# Recipe help: Conversions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-help-conversions/606907 "2011-12-21T00:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-help-conversions/606907/1 "2011-12-21T00:58:28Z")
I’ve got a recipe here in various kinds of measurements and I’m feeling too exhausted to figure out how to convert them. I was hoping someone might have some handy guidelines, because several of the conversions are between measures of weight and volume. So, I’d be very obliged to anyone who could help with these – 1 cup of rolled oats (volume) - what is it in ounces (weight)? 1 cup of slivered almonds (volume) - what is it in ounces (weight)? (throw in a twist here - I’m using sliced instead of slivered, if that makes a huge difference) 1 cup of whole cashews (volume) - what is it in ounces (weight)? 1 cup of dark brown sugar (volume) - what is it in ounces (weight)? 1 cup of raisins (volume) - what is it in ounces (weight)? Thanks! ---
**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:** [December 21, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-help-conversions/606907/2 "2011-12-21T01:47:52Z")
Wow, all those are normally measured by volume in recipes (here in the US, I’ve heard it can be different around the world). I have no idea what the conversions are, but you usually buy them by the pound. If I had to figure it out I’d buy 1 lb. packages and check their volume. And of course packing makes a differences. Recipes may specify something like tightly packed brown sugar. Now Brown Sugar seems to weigh only a little more than water, so a little over 8 ounces weight per cup packed. The nuts are probably around the same density, but packing is a much bigger factor. I recall raisins floating, but probably because they have air in them. Tightly packed their probably around the density of water also, 8 ounces per cup. Oats are going to be a lot lighter I think, no idea how much. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-help-conversions/606907/3 "2011-12-21T02:01:36Z")
Google is your friend! > **[Convert Recipe Volumes to Recipe Weights](https://www.calculateme.com/recipe/recipe-volume-to-weight-conversion)** > > Most recipes in the United Kingdom and elsewhere measure food by weight. In the United States, recipes typically measure food by volume. This calculator will help you convert from recipe volume to recipe weight. Didn’t have raisins, but you can wing it. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-help-conversions/606907/4 "2011-12-21T02:35:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Wow, all those are normally measured by volume in recipes (here in the US, I’ve heard it can be different around the world). Yeah, the recipe is in volume. My packaging is in weight. I want to see if I have the proportions generally correct before I open anything.