How to Buy the Right Quantity of Food

A Handy Reference to Know How Much Food to Buy

Apr 19, 2009 Jennifer Wickes

Recipes can be challenging when they request a specific amount of lemon zest, for example. But how many lemons do you actually buy to meet the recipe's specifications?

It happens numerous times. Every time a home cook uses a recipe to cook, they are faced with strange amounts of food. One recipe will ask for 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries. But what does that mean? How many strawberries should you buy that will eventually equal 1 1/2 cups?

Look no further. Here is a guide of some of the more popular ingredients and their equivalents. This will help ease frustration, help you spend less at the store, speed up your production in the kitchen and build your confidence. This is the second in a two part series. So, get your printers started!!!

Dairy, Eggs

  • Cheese, cottage 1 lb. = 2 c.
  • Cheese, shredded 4 oz. (.25 lb.) = 1 c.
  • Cream, heavy, whipped 1 c. cream = 2 c. whipped.
  • Egg whites (large eggs) 1 c. = 8 to 10 whites.
  • Eggs, whole, beaten 5 = 1 c.
  • Eggs, yolks, beaten 10 - 14 = 1 c.
  • Milk, nonfat dry, reconstituted 1 lb. (3 1/4 c. powder) = 17 c. milk ( 3/8 c. powder = 2 c. milk).

Grain, flour, cereal

  • Bread crumbs, from day-old bread 2 slices = 1 c.
  • Bread crumbs, canned dry 10-oz. can = 2 1/2 c.
  • Cornmeal 1 lb. = 3 c. (1 c. uncooked = 4 1/2 c.cooked). · Crackers, graham 1 lb. box = 66 singles or 33 doubles.
  • Crackers, graham 16 singles = 1 c. crumbs.
  • Crackers, saltine 28 singles = 1 c. crumbs.
  • Flour, all-purpose, unsifted, spooned 1 lb. = 3 1/2 c.
  • Flour, all-purpose, sifted 1 lb. = 4 c.
  • Flour, cake, sifted 1 lb. = 4 3/4 c.
  • Flour, whole wheat, unsifted, spooned l lb. = 3 1/3 c.
  • Oatmeal (uncooked) 1 lb. = 5 1/2 c. (1 c uncooked = 1 3/4 c. cooked.)
  • Pasta 1 lb. uncooked (4 to 5 c.) = 8 c. cooked.
  • Rice, brown, uncooked 14-oz. pkg. (2 c.) = 8 c. cooked.
  • Rice, quick-cooking or converted, uncooked 14-oz. pkg. (2 c.) = 8 c. cooked.
  • Rice, regular, uncoooked 1 lb. (2 1/4 c.) = 6 3/4 c. cooked (1 c. = 3 c. cooked).
  • Rice, wild, uncooked 1 lb. (3 c.) = 11 to 12 c. cooked.

Dessert ingredients

  • Chocolate chips 1 c. = 6 oz.
  • Chocolate wafers (Famous), crushed 9-oz. pkg. = 2 1/3 c.
  • Cocoa powder, unsweetened 8-oz. can = 3 c.
  • Coconut, flaked or shredded 7-oz. bag = 2 2/3 c.
  • Gelatin, unflavored 1/4 oz. (1 env.) = 2 tsp.
  • Honey 1 lb. = 11/3 c.
  • Marshmallows 10-oz. bag = 40 large.
  • Marshmallow 1 large = 10 miniature.
  • Sugar, brown, packed 1 lb. = 2 1/4 c.
  • Sugar, granulated 1 lb. = 2 1/4 c.
  • Sugar, powdered, unsifted 1 lb. = 3 3/4 c.
  • Vanilla wafers, crushed 12-oz. box = 3 1/4 c. crumbs.
  • Whipped topping, frozen 8 oz. tub = 3 c.

Nuts

  • Almonds, slivered 4-oz. bag = 3/4 c. (1 c. = 51/3 oz.)
  • Pecans, chopped 2-oz. bag = 1/2 c.
  • Pistachios, with shells 4 oz. (1 c.) = 1/2 c. shelled.
  • Walnuts, chopped 2-oz. bag = 1/2 c.

Miscellaneous

  • Coffee, ground 1 lb. (5 1/2 c.) = 88 tbsp. (44 coffee measures).
  • Peanut butter 18-oz. jar = 2 c.
  • Potato chips, crushed 1 c. whole = 1/2 c. crumbs.

The above quantities have been rounded for ease.Interested in other ideas? Try Food Substitutes for Recipe Ingredients!

Not enough buttermilk? Don't worry! You can use yogurt. Check out more tips at Food Substitution Guide

The copyright of the article How to Buy the Right Quantity of Food in Recipes is owned by Jennifer Wickes. Permission to republish How to Buy the Right Quantity of Food in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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