For preciseness, especially in baking, a kitchen scale determines weights.
Still, the list — plus a set of measuring cups and spoons for dry and liquid ingredients — provides a great start.
Substitutions
1 cup cake flour = 7/8 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup self-rising flour = 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt = 1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate = 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder + 1 tablespoon butter, margarine or shortening
1 cup buttermilk = 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice added to 1 cup milk
1 large marshmallow = 10 miniature marshmallows
Fruits
1 pound apples = 3 to 4 medium, 3 cups sliced or 31/2 cups diced
1 pound applesauce = 2 cups
1 pound bananas = 3 medium, 2 cups diced or 1 1/2 cups mashed
1 pound berries (except strawberries) = 4 cups
1 pint berries (except strawberries) = 2 cups
1 pound cherries = 2 1/2 to 3 cups pitted
1 pound cranberries = 4 cups
1 pound dates = 21/2 cups pitted and diced
1 pound lemons = 4 to 5 medium
1 pound rhubarb = 3 to 4 cups, chopped
1 pound strawberries = 2 1/2 to 3 cups
Dairy
1 pound butter or stick margarine = 2 cups
1 pound cheddar cheese = 4 cups shredded
1 ounce Parmesan = 1/3 cup grated
4 ounces blue or feta cheese = 1 cup crumbled
1 cup whipping cream = 2 cups whipped
1 cup eggs = 5 large
1 large egg white = 2 tablespoons
1 large egg yolk = 1 tablespoon
2 egg whites = 21/2 cups beaten
Vegetables
1 pound asparagus = 16 to 20 spears
1 pound dried beans = 2 to 21/3 cups
1 cup dried beans = 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups cooked
1 pound cabbage = 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups shredded
1 pound carrots = 3 cups chopped
1 rib celery = 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped
1 bunch celery = 4 cups chopped
1 ear corn = 1/2 cup kernels
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn = 1 3/4 cups
1 pound mushrooms = 5 cups sliced
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas = 2 cups
1 medium green bell pepper = 1 cup chopped
1 pound potatoes = 3 medium, 3 cups chopped or 2 cups mashed
Weights and measures
Pinch or dash = 1/16 teaspoon
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
1/2 tablespoon = 1 1/2 teaspoons
1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons
1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons
2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons
7/8 cup = 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons
1 cup = 16 tablespoons
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
1 tablespoon = 1/2 fluid ounce
1 jigger = 1 1/2 fluid ounces
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons
1 pound = 16 ounces
1 ounce = 28 grams
1 pound = 454 grams
1 kilogram = 2 pounds
1 liter = 1 quart
Staples
1 cup beef or chicken broth or stock = 1 bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon instant bouillon dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
1 package (12 ounces) chocolate chips = scant 2 cups
1 jar (18 ounces) peanut butter = 2 cups
1 pound vegetable shortening = 2 1/2 cups
1 envelope active dry yeast = 1/4 ounce or 21/2 teaspoons
1 pound brown sugar = 2 1/4 cups packed
1 pound confectioners’ sugar = 31/2 to 4 cups
1 pound granulated sugar = 2 cups
Flour, Grains and Pasta
1 pound all-purpose flour = 3 1/2 cups unsifted
1 pound cake flour = 4 1/8 cups unsifted, 4 1/2 cups sifted
1 pound whole-wheat flour = 3 1/3 cups sifted
1 pound elbow macaroni = 4 cups dry or 9 cups cooked
1 pound noodles = 6 to 8 cups dry or 8 cups cooked
1 pound cornmeal = 3 cups dry
1 pound rolled oats = 5 cups
1 pound brown or white rice = 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups
1 cup white or wild rice = 3 cups cooked
1 cup brown rice = 4 cups cooked
1/4 cup popcorn = 5 cups popped
Bread and crumbs
1 slice bread = 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1 cup saltine-cracker crumbs = 28 crackers
1 cup graham-cracker crumbs = 15 squares
1 cup chocolate-wafer crumbs = 18 to 20 chocolate wafers
Thanks to Robin Davis for this at:robin.davis@dispatch.com
