Did you know that many recipes call for tablespoon measures instead of cups? If you don’t have measuring spoons handy, how on earth are you supposed to figure out how much a tablespoon is without one? You can use the same principles and math from those measurements to figure it out. Here’s a guide on how to measure a tablespoon without a measuring spoon.
How To Measure A Tablespoon Without A Tablespoon?
Use the Dime Method
A dime is the equivalent of two tablespoons. So, if you don’t have a measuring spoon, then you can use one of your old dimes and simply split it down the middle to get two tablespoons. This can be helpful to know if you have a recipe that doesn’t require accurate measurements, like a cookie recipe.
Estimate with a Finger
If you’re in a pinch but have a relatively clean kitchen and your fingers, you can estimate one tablespoon of something by measuring from your pinky finger to your thumb. This is about one tablespoon. If you have smaller hands and fingers, this might not work for you. But, if you don’t have any other options, it could be worth a try.
Scoop Out Half a Cup
If you need a half cup of something, like flour or sugar, you can simply scoop out half of the amount that would fit into a measuring cup. This is a great option if you don’t have a measuring cup but the ingredients you need are granular.
Know Your Shapes and Sizes of Bowls
If you don’t have any measuring tools, you can use the shapes of different types of household bowls to help you measure out certain ingredients. For example, you can use a large bowl to measure two cups of flour. A smaller bowl, like a cereal bowl, can measure out a quarter cup of flour.
Bring an Egg Measuring Cup to the Kitchen
Some people use an egg measuring cup to help them measure liquids, like oil or milk. If you don’t have a liquid measuring cup, you can use this method to measure a tablespoon of a liquid. Simply fill the cup to the mark of “1” for 1 tablespoon of liquid.
Why You Should Measure Your Spoons Instead Of Just Using Them To Estimate
They are more accurate
Perhaps one of the most obvious advantages of measuring your ingredients with spoons instead of just using your eyes is that they are much more accurate. You might think that using your eyes to estimate the correct amount of an ingredient is a relatively reliable way to measure, but in reality, your eyes are not very good at being accurate. This is because what you perceive as a “teaspoon” might be very different from what someone else perceives as a “teaspoon,” and it’s even possible that what you perceive as a “teaspoon” varies from day to day. To make things even more complicated, what you perceive to be a single “teaspoon” might actually be more like two or three “teaspoons” on another day. These sorts of variations are practically inevitable, which is why whenever possible, it’s better to rely on a more objective measurement like what you get with a measuring spoon.
They help you develop a habit of accuracy
Accuracy is all about consistency, and the best way to develop consistency is by practicing regularly with a consistent routine. When you measure your ingredients with measuring spoons, you are consistently using the same spoon for every ingredient, which helps to ingrain the habit of accuracy in your routine. While consistency might initially seem like a hindrance to creativity, it’s actually the opposite. By consistently measuring your ingredients with spoons, you give yourself an objective check that lets you know whether or not you’re being consistent with your recipe. This is extremely helpful for beginners, as it can give them confidence in their measurements and in their process.
They make it easy to double-check your math
Whether you’re baking or cooking, one of the most common sources of error in recipes is math errors. While this is extremely common and something to be expected, it’s also something that can be prevented or at least mitigated by measuring your ingredients with spoons. This is because measuring spoons are designed to hold a specific amount of a specific ingredient. This makes them ideal for double-checking your math. Simply add up the total amount of each ingredient you need, then check to make sure that you have the correct amount for each with your measuring spoons. Grab your measuring spoons before you do any baking or cooking, and you’ll never have to worry about a math error affecting your recipe.
Tips For Measuring A Tablespoon Without A Measuring Spoon
If you’re trying to measure out a tablespoon without a measuring spoon, here are some tips that will help you be as precise as possible with your measurements.
- Make sure you use a bowl that is tall enough. If it’s too low, you might accidentally overfill the tablespoon. If it’s too high, you might accidentally underfill the tablespoon.
- You can use a measuring cup to scoop the water out of it. Just make sure that you’re not overfilling the cup since you will have to transfer the water from the measuring cup to the bowl.
- Make sure your finger is clean. You don’t want to introduce any outside contaminants when you’re scooping the water out of the bowl. – You can also try using a knife or spoon to scoop out the water.
- Be careful not to overfill the tablespoon. If there’s too much water in the spoon, the water will spill over and you won’t get an accurate reading.
- Be careful not to underfill the tablespoon. If there’s too little water in the spoon, you won’t be able to measure the right amount.
- If you’re scooping the water out of the bowl with your finger, make sure your finger is completely submerged.
- You can be more precise if you mark the water level on the side of the bowl.
- You can also try using a ruler to measure the water level.
- When you’ve finished measuring the water, pour the water into the bowl or cup where you’re measuring your other ingredients.
- If you’re measuring dry ingredients such as sugar or flour, you can scoop the spoonful of ingredients into the water to get the right amount.
- If you’re measuring liquids such as oil, you can pour the liquid into the water. – Be careful when pouring the liquids into the water to make sure you don’t spill any of the water.
- If you’re measuring sticky ingredients such as honey or molasses, you can sprinkle the spoonful of ingredients into the water to get the right amount.
- If you’re measuring dry ingredients such as sugar or flour, you can sprinkle the spoonful of ingredients into the water to get the right amount.
- If you’re measuring sticky ingredients such as honey or molasses, you can scoop the spoonful of ingredients into the water to get the right amount.
- Be careful not to overfill the spoon. If there’s too much in the spoon, the ingredients might spill over and you won’t get an accurate reading.
- Be careful not to underfill the spoon. If there’s too little in the spoon, you won’t be able to measure the right amount.
- When you’re done measuring, pour the ingredients into the bowl or cup where you’re measuring your other ingredients.
Conclusion
The best way to measure out a tablespoon is to use a measuring spoon. However, if you don’t have measuring spoons, you can still figure out how much a tablespoon is without one. If you don’t have measuring spoons, you can use the same principles and math from those measurements to figure it out. Here’s a guide on how to measure a tablespoon without a measuring spoon.
