Heirloom Weights & Measures Conversion Chart

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Heirloom Weights & Measures Conversion Chart

Need help figuring out weights and measures in Grandma's heirloom recipes? This chart will help you understand those oftimes cryptic instructions.

Measurements>BR> 1 wineglass = 1/4 cup
1 gill = 1/2 cup
1 teacup = a scant 3/4 cup
1 coffeecup = a scant cup
1 tumbler = 1 cup
1 pint = 2 cup
1 quart = 4 cup
1 peck = 2 gallons - dry
1 pinch or dash = what can be picked up between thumb and first two fingers; less than 1/8 teaspoon
1/2 pinch = what can be picked up between thumb and one finger
1 saltspoon = 1/4 teaspoon
1 kitchen spoon = 1 teaspoon
1 dessert spoon = 2 teaspoons or 1 soupspoon
1 spoonful = 1 Tablespoon more or less
1 saucer = 1 heaping cup (about)

Temperatures
Very slow oven = below 300 degrees F.
Slow oven = 300 degrees F.
Moderately slow oven = 325 degrees F.
Moderate oven = 350 degrees F.
Moderately hot oven = 375 degrees F.
Quick oven = 375 - 400 degrees F.
Very hot oven = 450-475 degrees F.
Extremely hot oven = 500 degrees F. or more

Common Weights
1 penny weight = 1/20 ounce
1 drachm = 1/8 ounce
60 drops thick fluid = 1 teaspoon or 4 Tablespoons cloves or prepared mustard or 3 1/2 Tablespoons nutmeg or pepper or 3 Tablespoons sage, cream of tartar or cornstarch or 2 Tablespoons salt or any liquid
1 pound = 2 cups liquid
or 4 cups flour
or 8 med size eggs with shells
or 10 eggs without shells
or 2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar or
packed brown sugar
or 4 cups grated cabbage, cranberries, coffee or chopped celery
or 3 cups corn meal
or 2 cups uncooked rice
or 2-3/4 cups raisins or dried currants
Butter the size of a egg = 1/4 cup or 2 ounces
Butter the size of a walnut = 1 Tablespoon
Butter the size of a hazelnut = 1 teaspoon


-- Marie (prettyhollow@yahoo.com), February 11, 2002

Answers

Thanks Marie! This info. looks like it could come in handy.

-- Jo in Pa (Farmerjo02@yahoo.com), February 11, 2002.

My Grandparents good-naturedly argued about which was bigger - a tad or a didge. But, alas! they weren't listed.

-- carol (kanogisdi@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.

Are your grandparents referring to "smidge" instead of "didge". If so a "smidge" is a "mite more than a tad". A "tad" equals a "bit". A "bit" equals tinest amount. "Dab" equals a very small amount.

-- Marie (prettyhollow@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.

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