9 Tablespoons to Cups

Some baking recipes call for 9 tablespoons of an ingredient. Is there a faster, easier way to measure that out, instead of scooping and leveling off 9 tablespoons, one at a time? There is!

9 Tablespoons to Cups

9 tablespoons is equal to ½ cup + 3 teaspoons. Measuring 4 items is simpler than measuring 9, so it saves you a bit of time while still having the exact measurement.

Cups to Tablespoons Conversion Chart

1 Cup	16 TBSP	8 fl oz	240 ml	48 tsp
¾ Cup	12 TBSP	6 fl oz	180 ml	36 tsp
½ Cup	8 TBSP	4 fl oz	120 ml	24 tsp
⅓ Cup	5 TBSP + 1 tsp	2.7 fl oz	80 ml	16 tsp
¼ Cup	4 TBSP	2 fl oz	60 ml	12 tsp

In the chart above, the abbreviations are as follows:

TBSP = Tablespoons

Fl oz = Fluid Ounces

ml = milliliters

Tsp = teaspoons

What are the Best Types of Measuring Spoons?

After decades of cooking and baking, I have developed some strong opinions on measuring spoons. Here is what I always look for when buying a new set.

Use measuring spoons with one side rounded and the other side oblong. These are important for fitting the measuring spoon inside small jars of spices!
Use measuring spoons that can be detached from each other. Most often when you buy measuring spoons, they’re sold in sets, with all 5-6 grouped together. I have a few sets like that! But most often, I find myself reaching for the ones I’ve separated. So much so that those are the only ones I buy now!
Use metal measuring spoons. Don’t even bother with plastic. They can warp & break much more easily than metal.
Forego the fancy measuring spoons. I know, they’re so cute. But often they’re thicker, heavier and have more edges and ridges, which just makes the cooking process more cumbersome. Buy them and put them on display somewhere in your kitchen, but don’t actually use them to cook.

How to You Measure Dry Ingredients?

The key to measuring dry ingredients accurately is to use a separate tool to scoop the ingredient into the measuring cup, rather than scooping directly with the measuring cup itself. Here is the method I use for flour, and it works for most dry ingredients.

Scoop the flour into the measuring cup using a spoon or small scoop, filling it just above the rim. Give the cup a gentle side-to-side shake to settle the flour a little, then use the flat edge of a clean butter knife to level off the excess. That is it. Scoop, shake, level.

For tablespoon amounts, the process is the same. Scoop up the ingredient with the measuring spoon and level with a knife.

Do you have to level ingredients when you measure them?

It depends on what you are making. For baking, especially anything that requires precision like macarons or layer cakes, leveling your dry ingredients matters. A little too much flour can make the difference between a tender crumb and a dense one.

For savory cooking, the bar is much lower. If you are making a chicken marinade or seasoning a pot of soup, close enough is usually fine.

When in doubt, level it. It takes two extra seconds and removes one variable from the equation.

How do you Measure Wet Ingredients?

Wet ingredients are generally measured out using glass measuring cups. Despite having the same name as dry ingredient measuring cups, wet ingredient cups have a handle and pour spout. To measure water, you’ll fill the measuring cup, first estimating the amount you’ll need. Then, stoop down to eye level so that you can accurately gauge how much water is in the cup. Pour out or add water as needed, waiting for the water to settle, then check at eye level the amount in the cup until you have the exact amount needed.

Why doesn’t the United States use the Metric system?

Does anyone really know why the US doesn’t use the metric system while most of the rest of the world does? Ha! Tradition and money are the main reasons. Let’s blame it on Thomas Jefferson! Americans adopted the British Imperial System, now just known as the Imperial system, although the US has made slight adjustments and called those the United States Customary Units. (USCS)

Only 3 countries in the world still use the Imperial system, the United States being one of them. That seems so American, doesn’t it?! Honestly, it truly does come down to tradition and money. The US doesn’t want to spend the money to train and adopt a new measurement system. Maybe someday we will?