Devices for Measuring Volume

286. Graduate and Measuring Cup. Graduate holding up to four fluid ounces is helpful to use to check up liquids bought in bottles. The standard measuring cup referred to in modern cook books holds half a pint of liquid. It also holds about sixteen level tablespoonfuls of dry material such as sugar. The divisions on glass cups are less likely to be accurate than on metal ones, as the bottom may be thick or thin unless carefully made. In selecting a cup, see that the bottom section is equal to the other sections.

1 cup = 2 gills = 1/2 pint = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces.

1 cup is also 1/4 of a quart and about 4/17 of a liter.

287. Tablespoons. Tablespoons vary in size. The size chosen for measuring is the one in most common use and holds about three level teaspoonfuls of material like sugar or flour.

1 tablespoon = 4 drams of liquid = 3 teaspoons.

4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup = 2 fluid ounces.

288. Teaspoons. Teaspoons vary in size, but the spoon in common use is the one understood as the measure in cookery. It holds about one and one-third fluid drams.

289. Standard Measuring Spoons. Standard measuring spoons in sets can be purchased at a very moderate price. They are particularly valuable for checking the capacity of the spoons more commonly used.

290. Liquid and Cooking Measures.

1 teaspoonful = 1-1/3 fluid drams
3 teaspoonfuls = 1 tablespoonful= 4 drams
2 tablespoonfuls = 1 fluid ounce
1/2 cup = 1 gill
2 gills = 1 cupful = 8 fluid ounces
16 tablespoonfuls = 1 cupful
2 cupfuls = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart = 4 cupfuls
4 quarts = 1 gallon
4.23 cupfuls = 1 liter
1000 cubic centimeters = 1 liter
1.06 liquid quarts = liter
31-1/2 gallons = 1 barrel
1 milliliter = one-thousandth (.001) liter
1 centiliter = one-hundredth (.01) liter
1 deciliter = one-tenth (.1) liter
Liter = 1 liter
1 dekaliter = ten (10) liters
1 hectoliter = one hundred (100) liters
1 kiloliter = 1 thousand (1000) liters

291. Dry Measures. It is wise for a housewife to have a set of dry measures, consisting of a pint, quart, gallon, peck and half-bushel measure. A quart or gallon liquid measure is not equal to the dry one. It holds less. The diameter of dry measures should be as follows:

DIAMETERS OF DRY MEASURES

*These diameters allow for proper heaping.

DRY MEASURE*

2 pints = 1 quart
8 quarts = 1 peck
4 pecks = 1 bushel
1 sack of flour = 24-1/2, 49 or 98 pounds
4 49-pound sacks of flour = 1 barrel
1 barrel of flour = usually 196 pounds
60 pounds of potatoes = usually 1 bushel

*State laws differ somewhat regarding the number of pounds
in a bushel of various fruits and vegetables.

292. Cubic, Square and Linear Measure.

CUBIC MEASURE

1728 cubic inches = 1 cubic foot

27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard

128 cubic feet = 1 cord

SQUARE MEASURE

144 square inches = 1 square foot
9 square feet = 1 square yard
30-1/4 square yards = 1 square rod
160 square rods = 1 acre
640 acres = 1 square mile

LINEAR MEASURE

12 inches = 1 foot

3 feet = 1 yard

5280 feet = 1 mile
39.27 inches = 1 meter

METRIC MEASURES

Millimeter = one-thousandth (.001) meter
Centimeter = one-hundredth (.01) meter
Decimeter = one-tenth (.1) meter
Unitemeter = 1 meter
Dekameter = ten (10) meters
Hectometer = one hundred (100) meters
Kilometer = 1 thousand (1000) meters