HOW MANY TEASPOONS IN A TABLESPOON

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

Two of the most commonly used measurements in recipes are teaspoons (tsp) and tablespoons (tbsp). They are most often used to measure smaller amounts of dry ingredients such as spices and to measure extracts and liquids such as honey. 

Whether you are a professional or home cook, knowing how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon is a very useful tool to have in your cooking arsenal. It means you can easily adjust the amounts of dry ingredients in a recipe to up or downscale a recipe as you need. 

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BE FAMILIAR WITH TEASPOON TO TABLESPOON CONVERSION?

Some dry ingredients such as spices in a stew or curry, exact measurements can be played with depending on your personal preferences. However, in other cases, it’s imperative to get measurements perfect in order to achieve a successful dish.

BAKING

A prime case of this need for precision is when baking. Baking is a science. You need the exact right amount of each ingredient to get the chemical reaction you need. For example, too much baking powder can cause a nasty metallic taste; too little can mean that your baked product doesn’t rise as it should. 

SALT

Salt is an ingredient you do not want to miscalculate in your cooking—too little salt results in bland tasting food. Too much salt can completely ruin a dish and is very difficult to rectify. 

Depending on the dish, adding an acid such as lemon juice or vinegar can help mask the salt flavor on your palate. You can also try adding extra water to over-salted soups and stews. But in many cases, a recipe will be completely spoiled, so the success of your dish should get the measurements correct from the very beginning.

HOW MANY TEASPOONS ARE IN A TABLESPOON?

There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. 

• 6 teaspoons in 2 tablespoons
• 9 teaspoons in 3 tablespoons and so on. 

The ratio of a teaspoon to a tablespoon is 3:1. This means that for every three teaspoons, there is 1 tablespoon.

Here is a handy conversion chart to help you.

TEASPOON (tsp.)	TABLESPOON (tbsp.)	CUP (C)	FLUID OUNCES (OZ)	MILLILITER (ml.)
3 tsp.	1 tbsp.	1/16C	1/2 oz	15ml.
6 tsp.	2 tbsp.	1/8 C	1 oz	30ml.
12 tsp.	4 tbsp.	1/4 C	2 oz	59ml.
16 tsp.	5 ⅔ tbsp.	1/3 C	2 ⅔ oz	79ml.
24 tsp.	8 tbsp.	1/2 C	4 oz	118ml.
32 tsp.	10⅔ tbsp.	2/3 C	5 ⅔ oz	158ml.
36 tsp.	12 tbsp.	3/4 C	6 oz	177ml.
48 tsp.	16 tbsp.	1 C	8 oz	237ml.

WHAT IS A PINCH MEASURE?

A pinch measure is the right amount of a cooking ingredient you can hold between your thumb and index finger.

1/8th teaspoon = a pinch

WHAT IS A DASH MEASURE?

1/16th teaspoon = dash

A dash is the smallest unit of measurement for a dry ingredient used in cooking and baking. It is just a little bit more than a pinch.

For example, the dash of salt measurement is perfect for when you need to add an extra flavor kick to your dish, but don’t want it to be overpowering. Adding just a dash of salt can make all the difference in a bland soup or sauce, without making it too salty.

HOW TO MEASURE TEASPOON OR TABLESPOON CORRECTLY

By far, the most accurate way to measure out dry ingredients precisely is to use a measuring spoon. They are perfectly sized, so all you have to do is scoop up the ingredients. For best results, flatten the top out with a knife so that there is no extra on top. 

Remember, if you only happen to have a teaspoon measuring spoon to hand and your recipe calls for a tablespoon, just use 3 teaspoons. Simple!

IMPORTANT NOTES.

• The abbreviations for teaspoons (tsp) and tablespoons (tbsp) are very similar. It is very easy to mix up the two at a glance, so be sure to read recipes very carefully. 
• There is a very slight difference between the U.S. imperial system of measurements and those of the metric system used in other parts of the world. However, the difference is so small that the 3 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon measurement still stands. 

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