Wikipedia

Tablespoon

A tablespoon (tbsp., Tbsp., Tb., or T.) is a large spoon and a cooking measure of volume. In many English-speaking regions, the term now refers to a large spoon used for serving.[1] In some regions, it is the largest type of spoon used for eating.

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Several systems of units of measurement define a tablespoon. The most common definition used in the UK,[2] and US is exactly 15 mL[3][4][5]. An Australian metric tablespoon is 20 mL.[6] Historically, a United States customary liquid tablespoon was approximately 14.8 mL, or 1⁄2 US fluid ounce; A British tablespoon was approximately 14.2 mL, exactly 1⁄2 imperial fluid ounce.[2]

The capacity of the utensil, as opposed to the measurement, is defined by neither law nor custom but only by preferences, and may or may not significantly approximate the measurement.

Dining

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Before about 1700, it was customary for Europeans to bring their own spoons to the table[7]. Spoons were carried as personal property in much the same way as people today carry wallets, key rings, etc. From about 1700 the place setting became popular, and with it the "table-spoon" (hyphenated), "table-fork" and "table-knife". Around the same time the tea-spoon and dessert-spoon first appeared. The table-spoon was reserved for eating soup.[8] The 18th century witnessed a proliferation of different sorts of spoons, including the mustard-spoon, salt-spoon, coffee-spoon, and soup-spoon.

In the late 19th century UK, the dessert-spoon and soup-spoon began to displace the table-spoon as the primary implement for eating from a bowl, at which point the name "table-spoon" took on a secondary meaning as a much larger serving spoon.[citation needed] In 1928, when the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was published, "tablespoon", which by then was no longer hyphenated, still had two definitions in the UK: the original definition (eating spoon) and the new definition (serving spoon).

Victorian and Edwardian era tablespoons used in the UK are often 25 mL, about 0.88 imperial fluid ounce or 0.85 US fluid ounce, or sometimes larger. They are used only for preparing and serving food, not as part of a place-setting. Common tablespoons intended for use as cutlery, called dessert spoons in the UK, where a tablespoon is always a serving spoon, usually hold 7–14 mL, about 0.25–0.49 imperial fluid ounce or 0.24–0.47 US fluid ounce,[9] considerably less than some tablespoons used for serving.

Culinary measure

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tablespoon
Measuring spoons, with the largest one representing the volume of a tablespoon.
General information
Unit systemImperial units, US customary units
Unit ofVolume
Symboltbsp
Conversions (imperial)
1 imp tbsp in ...... is equal to ...
   SI units   14.207 mL
   US customary units   0.961 US tbsp
Conversions (US)
1 US tbsp in ...... is equal to ...
   SI units   14.787 mL
   Imperial units   1.041 imp tbsp

Naming

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In recipes, an abbreviation like tbsp. is usually used to refer to a tablespoon, to differentiate it from the smaller teaspoon (tsp.). Some authors capitalize the abbreviation, as Tbsp., while leaving tsp. in lower case, to emphasize that the larger tablespoon, rather than the smaller teaspoon, is wanted. The tablespoon abbreviation is sometimes abbreviated to Tb. or T.

Traditional definitions

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In most places, one tablespoon equals three teaspoons. In Australia, one tablespoon equals four teaspoons.

International metric

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An international metric tablespoon is exactly equal to 15 mL.[10] It is the equivalence of 1⁠1/2⁠ metric dessert spoons or 3 metric teaspoons.

