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Measuring spoon
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A measuring spoon is a spoon used to measure an amount of an ingredient, either liquid or dry, when cooking. Measuring spoons may be made of plastic, metal, and other materials. They are available in many sizes, including the teaspoon and tablespoon.
Country differences
[edit]International
[edit]Metric measuring spoons are available in sets, usually between four and six, typically with decilitre (100 ml), tablespoon (15 ml), teaspoon (5 ml) and millilitre measures.[citation needed] For fractional measures, there is often a line inside to indicate "half" or "a quarter", or a separate measure may be included, like 1⁄2 dl.
United States
[edit]In the U.S., measuring spoons often come in sets, usually between four and six. This usually includes 1⁄4 teaspoon, 1⁄2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon.[1] The volume of a traditional US teaspoon is 4.9 ml and that of a tablespoon is 14.8 ml, only slightly less than standard metric measuring spoons.
Japan
[edit]In Japan, usually two spoons are used: a large spoon (大さじ, Ōsaji) and a small spoon (小さじ, Kosaji or Shōsaji). A large spoon is 15 milliliters, and a small spoon is 5 milliliters. Sometimes a much smaller spoon may be used, usually a 2.5 milliliter spoon (1⁄2 small spoon).
Australia
[edit]The Australian definition of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is larger than most:[citation needed]
1 Australian tablespoon = 20 ml = 2 dessertspoons, 1 dessertspoon = 10 ml each = 4 teaspoons, 1 teaspoon = 5 ml each
Specialized measuring spoons
[edit]
Special spoons are manufactured to measure popular materials for common tasks. For example, for coffee the standard measuring spoon contains 7 grams of coffee powder, adequate for an espresso.[2]
Measuring with cutlery spoons
[edit]Cutlery in many countries includes two spoons (besides the fork and knife, or butterknife). These cutlery spoons are also called a "teaspoon" and "tablespoon", but are not necessarily the same volume as measuring spoons with the same names: Cutlery spoons are not made to standard sizes and may hold 2.5~7.3 ml (50%~146% of 5 ml) for teaspoons[3] and 7~20 ml (47%~133% of 15 ml) for tablespoons. The difference in size can be dangerous when cutlery is used for critical measurements, like medication.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Roupe, Diane (26 Oct 2009). The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 36. ISBN 9781418568214.
- ^ Markus J. M. Bihler (1998). Espresso Cappuccino & Co. CIRCUS imaging ARTists. p. 39. ISBN 978-3-9803028-2-1. OCLC 49195065.
- ^ "Spoons give wrong medicine doses". NHS UK (Press release). 15 July 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
Measuring spoon
View on GrokipediaDefinition and Purpose
Overview
A measuring spoon is a standardized spoon-shaped kitchen utensil designed for accurately measuring small volumes of dry or liquid ingredients, such as spices, powders, or extracts, in cooking and baking.[9] These tools provide precise fractions of larger units like teaspoons or tablespoons, allowing cooks to portion ingredients with reliability rather than estimation.[10] The primary purpose of measuring spoons is to promote consistency across recipes, ensuring reproducible results in terms of flavor, texture, and overall quality by minimizing measurement errors that could arise from using ordinary eating utensils.[9] This accuracy is particularly vital in baking, where slight variations in ingredient amounts can significantly alter outcomes, and in recipe scaling for multiple servings.[11] Typically, a measuring spoon consists of a handle for easy gripping and a bowl in varying sizes to hold specific volumes, with sets often including multiple spoons connected by a ring for convenient storage and selection.[9] These sets commonly feature markings for standard fractions, enabling quick reference during food preparation. Measuring spoons emerged in the 19th century as part of broader efforts to standardize kitchen tools, addressing the inconsistencies of traditional spoon sizes that led to unreliable cooking results.[4] This development supported the shift toward more scientific approaches in culinary practices, laying the foundation for modern precise measurement.[9]Common Measurements
Measuring spoons in the US customary system typically feature four standard sizes: ¼ teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon.[12] These correspond to approximate metric volumes of 1.23 mL for ¼ teaspoon, 2.46 mL for ½ teaspoon, 4.93 mL for 1 teaspoon, and 14.79 mL for 1 tablespoon.[13] In practice, many culinary contexts round these to 1.25 mL, 2.5 mL, 5 mL, and 15 mL for simplicity, as endorsed by standards organizations for everyday cooking accuracy.[14] Most measuring spoon sets include 4 to 6 utensils covering these core fractions, often attached via a ring for storage.[15] Basic 4-piece sets focus on ¼ teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon, while expanded 5- or 6-piece versions may add ⅛ teaspoon (0.62 mL) or 2 teaspoons (9.86 mL) for finer recipe adjustments.[16][17] For precise volume measurement, especially with dry ingredients like flour or spices, spoons should be overfilled slightly and then leveled off with a straight edge, such as the flat side of a knife, to remove excess material above the rim.[8] This leveling technique ensures consistency and minimizes errors.| US Customary Size | Approximate Metric Equivalent (mL) |
|---|---|
| ¼ teaspoon | 1.23 |
| ½ teaspoon | 2.46 |
| 1 teaspoon | 4.93 |
| 1 tablespoon | 14.79 |
