Cooking Converter
Convert cooking measurements instantly
You're following a European recipe that calls for 250 ml flour, but your measuring cups are marked in cups. Your oven temperature is in Fahrenheit, but the recipe says 180°C. You need reliable conversions to avoid baking disasters.
View full converter + formula + examples →1 US Cup = 236.5882 Milliliter
Context
Cooking bridges two worlds: recipes from around the globe use different measurement systems, and ovens display temperatures differently. European recipes favor metric units (grams, milliliters, Celsius), while US recipes use cups, ounces, and Fahrenheit. Even small measurement errors can ruin a dish—baking especially demands precision.
When you cook internationally, you're constantly converting. A UK pastry recipe that calls for 'a pinch of salt' translates differently than a US one. Temperature conversions matter: 350°F (a US standard) is actually 175°C, not 180°C. Having quick, accurate converters keeps your cooking consistent regardless of recipe source.
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Why this matters
Following a European recipe in a US kitchen
Your favorite German cake recipe calls for 500 g flour and 180°C oven. Your US measuring cups measure volume, not weight. You need to convert grams to ounces (or cups for flour) and verify the Celsius temperature matches your oven dial.
Scaling a recipe up or down
A recipe serves 4 but you're cooking for 12. Original calls for 300 ml milk; you need to convert to cups to match your measuring tools, then scale to 3× the amount.
Checking oven temperature for baking
Your recipe says 'bake at 160°C' but your oven shows Fahrenheit. You need to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit to set the right temperature and avoid under- or over-baking.
Converting between weight and volume measurements
A precision recipe lists 280 g sugar, but you only have volume measures. You need to estimate how many cups or tablespoons that equals, accounting for how sugar is packed.
Frequently asked
My recipe says 375°F but my oven shows Celsius. What temperature do I set? →
375°F is approximately 190°C. Use [Fahrenheit to Celsius](/temperature/fahrenheit-to-celsius/) to convert any oven temperature. For baking, within 5 degrees is acceptable—most European recipes are 180–200°C, most US recipes are 350–400°F.
The recipe calls for 2 cups flour, but I only have a kitchen scale. How many grams? →
Two cups of all-purpose flour is roughly 240–250 grams depending on how densely packed. Use [Grams to Ounces](/weight/grams-to-ounces/) as a starting point, then adjust for flour density. For precision baking (especially bread), weight is more reliable than volume.
I need to convert 500 ml to cups for a liquid ingredient. →
500 ml is approximately 2.1 US cups. Use [Milliliters to Cups](/volume/ml-to-cups/) for exact conversions. Liquids (water, milk, oil) convert by volume, so this works directly.
The recipe says 'pinch of salt'—how much is that in metric? →
A pinch is roughly 1/8 teaspoon, or about 0.6 ml. For salt, that's roughly 0.7 grams. Check [Teaspoons to Milliliters](/volume/tsp-to-ml/) for exact conversions if your recipe is very precise.
How do I convert between ounces and grams for ingredients? →
Use [Ounces to Grams](/weight/ounces-to-grams/) for any ingredient. Note: fluid ounces (liquid volume) are different from weight ounces. Make sure you're converting the right type.
Why do metric and imperial recipes yield different results even when converted? →
Because measuring methods differ: US recipes often use volume (cups), while metric uses weight (grams). Volume measurements pack differently—2 cups of flour scooped vs. spooned in differs from 2 cups leveled with a knife. Weight-based recipes are more precise. As a rule of thumb, 2 cups all-purpose flour ≈ 240 g, which is about 8.5 oz. Use [Ounces to Grams](/weight/ounces-to-grams/) to convert, but expect slight variation based on how densely the ingredient is packed.
Is 1 tablespoon the same in US and metric? →
Almost. A US tablespoon is about 15 ml, but metric tablespoons can vary slightly by country (15 ml in the US, ~20 ml elsewhere). For cooking, they're close enough, but for precise baking, use [Tablespoons to Milliliters](/volume/tbsp-to-ml/) to verify.