Metric Conversion to U.S. Cooking Measurements
British cookbook mavens Mary Berry and Amy Wilcock filled AGA cookbooks with some of the best recipes you will find anywhere, from simple fixes to elaborate masterpieces to flex your culinary talents. Use this quick guide to help you convert metric cooking measurements into the U.S. imperial system, so you can create delicious delights as they were intended by the recipe creators.
Metric Conversion to U.S. Imperial Cooking Measurements
Pints to Cups
In Britain, one pint holds 20 ounces. Here, a pint holds 16 ounces. So for any liquid amount referred to in pints, either measure the milliliter amount in parentheses in the recipe, or use this simple conversion chart:
| UK | oz/ml | North America |
|---|---|---|
| UK 1/4 pint | oz/ml 5oz / 150ml | North America about 2/3 cup |
| UK 1/2 pint | oz/ml 10oz / 300ml | North America about 1-1/4 cup |
| UK 3/4 pint | oz/ml 15oz / 450ml | North America about 1-3/4 cup |
| UK 1 pint | oz/ml 20oz / 600ml | North America about 2-1/2 cup |
Other Measurements
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Butter, 1 oz | North America 2 tbsp |
| UK Butter, knob | North America a piece about the size of a walnut |
| UK Dessert spoon | North America about 1 heaping tsp |
| UK Flour, 1 oz + | North America about 3 tbsp |
| UK Punnet | North America about a pint box |
| UK Teaspoon, tablespoon | North America Same |
| UK Wine Glass + | North America about 3/4 cup |
| UK Wine Glass, small + | North America about 1/2 cup |
Meats, Fish and Poultry Terminology
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Bacon, piece or rasher | North America Bacon slice |
| UK Bacon, snipped | North America Slice, cut in short pieces |
| UK Beef, silverside | North America Round of beef |
| UK Beef, skirt | North America Flank steak |
| UK Braising meat | North America Stewing meat |
| UK Chicken joint | North America Leg & thigh |
| UK Drippings | North America Fat and juices from a roast |
| UK Gammon | North America Ham |
| UK Ham, continental | North America Prosciutto/Parma ham |
| UK Joint of meat | North America Any large cut, like roast beef or leg of lamb |
| UK Minced meat | North America Ground meat |
| UK Neck, best end, scrag end, middle and mutton breast | North America Use stewing meat |
| UK Pork fillet | North America Pork tenderloin |
| UK Pork, joint loin of | North America Loin of pork, bone in |
| UK Poussin | North America Small chicekn (8-12 oz) |
| UK Prawns | North America Shrimp |
| UK Topside | North America Top or bottom round |
| UK Veal knuckle | North America Veal shanks |
Fruits and Vegetables Terminology
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Aubergine | North America Eggplant |
| UK Beetroot | North America Beet |
| UK Calabrese | North America A variety of broccoli |
| UK Celeraic | North America Edible celery root |
| UK Conference pears | North America Use bosh |
| UK Courgette | North America Very small, delicate zucchini |
| UK Mangetout | North America Snow pea |
| UK Marrow | North America Large zucchini or summer squash |
| UK Onion, button | North America Pearl onion |
| UK Onion, spring | North America Scallions or green onions |
| UK Pulse beans | North America Dried beans |
| UK Swede | North America Rutabaga |
| UK Sultanas | North America Use golden raisins |
| UK Tomato puree | North America Tomato paste |
Dairy Terminology
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Cheese, Lancashire | North America Use mild cheddar |
| UK Cream, double or pouring | North America Heavy cream |
| UK Cream, single | North America Light cream / half and half |
| UK Cream, soured | North America Sour cream |
| UK Cream cheese, rich or full fat | North America Use regular cream cheese |
| UK Milk, sterilized | North America Ultra-pasteurized milk |
| UK Milk, top of the | North America Use half and half |
| UK Yogurt, plain or natural | North America Plain yogurt |
Sugars and Sweeteners Terminology
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Caster sugar | North America Use superfine or bar sugar |
| UK Clear honey | North America Regular honey |
| UK Demerara sugar | North America Use dark brown sugar |
| UK Golden Gran. | North America Sugar in the Raw (brand) |
| UK Golden syrup | North America Use dark corn syrup |
| UK Icing sugar | North America Confectioners sugar |
| UK Jam sugar | North America Granulated sugar |
| UK Molasses sugar | North America Use Sucanat (brand) |
| UK Muscovado sugar | North America Use dark brown sugar |
| UK Soft dark brown sugar | North America Same |
| UK Sugar, unspecified | North America Granulated sugar |
| UK Treacle | North America Use molasses but a little less than called for |
| UK Vanilla sugar | North America Empty box of superfine sugar into an airtight container. Add 1 vanilla bean, split down the middle OR 1 tsp vanilla extract for each 2 oz of sugar. |
Flours and Baking Terminology
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Bulgar wheat / cracked wheat | North America No substitute |
| UK Corn flour | North America Cornstarch |
| UK Flour, unspecified | North America All purpose flour |
| UK Granary flour | North America Stoneground wholewheat flour, coarse ground |
| UK Plain flour | North America All purpose |
| UK Self-rising flour | North America Cake flour or self-rising flour |
| UK Strong plain flour | North America All purpose |
| UK Whole meal flour | North America Wholewheat flour |
Miscellaneous Ingredients
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Brown bread | North America Wheat bread |
| UK Digestive biscuits | North America Use graham crackers |
| UK Essence | North America Extract |
| UK Garam masala | North America Same (mixed spices from India) |
| UK Meaux mustard | North America Dijon, with seeds |
| UK Mixed spice | North America Use pumpkin pie spices |
| UK Pudding rice | North America Short grain white rice |
| UK Tagliatelle | North America Egg pasts, similar to fettucini |
| UK Vinegar, distilled | North America White distilled vinegar |
| UK Vinegar, malt | North America No substitute |
| UK White vegetable fat | North America Shortening |
Odds and Ends
| UK | North America |
|---|---|
| UK Clear film | North America Plastic wrap |
| UK Cocktail sticks | North America Toothpicks |
| UK Paper, kitchen | North America Paper towels |
| UK Paper, greaseproof or silicone | North America Parchment paper or non-stick paper |