This cooking abbreviations guide covers every standard abbreviation found in recipes — from everyday measurements like tsp and tbsp to less-common shorthands found in vintage cookbooks. Search by abbreviation or full name.
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How to Use Cooking Abbreviations
Recipes use abbreviations to save space, but unclear shorthands can cause costly mistakes. Adding a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon of salt triples the amount. This cooking abbreviations guide clears up all common recipe shorthands.
Step 1: Know the Volume Hierarchy
US volume measurements from smallest to largest: tsp (teaspoon, 5ml) → tbsp (tablespoon, 15ml, = 3 tsp) → fl oz (fluid ounce, 30ml, = 2 tbsp) → c (cup, 237ml, = 8 fl oz) → pt (pint, 473ml, = 2 cups) → qt (quart, 946ml, = 2 pints) → gal (gallon, 3.8L, = 4 quarts).
Step 2: Distinguish Weight from Volume
Weight abbreviations: oz (ounce, 28.35g), lb (pound, 454g, = 16 oz), g (gram), kg (kilogram). Volume ≠ weight: 1 cup of flour weighs about 120g, but 1 cup of honey weighs about 340g. When precision matters (baking), use weight measurements.
Step 3: Watch for Capitalization Conventions
In printed recipes, T or Tbsp = tablespoon; t or tsp = teaspoon. The uppercase T vs lowercase t distinction avoids confusion, though modern recipes often spell them out. When in doubt, look at context — adding 1 T of vanilla makes sense; 1 t of flour does not.
FAQ
Is this cooking abbreviations guide free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. Search any abbreviation instantly.
What does tsp and tbsp stand for?
tsp stands for teaspoon (approximately 5ml). tbsp stands for tablespoon (approximately 15ml or 3 teaspoons). These are the most common cooking measurement abbreviations.
What is the difference between oz and fl oz?
oz (ounce) is a unit of weight — 1 oz = 28.35 grams. fl oz (fluid ounce) is a unit of volume — 1 US fl oz = 29.57 ml. Recipes use fl oz for liquids (milk, oil) and oz for dry ingredients (cheese, chocolate).
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
16 tablespoons = 1 cup. As intermediaries: 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp = 8 fl oz = 237 ml. This makes 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons and 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons.
What does pkg, env, and sm/med/lg mean in recipes?
pkg = package, env = envelope (used for yeast and dry mixes), sm = small, med = medium, lg = large. These shorthand abbreviations appear in older cookbooks and recipe cards.