Grams to Teaspoons
Weight vs. Volume: The Baker's Dilemma
Converting Grams to Teaspoons is not as simple as converting Inches to Centimeters. You are converting Mass (Weight) into Volume (Space).
To do this, you need a hidden variable: Density.
Imagine a teaspoon of lead and a teaspoon of feathers. They take up the same space (1 tsp), but the lead weighs significantly more. In the kitchen, this happens with ingredients like Salt vs. Flour.
The "Spoon" Cheat Sheet
Here are the densities used in our calculator. These are averages, as brands can vary slightly.
| Ingredient | 1 Teaspoon Weighs | 1 Tablespoon (3 tsp) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 5 g | 15 g |
| Table Salt | 6 g | 18 g |
| White Sugar | 4.2 g | 12.6 g |
| Baking Powder | 4.8 g | 14.4 g |
| Flour (All Purpose) | 2.6 g | 7.8 g |
| Dry Yeast | 3.1 g | 9.3 g |
Not all salts weigh the same. Table Salt is very dense (6g/tsp). Kosher Salt has large flakes and lots of air gaps (3-4g/tsp). If a recipe calls for 10g of salt and you use 2 tsp of Table Salt, it will be perfect. If you use 2 tsp of Kosher Salt, it will be under-salted.
US Teaspoon vs. Metric Teaspoon
Even the spoon itself changes depending on where you live.
- Metric Teaspoon: Exactly 5 ml. Used in the UK, Canada, Australia.
- US Teaspoon: Approximately 4.93 ml.
For small amounts (1-2 tsp), this difference is negligible. But if you are scaling up a recipe to 50 teaspoons, the difference adds up. Our calculator uses the practical average of 5g per tsp of water which works for 99% of kitchen scenarios.
Why Flour is the Hardest to Convert
Flour is compressible. If you scoop flour directly from the bag, you pack it down, making it heavy. If you sift it first, it becomes airy and light.
A teaspoon of packed flour can weigh 3.5g, while a teaspoon of sifted flour weighs 2.0g. This is why professional bakers always use a scale (Grams) instead of cups or spoons.
Liquid Ingredients (Wet vs Dry)
Some ingredients like Honey and Molasses are very dense and sticky.
- Honey: 7g per tsp (Heavier than water).
- Oil: 4.4g per tsp (Lighter than water).
Remember that "Fluid Ounces" measure volume, but "Ounces" measure weight. 1 fluid ounce of honey weighs roughly 1.5 ounces!