# How do I measure out 12 oz of pasta? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059 "2004-03-29T10:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/1 "2004-03-29T10:41:00Z")
In this case, it’s angel hair, for a recipie I want to try, from a bag that’s larger than 12 oz. Is it best to buy an appropriate kitchen tool, or is there another way to do it that can skip that? ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/2 "2004-03-29T12:54:19Z")
Like a scale? An invaluable tool in the kitchen, as I bake a lot. Is it a one pound bag? If so, fan out the contents on the countertop and separate into halves, then half one of the halves. There you go. Got any canned goods that weigh 12 ounces, make sure it doesn’t say 12 fluid ounces[that’s a volume, not a weight, measurement] Grab a handful of pasta in one hand, and the can in the other and guess-timate. It’s not too critical with pasta to be a bit off the mark. Hell, double the recipe and use the whole bag. Leftovers are great. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/3 "2004-03-29T22:51:36Z")
Careful! Does the recipe call for 12 ounces of **fresh** pasta, or 12 ounces of **dry** pasta? 12 oz. of dry pasta is a **lot** more food than 12 oz. of fresh pasta is. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/4 "2004-03-29T23:24:06Z")
Can you estimate from the total weight of the bag? (If it’s 36 ounces, take a third?) ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/5 "2004-03-30T00:48:09Z")
Wouldn’t a one pound bag of pasta weigh 16 oz? Then doubling the recipe and using the whole bag wouldn’t work, but your half then half again would give you 8 + 4 = 12. How big is your bag. That will help us help you. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/6 "2004-03-30T01:51:51Z")
The recipie calls for dry pasta, and it’s a 48 oz bag. UNFORTUNATELY, I at some point took out an unknown amount to eat, so I’m afraid estimation based on total amount won’t do me any good. 😛 Any suggestions, or should I just go out and buy a pasta measurer? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/7 "2004-03-30T02:14:30Z")
Do you have a postage scale in the house? That’s what I use when I need to weigh something for cooking. I just get a paper plate, put it on the scale, readjust the balance to zero and place whatever I’m weighing on the plate. I have a small one, so it only measures up to 16oz, so if I need more, I just measure in batches. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-measure-out-12-oz-of-pasta/237059/8 "2004-03-30T02:39:30Z")
Or you could use a bathroom scale and round off to the nearest pound.