespoons (15ml) ... use your scale where you can!

    (Don't get me started on the varying volumes of cups across the world)

    There's a metric tablespoon?! I'm not American, but I always took a tablespoon to be 15ml
  • Dreamyriver
    Dreamyriver Posts: 91 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Dreamyriver wrote: »
    And of course, to add to the confusion, entries in the database could be in metric tablespoons (20ml) or American tablespoons (15ml) ... use your scale where you can!

    (Don't get me started on the varying volumes of cups across the world)

    There's a metric tablespoon?! I'm not American, but I always took a tablespoon to be 15ml

    Here in Australia, they use a 20ml metric tablespoon.

    They have to be different to everyone else :smile:
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Dreamyriver wrote: »
    And of course, to add to the confusion, entries in the database could be in metric tablespoons (20ml) or American tablespoons (15ml) ... use your scale where you can!

    (Don't get me started on the varying volumes of cups across the world)

    There's a metric tablespoon?! I'm not American, but I always took a tablespoon to be 15ml

    Why can't we all just have the one measurement for the same things?

    Madness!
  • Dreamyriver
    Dreamyriver Posts: 91 Member
    Merkavar wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Dreamyriver wrote: »
    And of course, to add to the confusion, entries in the database could be in metric tablespoons (20ml) or American tablespoons (15ml) ... use your scale where you can!

    (Don't get me started on the varying volumes of cups across the world)

    There's a metric tablespoon?! I'm not American, but I always took a tablespoon to be 15ml

    Why can't we all just have the one measurement for the same things?

    Madness!

    And why can't you just have pints and half pints in the pub instead of confusing things with stuff like schooners? What on earth is a schooner anyway? (Apart from a ship) It doesn't even mean the same thing in each state!

    Australians! I'll never understand ya. (And my husband has just purchased Housos v Pizza or whatever it's called, so I'll be spending the evening being embarrassed at my dual citizenship)

    Soz. Bit off topic there :wink:
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    UK Tablespoon is 15ml

    where do you Aussies get this stuff from?

    and .. OMG recipes
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    UK Tablespoon is 15ml

    where do you Aussies get this stuff from?

    and .. OMG recipes

    I have no idea! I've always done 1Tablespoon = 15ml

    Have I been doing it right or wrong all these years? :open_mouth::tongue:

  • mustnothrowcantelopes
    mustnothrowcantelopes Posts: 116 Member
    I have it set up to be notified by e-mail when someone replied to a discussion or a question I post on the message board but for some stupid reason it refuses to send me notifications still so I only saw this just now.

    Yes , obviously using a scale is better but I don't have one and scales can be expensive and the last two I had randomly stopped working , even with fresh batteries and then disappeared from site. I live with parents, so that could be the culprit. Anyway, to clarify, it says "TBS 5ml" on one and "TBS 15 ml" on the other and they're both different sizes so how am I to be sure which is correct? They are in fact rounded. The point is, how are you to measure things like butter if you don't have and can't currently purchase a scale?
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    blankiefinder wrote: »
    A t. is a teaspoon and is 5 ml. A T. is a tablespoon and is 15 ml. Full stop.

    When possible though, use a food scale.

    I'm just going to quote this again since you seemed to have ignored everyone. Scales cost buttons. Just buy one.
  • Unknown
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  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    It really doesn't matter what the spoons say (If they both say TBS) as long as it shows the ml. As I said right at the start, and was quoted above, a teaspoon (alternatively written as t. or tsp rarely) is 5 ml and a tablespoon (alternatively written as T. or Tbsp) is 15 ml. If you can't afford a food scale right now, then use the spoons with the ml measurements.
  • kyrannosaurus
    kyrannosaurus Posts: 350 Member
    I'm Australian. I have two tablespoons, 15ml and 20ml. 20ml is the standard here but some imported kitchen products are 15ml tablespoons.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    blankiefinder wrote: »
    A t. is a teaspoon and is 5 ml. A T. is a tablespoon and is 15 ml. Full stop.

    When possible though, use a food scale.

    *nods*

    Another thumbs up!
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    kyrannosaurus wrote: »
    I'm Australian. I have two tablespoons, 15ml and 20ml. 20ml is the standard here but some imported kitchen products are 15ml tablespoons.

    @kyrannosaurus I'm an Aussie too, and I've always gone with 15ml = 1Tbs. Don't know why lol it's just the measurement I've used forever
    5ml= 1tsp
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