Tablespoons and Teaspoons to Milliliters: Quick Reference
A quick reference guide for converting between tablespoons, teaspoons, and milliliters in the kitchen.
Use the Tbsp/Tsp ↔ Milliliters
Convert tablespoons and teaspoons to ml
Core Conversions
One US tablespoon equals 14.787 milliliters, which is commonly rounded to 15 ml for simplicity. One US teaspoon equals 4.929 ml, rounded to 5 ml. Three teaspoons make up one tablespoon.
Measuring Spoon Tips for Better Accuracy
Proper measuring technique makes a bigger difference than many cooks realize. For dry ingredients like flour, sugar, or spices, use the 'dip and sweep' method: dip the measuring spoon into the ingredient and sweep off the excess with a straight edge like a butter knife. For sticky ingredients like honey, molasses, or peanut butter, spraying the spoon lightly with cooking spray first allows the ingredient to slide off cleanly.
Medicine Dosing: A Safety Note
This is an area where accuracy can have real health consequences, especially for children. When a doctor prescribes a 'teaspoon' of liquid medication, they mean exactly 5 ml. However, the actual teaspoons in your kitchen drawer can vary in capacity from 2.5 ml to as much as 7 ml depending on their design. That variation is harmless when measuring salt for a recipe but potentially dangerous when dosing medication.
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