# Translating weight measure of dried beans to volume measure **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480 "2005-04-03T02:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/1 "2005-04-03T02:57:56Z")
I want to try a chili recipe that calls for “six ounces” each of several kinds of dried beans. I have no kitchen scale, only measuring cups. What’s the volume in cups of six ounces of dried beans? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/2 "2005-04-03T03:13:01Z")
My kitchen scale and cup measure tells me that 6 ounces of kidney or garbanzo beans each take up about 3/4 of a cup in volume. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/3 "2005-04-03T13:20:58Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > My kitchen scale and cup measure tells me that 6 ounces of kidney or garbanzo beans each take up about 3/4 of a cup in volume. Thanx! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/4 "2005-04-03T16:16:28Z")
Aternatively, you could use my method and dump somewhat less than half the one-pound bag in there. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/5 "2005-04-03T16:38:36Z")
Keyword: displacement. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/6 "2005-04-03T17:04:39Z")
Depending on the size of the beans, 6 oz is going to be different volumes. Lima beans, for example, aren’t going to pack like lentils. Not that it will help you right now, but it’s worth it to have a kitchen scale. They’re not expensive, and once you get the hang of using them you’ll never want to measure by volume again. It’s not only more accurate to measure by weight, it’s easier - just use one bowl, throw the first ingredient in, reset the scale, throw the second ingredient in, etc. Fewer dirty dishes, faster, and more accurate! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/7 "2005-04-03T17:07:13Z")
Geez, it’s chili, not fine pastry! Throw two handfuls of dried beans in there and simmer! For fine pastry - get a scale. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-weight-measure-of-dried-beans-to-volume-measure/297480/9 "2017-05-23T08:56:49Z")
Man, those beans must really be dry by now.