How to measure grams without scales
What do you do when you go to bake grandma’s delicious cookies and you don’t have scales to measure the ingredients? Any mistake can mean a gastronomic tragedy, so you need to know how to measure grams without scales.
Yes, as you read it. There are several proven techniques that allow you to calculate the grams of an ingredient without using scales.
Take note of the methods to measure grams without scales with utensils you have at home. Whether it’s for a rush in your restaurant or catering business, or to save a recipe at home, these tricks will come in handy.
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Basic considerations on how to measure grams without scales
how to measure 100 grams without scales? We often ask ourselves this question when cooking and you should know that to calculate the weight without scales we use some indispensable kitchen tools such as spoons, cups and even glasses.
It is important to keep in mind that -although the measuring object is the same- the quantities are different, since they depend on the texture and consistency of each ingredient.
Measuring grams with a dessert spoon
When we are faced with the need to calculate the weight of liquids, without scales, one option is to use a dessert spoon.
A dessert spoon, like the one we all have at home, is equivalent to 5 milliliters. In the case of less dense liquids, such as olive oil, one spoon is equal to 4 milliliters.
You can also calculate the weight of powdered foods, such as flours, powdered sugar, yeast, cocoa powder. In this case, one dessert spoon equals 3 grams of powdered ingredient.
If you need to calculate, without scales, the amount of products such as sugar, salt, jams or butter, you should calculate that a dessert spoon of these ingredients weighs about 5 grams.
| Ingredient | Measure dessert spoon |
|---|---|
| Olive oil | 4 ml |
| Liquids less dense than oil | 5 ml |
| Flour | 3 g |
| Powdered sugar | 3 g |
| Yeast | 3 g |
| Cocoa powder | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Salt | 5 g |
| Butter | 5 g |
| Jam | 5 g |
| Rice | 7 g |
Measuring grams with a soup spoon
If you are wondering how to measure grams in tablespoons… One tablespoon is equivalent to three teaspoons . Therefore, it is easier to calculate 100 grams of rice or 100 grams of sugar with a tablespoon.
In the case of liquid ingredients, one tablespoon is equivalent to 10 to 12 milliliters, depending on the density.
On the other hand, the grams of powdered foods vary. One tablespoon of flour is 12 grams, one tablespoon of powdered sugar is 5 grams, one tablespoon of cocoa powder is 8 grams and starch is 8 grams.
One tablespoon of butter is 15 grams, while one tablespoon of honey or jam is 20 grams.
| Ingredient | Measured tablespoon |
|---|---|
| Liquids | 10-12 ml |
| Flour | 12 g |
| Powdered sugar | 5 g |
| Cocoa powder | 8 g |
| Starch | 8 g |
| Honey | 20 g |
| Butter | 15 g |
| Jam | 20 g |
| Grated cheese | 10 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Salt | 10 g |
| Juice of one lemon | 3 tablespoons |
Calculate grams with a glass of water
Medium glasses for serving water have their capacities marked on the bottom of the glass. However, if you want to know how many milliliters a glass has we will tell you that most models have a capacity of 180 milliliters.
In that case, measuring grams of liquid ingredients without scales is very simple. The capacity of the glass will be your guide.
When you want to know the scale-free weight of rice or sugar, calculate that each glass of water weighs 180 grams of these ingredients.
You can also use it to measure 40 grams and 130 grams, in the case of using flours.
| Ingredient | Measure glass of water |
|---|---|
| Liquids | 180 ml |
| Rice | 180 g |
| Sugar | 180 g |
| Flour | 130 g |
| Butter | 100 g |
Measuring quantities with coffee cups
Coffee cups are also a good option for measuring quantities without scales.
To do so, we must first know how many milliliters are in a cup… A cup of coffee is equivalent to 60 milliliters of liquid and 50 milliliters of oil.
A cup of coffee for weighing sugar, salt and rice is equivalent to 60 grams. On the other hand, a cup of coffee with flour is equivalent to 35 grams.
To know how to measure grams in cups we can apply the following table.
| Ingredient | Measurement cup of coffee |
|---|---|
| Liquids | 60 ml |
| Oil | 50 ml |
| Sugar | 60 g |
| Salt | 60 g |
| Rice | 60 g |
| Flour | 35 g |
| Butter | 100 g |
How to measure with handfuls
Your hands are also good tools for calculating the weight of ingredients without scales.
A handful of short pasta equals 40 grams, while a handful of spaghetti is 80 grams.
In the case of rice and other grains, a handful equals 45 grams. On the other hand, a handful of any type of flour is 30 grams.
| Ingredient | Measure 1 handful |
|---|---|
| Short pasta | 40 g |
| Spaghetti | 80 ml |
| Rice | 45 g |
| Flour | 30 g |
It is clear that each person has a hand of a different size, therefore, these measurements are an average approximation.
Quantities when measuring without scales
The best thing to do when measuring ingredients without scales is to create your table with the amounts of each ingredient according to the measuring utensil used. In other words, choose your favorite cup, glass, spoon and cup and spend an afternoon testing with the scale. You can use our references as a starting point.
This way, you won’t have to stop the cooking process of the recipe to look for a missing ingredient measurement.
Measuring ingredients without scales
Rice
- 7 grams: one teaspoon
- 30 grams: one tablespoon
- 45 grams: a handful
- 60 grams: one cup of coffee
- 180 grams: a glass of water
- 220 grams: a cup
- 1/4 kilo: 2 large cups
Flours
- 3 grams: one teaspoon
- 12 grams: one tablespoonful
- 25 grams: one tablespoonful
- 30 grams: a handful
- 35 grams: one cup of coffee
- 130 grams: a glass of water
- 140 grams: a glass
Sugar and salt
- 3 grams: one teaspoon
- 10 grams: one tablespoon
- 60 grams: a cup of coffee
- 180 grams: a glass of water
- 200 grams: one cup
Butter
- 5 grams: one teaspoon
- 15 grams of butter: one tablespoonful
- 30 grams: one tablespoonful
- 100 grams: one cup
What instruments can we use to calculate grams without scales?
We can use different elements: dessert spoon, soup spoon, water glass, coffee cups or handfuls.
What foods or liquids can we measure with spoons?
Dessert spoons are useful for powdered foods. Soup spoons are for liquids and thicker sauces.
What foods or liquids can we measure with glasses of water?
We can measure any liquid, rice, sugar, flour or butter.
What foods or liquids can we measure with coffee cups?
Liquids, oil, sugar, salt, rice, flour and butter.
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