# Are Our American Culinary Measuring Spoons Really Not Metric? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983 "2023-10-24T01:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/1 "2023-10-24T01:06:28Z")
Search seems to show this precise question hasn’t been asked before, probably because of utter triviality, but: Are sets of culinary measuring spoons marked with United States customary units (half teaspoon, teaspoon, tablespoon) identical to metric spoon sets, sold in the rest of the world, except for labeling (2.5 ml, 5 ml, 15 ml)? Or do manufacturers actually have a different factory production line making smaller American spoons – as they should because one teaspoon equals, [per Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_customary_units), 4.92892159375 milliliters? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/2 "2023-10-24T01:15:05Z")
Measuring spoons aren’t that precise. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/3 "2023-10-24T01:17:25Z")
That’s how they’re labeled: > **[Amazon.com: Rena Chris Measuring Spoons, Premium Heavy Duty 18/8 Stainless Steel...](https://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Stainless-Tablespoon-Measurements-Ingredients/dp/B07H3QRCZD)** > > Online Shopping for Kitchen Utensils & Gadgets from a great selection at everyday low prices. Free 2-day Shipping with Amazon Prime. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/4 "2023-10-24T01:17:32Z")
If anyone in history has ever successfully measured out exactly 1/4 teaspoon of something, I’d like to meet them. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/5 "2023-10-24T01:24:15Z")
Here ya go. Accuracy to 0.01 ml I believe. > **[0.5-5 mL PuroPET Variable Volume Micropipette, Single Channel | Luna Nanotech...](https://www.lunanano.ca/product-page/0-5-5-ml-s-series-variable-volume-micropipette-single-channel?utm_term=&utm_campaign=PuroPET%2B-%2BCA&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=5536580572&hsa_cam=1349320992&hsa_grp=55271146078&hsa_ad=263367397170&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=pla-433618645382&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9tT-y8KNggMV2hqtBh2gWQ5bEAYYASABEgLxK_D_BwE)** > > PuroPET Variable Volume Micropipettes are single channel micropipettes designed and optimized for molecular biology and biomedical research. The pipettes are made from high quality materials that ensure accurate and repeatable pipetting volume... ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/6 "2023-10-24T01:25:59Z")
With a spoon, that is. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/7 "2023-10-24T01:34:29Z")
I have. It’s easy. Dip 1/4 tsp spoon into substance. Level, either with a straight edge (if a powder) or by holding level (if a liquid). Back to OP question: the many “metric” recipes I’ve seen (usually European websites) seem to prefer measuring ingredients by weight, not by volume, so “metric measuring spoons” would seem to be less important than a good (and accurate) kitchen scale. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/8 "2023-10-24T01:46:33Z")
Uh, so non-metric spoons aren’t metric? Do tell. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/9 "2023-10-24T01:55:10Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > That’s how they’re labeled: In your example, with a teaspoon dual-labeled as “1 tsp / 5 ml,” the cost of materials (in this case, stainless steel), will, I think, be about 1.4 percent less if they are trying to be accurate on the teaspoon side rather than in milliliters. Could it be that even purely metric-labeled spoons are typically targeted for U.S. units so they can save the 1.4 percent, in metal or plastic cost, worldwide? I personally would hesitate to do that, if I was the manufacturer, because my employees would know I chisled, and might feel justified to chisel me. But then, I’m no manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/10 "2023-10-24T01:58:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Measuring spoons aren’t that precise. Totally agree. For all I know, they swell by the 1.4 percent metric/American unit difference in a hot kitchen. But the manufacturer, one hopes, tries to be as accurate as is practical. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/11 "2023-10-24T02:47:09Z")
A lot of tools aren’t. I have a 15-inch crescent wrench, but unfortunately all my nuts and bolts are metric. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/12 "2023-10-24T11:58:25Z")
Thanks for making me spray my morning coffee out my nose! ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/13 "2023-10-24T12:09:04Z")
When I am cooking to a recipe, and see “teaspoon” as a measure, I take that as being approximate and use a teaspoon from the cutlery drawer. If it says 5 grams, I reach for the measuring spoons. Recipes are not (generally) science projects and there are many variables that the author has no control over. The accuracy of your oven, the temperature in your kitchen and your own level of skill. And, yes, my European recipes list ingredients by weight, not volume. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/14 "2023-10-24T13:10:12Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Back to OP question: the many “metric” recipes I’ve seen (usually European websites) seem to prefer measuring ingredients by weight, not by volume, so “metric measuring spoons” would seem to be less important than a good (and accurate) kitchen scale. But generally not for teaspoon and smaller measurements, or pinches, because kitchen scales don’t seem to be precise enough for weights under a gram, and that can be a big difference in some recipes. [https://youtu.be/04ID\_Qdm1Q8?si=\_zFMJF6OL3gpXpUK](https://youtu.be/04ID_Qdm1Q8?si=_zFMJF6OL3gpXpUK) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/15 "2023-10-24T13:26:06Z")
Yeah, I’ve been looking for a metric crescent wrench forever. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/16 "2023-10-24T13:59:22Z")
German recipes that use spoons as a measure use _Teelöffel_ (teaspoons), and _Esslöffel_ (table spoons). With granular substances such as sugar often the recipe specifies _gestrichen_ (leveled, i.e. quantity above the spoon’s edge taken off) or _gehäuft_ (heaped, i.e. as much as will stay on the spoon). When not specified usually _gehäuft_ is implied. German cooks do not use specific measuring spoons but any teaspoon or tablespoon from the cutlery drawer that comes to hand. It is understood that quantities specified in spoonfuls are very imprecise and only given as guidance; with historic recipes it needs to be taken into account that modern spoons are shallower. When precision is needed (e.g. in baking) volume (for fluids) or mass (for other ingrediants) are specified. Other intentionally vague German culinary units are _Prise_ (pinch) and _Messerspitze_ (knife tip) ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/17 "2023-10-24T14:02:43Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > When I am cooking to a recipe, and see “teaspoon” as a measure, I take that as being approximate and use a teaspoon from the cutlery drawer. I have three different sets of flatware and all three have teaspoons and tablespoons that differ vastly in size. I would never use one of them to measure salt, baking soda, etc. for a baking recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/18 "2023-10-24T14:26:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yeah, I’ve been looking for a metric crescent wrench forever. Well, here ya go! [https://www.newegg.ca/p/308-003P-008Z6](https://www.newegg.ca/p/308-003P-008Z6) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/19 "2023-10-24T14:33:46Z")
I spend a good amount of time in the kitchen, as does my gf. I pretty much _never_ use a measuring spoon, while my gf ends up with a sink full of used measuring spoons. Both of our meals come out tasting delicious. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983/20 "2023-10-24T15:06:34Z")
I wouldn’t for baking either - but if I’m cooking ( as opposed to baking) the measurements don’t need to be as precise. If the “teaspoon” of oregano I use in the salad dressing is slightly more or less, it doesn’t really matter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-american-culinary-measuring-spoons-really-not-metric/991983.md?page=2)