- Tablespoon
A tablespoon is a type of
spoon used for serving.Measure of volume
It is also a measure of
volume used in cooking. It has various values around the world. It is abbreviated in English as T., tbs. or tbsp., and in German and Dutch as EL (from "Esslöffel" and "Eetlepel").Canada ,Japan ,New Zealand , theUK and the United States21 CFR [http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/aprqtr/21cfr101.9.htm 101.9(b)(5)(viii)] ] define::1 tablespoon = 15 mL,
in line with the definition used in many other countries. In
Australia , one tablespoon = 20 mL.When used for solids, such as granulated sugar, it should be measured to the flattened level of the spoon — "level spoonful" versus a "heaping spoonful" or "heaped tablespoon", which is as much as can be held in the spoon, or a "rounded spoonful", which is twice a level spoonful, the solids above the level roughly mirroring those in the bowl.
Relationship to teaspoon
In most jurisdictions, one tablespoon equals three
teaspoon s. In Australia, however, one tablespoon is four teaspoons.In Asia a tablespoon is equivalent to 2 teaspoons
Traditional definitions
The traditional U.S. interpretation of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is:Mechtly, E. A: The International System of units. NASA-SP=7012, 1964, 1973 [http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19730018242_1973018242.pdf] ]
::1 U.S. tablespoon = ½ U.S. fl. oz. (approx. 14.787 mL)::1 U.S. tablespoon = 1/16
Cup This is considered problematic in the context of nutrition labeling, where metric units are used even in the United States. However, this consideration does not lessen the factual relationship of a tablespoon to half of a fluid ounce, and tablespoons can be used to measure ingredients when other measuring devices are unavailable. For instance, 16 tablespoons is equivalent to one cup.
ee also
Teaspoon , also used to define quantities in recipesReferences
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