1 international metric tablespoon  = 15mL
= ⁠3/4⁠Australian metric tablespoon
= 1⁠1/2⁠metric dessert spoons
= 3metric teaspoons
≈ 4.22British imperial fluid drachm
≈ 0.53British imperial fluid ounce
≈ 1.06UK tablespoons
≈ 2.11UK dessert spoons
≈ 4.22UK teaspoons
≈ 8.45UK salt spoons
≈ 16.89UK pinches (solids only)
≈ 253.41UK drops (liquids only)
≈ 4.06US customary fluid drams
≈ 0.51US customary fluid ounce
≈ 1.01US customary tablespoons
≈ 1.52US customary dessert spoons
≈ 3.04US customary teaspoons
≈ 6.09US customary coffee spoons
≈ 12.17US customary salt spoons
≈ 24.35US customary dashes (solids only)
≈ 48.69US customary pinches (solids only)
≈ 97.39US customary smidgens (solids only)
≈ 292.16US customary drops (liquids only)

Australian metric

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The Australian metric tablespoon is different from that of the rest of the world. The Australian official definition of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is:[11]

1 Australian metric tablespoon= 20 mL
= 1⁠1/3⁠ international metric tablespoons
= 2 metric dessert spoons (1 metric dessert spoon = 10 mL each)
= 4 metric teaspoons (1 metric teaspoon = 5 mL each)
≈ 5.63 British imperial fluid drachms
≈ 0.7 British imperial fluid ounce
≈ 1.41 UK tablespoons
≈ 2.82 UK dessert spoons
≈ 4.12 UK teaspoons
≈ 11.26 UK salt spoons
≈ 22.52 UK pinches (solids only)
≈ 337.87 UK drops (liquids only)
≈ 5.41 US customary fluid drams
≈ 0.67 US customary fluid ounce
≈ 1.35 US customary tablespoons
≈ 2.03 US customary dessert spoons
≈ 4.06 US customary teaspoons
≈ 4.06 US customary coffee spoons
≈ 16.23 US customary salt spoons
≈ 32.46 US customary dashes (solids only)
≈ 64.92 US customary pinches (solids only)
≈ 129.85 US customary smidgens (solids only)
≈ 389.54 US customary drops (liquids only)

This definition was promulgated by the Metric Conversion Board in the 1970s, as part of the country's metrication process.[12] There is not a distinct Australian metric dessert spoon or metric teaspoon.

United Kingdom

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1 UK tablespoon  = 4British imperial fluid drachm[13][better source needed]
= 2UK dessert spoons
= 4UK teaspoons
= 8UK salt spoons
= 16UK pinches (solids only)
= 240UK drops (liquids only)
= ⁠1/2⁠British imperial fluid ounce
≈ 3.84US customary fluid drams
≈ 0.48US customary fluid ounce
≈ 0.96US customary tablespoon
≈ 1.44US customary dessert spoons
≈ 2.88US customary teaspoons
≈ 5.76US customary coffee spoons
≈ 11.53US customary salt spoons
≈ 23.06US customary dashes (solids only)
≈ 46.12US customary pinches (solids only)
≈ 92.23US customary smidgens (solids only)
≈ 276.70US customary drops (liquids only)
≈ 14.207millilitres
≈ 0.95international metric tablespoon
≈ 0.71Australian metric tablespoon
≈ 1.42metric dessert spoons
≈ 2.84metric teaspoons

United States

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The traditional U.S. interpretation of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is:[14]

1 US customary tablespoon= 4 US fluid drams
= 1⁠1/2⁠ US customary dessert spoons
= 3 US customary teaspoons
= 6 US customary coffee spoons
= 12 US customary salt spoons
= 24 US customary dashes (solids only)
= 48 US customary pinches (solids only)
= 96 US customary smidgens (solids only)
= 288 US customary drops (liquids only)
= ⁠1/2⁠ US fluid ounce
≈ 4.16 British imperial fluid drachms
≈ 0.52 British imperial fluid ounce
≈ 1.04 UK tablespoons
≈ 2.08 UK dessert spoons
≈ 4.16 UK teaspoons
≈ 8.33 UK salt spoons
≈ 16.65 UK pinches (solids only)
≈ 249.8 UK drops (liquids only)
≈ 14.8 mL[15]
≈ 0.99 international metric tablespoon
≈ 0.74 Australian metric tablespoon
≈ 1.48 metric dessert spoons
≈ 2.96 metric teaspoons

In nutrition labeling in the U.S., a tablespoon is defined as 15 mL,[16] about 4.22 British imperial fluid drachms (0.53 British imperial fluid ounce) or 4.06 US customary fluid drams, 0.51 US customary fluid ounce.

