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Cooking Measurements: Your Guide to Metrics

Getting your measurements right in the kitchen can be the difference between a fluffy sponge and a sunken middle, or between perfectly creamy porridge and a gloopy mess!

Whether you’re baking with the kids, following grandma’s classic recipe, or simply trying to figure out how much milk to pour into your tea, understanding cooking measurements makes everything much easier.

But let’s face it: between cups, grams, litres, and pints, it can all get a bit confusing, especially when half your recipes use metric and the others use imperial.

That’s where this friendly guide comes in. We’ve broken down the most common kitchen conversions so you can confidently cook, bake, and measure, no matter what’s on the menu.

Liquid Measurements Made Simple

Milk, juice, water, these are the liquids you’re probably measuring most often. If you’ve ever wondered ‘how much is a litre in pints?’, here’s what you need to know:

  • 1 litre = about 1.76 UK pints
  • 1 pint = roughly 568ml
  • 2 litres = just over 3.5 pints
  • 500ml = just under 1 pint
  • 1 UK gallon = 8 pints or 4.5 litres

So, if you’re ordering our 2-litre milk bottle, you’re getting around 3.5 pints, perfect for families who get through their brekkie bowls quickly!
 

How Many Glasses of Water is 500ml?

Great question! If you’re looking to keep hydrated and are wondering how many millilitres your glass holds, 500ml is a useful benchmark for keeping track of daily hydration, for both grown-ups and kids!

One medium-sized glass of water equals around 250ml. This means that to reach your daily hydration goal of 2 litres, you will need about 8 glasses of water per day.
 

Dry Ingredient Conversions

Dry ingredients are usually measured in grams in the UK, but you’ll sometimes see recipes using cups, especially if they come from the US. Here are some helpful guidelines to make sure you’re getting your recipes right, every time!

  • 1 cup of plain flour = about 120g
  • 1 cup of sugar = about 200g
  • 1 cup of oats = around 100g
  • 1 tablespoon of butter = roughly 14g

Remember, different ingredients weigh different amounts, so a cup of sugar will weigh more than a cup of flour. That’s why using a set of digital kitchen scales is always a smart idea, especially for baking.

 

Spoon and Cup Sizes in Cooking

Ever wondered what a cup size is in cooking or how much a tablespoon actually holds?

Here’s a quick rundown to help keep things fuss-free:

  • 1 UK cup = about 284ml
  • 1 US cup = around 240ml (many online recipes use this!)
  • 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15ml
  • 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5ml

If you’re following a US recipe, you can safely assume the cup size is 240ml, but for UK recipes, it’s best to check whether it follows traditional British measurements or has adopted the smaller US cup.

 

Cooking Temperature Conversions

Oven temperatures can be confusing at the best of times, especially when recipes switch between Celsius, Fahrenheit, Gas Marks and fan settings.

As a handy rule, 180°C in a conventional oven is 160°C in a fan oven, 350°F or Gas Mark 4, which is a classic baking temp.

For slow cooking like casseroles or meringues, aim for 120°C (100°C fan), and for roasting, turn it up to 220°C (200°C fan). Just remember, if you’re using a fan oven, drop the temperature by about 20°C unless your recipe says otherwise.

 

Metric vs Imperial: What’s the Difference?

Here in the UK, we often use a mix of metric and imperial in our kitchens. You might buy milk in litres but still think in pints, or measure flour in grams but pour water using cups. It’s not just you; many recipes still bounce between both systems!

Here’s a simple trick:

  • If your recipe is UK-based and mentions pints or gallons, it’s likely using UK imperial units
  • If it’s from the US, the pints and gallons are smaller, so be careful with your conversions!
  • When in doubt, a quick check online or using a measuring jug with both ml and pint markings will set you right.

Make Life Easier with a Conversion Chart

Instead of trying to memorise it all, why not keep a printed cooking conversion chart on your fridge or inside a cupboard door? It’s a great way to get kids involved, too, especially if they’re learning measurements at school or helping you stir the cake batter.


Now You’re Cooking with Milk & More!

Whether you’re pouring milk into your cereal or measuring out flour for flapjacks, getting your cooking measurements right helps make every meal smoother, tastier, and less stressful. With our easy doorstep delivery of everyday essentials, like milk in refillable pint bottles or family-sized 2-litre cartons, you can be confident that what you’re ordering fits exactly what your recipe needs.

Hungry for more tips, recipe inspiration or food know-how? Check out the Milk & More blog for fresh ideas and everyday help in the kitchen.