Tablespoons
Abbreviation/Symbol:
tbsp
Unit of:
Worldwide use:
Tablespoons are a commonly used unit of measurement worldwide, particularly in cooking and baking widely used in recipes and culinary traditions across the globe. In many countries, recipes will often call for ingredients to be measured in tablespoons rather than in grams or milliliters, making it a convenient and familiar unit for home cooks and professional chefs alike.
Definition:
A US tablespoon is equivalent to 1/16 of a US cup, or approximately 14.79 milliliters.
The UK tablespoon is equivalent to 15 milliliters.
In the metric system, a tablespoon is equal to 15 milliliters, similar to the UK tablespoon.
Origin:
The origin of the tablespoon as a unit of measurement can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In these early societies, spoons were commonly used for both eating and measuring ingredients in cooking and medicine. The size of a tablespoon varied depending on the region and time period, but it generally referred to a larger spoon that could hold a significant amount of liquid or solid material.
The modern tablespoon as a standardized unit of measurement is believed to have originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was commonly used in apothecaries and kitchens to ensure accurate measurements of ingredients for recipes and medicinal concoctions.
Usage context:
Tablespoons are a commonly used unit of measurement in cooking and baking. They are often used to measure ingredients such as spices, liquids, and condiments. In recipes, you may see instructions like "add 2 tablespoons of olive oil" or "stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar." Tablespoons are larger than teaspoons but smaller than cups, making them a versatile tool for precise measurements in the kitchen.
Tablespoons:
There is more than one type of tablspoon:
One US tablespoon is equivalent to approximately 14.8ml: US tablespoon
One UK tablespoon is equivalent to approximately 15ml: UK tablespoon