Dry measure

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For dry ingredients, if a recipe calls for a level tablespoon, the usual meaning without further qualification, is measured by filling the spoon and scraping it level. In contrast, a heaped, heaping, or rounded spoonful is not leveled off, and includes a heap above the spoon. The exact volume of a heaped tablespoon depends somewhat on the shape and curvature of the measuring spoon being used and largely upon the physical properties of the substance being measured, and so is not a precise unit of measurement. If neither a rounded nor a level tablespoon is specified, a level tablespoon is used, just as a cup of flour is a level cup unless otherwise specified.

Apothecary measure

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In the 18th century, the table-spoon became an unofficial unit of the apothecaries' system of measures, equal to 4 drams (⁠1/2⁠ fl oz, 14.8  mL). It was more commonly known by the Latin name cochleare majus (abbreviated cochl. maj.) or, in apothecaries' notation, f℥ss or f℥ß (fluid ℥, i.e. ounce, semis, one-half).[17][18][19]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ The Oxford English Dictionary Third edition, December 2008, entry at tablespoon(subscription required)
  2. 1 2 "How Many Tablespoons in a Cup - Easy Conversions". First Health Mag. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
  3. ↑ "21 CFR 101.9 -- Nutrition labeling of food". www.ecfr.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  4. ↑ Program, Human Foods (2024-10-01). "Guidance for Industry: Guidelines for Determining Metric Equivalents of Household Measures". www.fda.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  5. ↑ Butcher, Kenneth S. (2004-05-15). "NIST SP430, Household Weights and Measures". NIST.
  6. ↑ Chuck Smothermon (2002). Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes. Meredith Books. p. 416. ISBN 9780696215469. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ↑ ARDAVIČIŪTĖ-RAMANAUSKIENĖ, SKAISTĖ. "Metal spoons of the 14th-18th centuries from the archaelogy collection of the national museam of lithuiania: typology, crhronology and provenance". Archaeologia Baltica. 29: 52–70.
  8. ↑ Moore, Simon (1987). Spoons 1650–1930. Shire Publications. p. 12.
  9. ↑ Dean BS, Krenzelok EP (April 1986). "Syrup of ipecac dosing ... How much is a tablespoonful?". Vet Hum Toxicol. 28 (2): 155–6. PMID 2871653.
  10. ↑ Cardarelli, François (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. London, UK: Springer. pp. 44. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  11. ↑ "Weights & measurement charts". Taste. 11 April 2007. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  12. ↑ "Your Complete metric guide to dieting". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 43, no. 33. 14 January 1976. p. 26 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ Paragraph 665, page 119, Enquire Within Upon Everything (1894)
  14. ↑ Thompson, A.; Taylor, B.N. (March 2008) [April 1995]. The NIST Guide for the use of International System of Units (PDF) (Report). NIST Special Publication. Vol. 811. Gaithersburg, MD: U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST SP811.
  15. ↑ Mechtly, E.A. (January 1973). "The International System of units" (PDF). NASA-SP=7012, 1964, 1973.
    The reference indicates the exact conversion to cubic metres, which has been converted to 14.78676478125 mL here for convenience.
  16. ↑ "101.9(b)(5)(viii)". 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) (Report). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  17. ↑ Whitelaw, A., ed. (1884). The popular encyclopedia; or, 'Conversations Lexicon'. p. 11. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  18. ↑ Ritter, Thomas Jefferson; Johnstone, Elizabeth (1910). Mothers' Remedies: Over one thousand tried and tested remedies from mothers of the United States and Canada. G. H. Foote Pub. Co. p. 637. Retrieved 12 December 2011 – via Google Books.
  19. ↑ Hazell's Annual. Hazell, Watson, and Viney. 1910. p. 584. Retrieved 12 December 2011 – via Google Books.
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  • Wiktionary logo The dictionary definition of tablespoon at Wiktionary
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