Helpful measures
Baking is one area of cookery where you really do need to he very precise in
your measuring of ingredient quantities, tin sizes and oven temperatures. The following charts should give you all the information you need on cup and spoon measurements and conversions from metric to imperial.
Because of the accuracy required when baking we have given ingredient measurements in metric and imperial in the recipes, but not in cup measures. This is because, when using cup measures, we find that everybody will get a slightly different amount in their cup. Weighing scales will obviously give you more accurate and consistent measurements. Many people, however, find it convenient to use cup measurements or don't have scales. You can convert the metric or imperial measurements within the recipes into cup measures using the cup conversions chart below. Standard measuring cups hold 250 ml (8 fl oz)—you can check an ordinary household cup for use by filling it with water and measuring the water.
where we developed the recipes, the tablespoon measure is 20 ml. In many other countries the tablespoon is 15 ml. For most recipes this difference will not be noticeable but, for recipes using baking powder, gelatine, bicarbonate of soda, small amounts of flour and corn flour, we suggest that, if you are using the smaller tablespoon, you add an extra teaspoon for each tablespoon.
| Oven temperatures | |||
| Description | 0C | 0F | Gas mark |
| Very slow |
120 140 |
250 275 |
1/2 1 |
| Slow | 150 | 300 | 2 |
|
Warm |
160 170 |
315 325 |
2 - 3 3 |
| moderate | 180 | 350 | 4 |
| Moderately hot |
190 200 |
375 400 |
5 6 |
| Hot |
210 220 |
415 425 |
6 - 7 7 |
| Very hot |
230 240 |
450 475 |
8 9 |
| Liquid cup measures | |||
| 1/4 cup | 60 ml | 2 fluid oz | |
| 1/3 cup | 80 ml |
2 3/4 fluid oz
|
|
| 1/2 cup | 125 ml | 4 fluid oz | |
| 3/4 cup | 185 ml | 6 fluid oz | |
| 1 cup | 250 ml | 8 fluid oz | |
| Spoon measures | |||
| 1/4 teaspoon | 1.25 ml | ||
| 1/2 teaspoon | 2.5 ml | ||
| 1 teaspoon | 5 ml | ||
| 1 tablespoon | 20 ml | ||
