Convert EU tablespoons to US tablespoons easily.
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Imagine you’re baking a French cake using a recipe from your favorite European food blog. The instructions call for 3 tablespoons of vanilla extract. You grab your trusty American measuring spoon, but wait. Did you know that European tablespoons hold slightly more liquid than US ones? That tiny difference could turn your delicate dessert into a kitchen disaster. Let’s explore why these spoons vary and how to convert them seamlessly.
Unit definitions
What is a EU tablespoon (tbsp)?
- Description: Standard measuring unit in European cooking
- Symbol: tbsp or T
- Common uses: Recipes, nutrition labels, pharmaceuticals
- Definition: 1 EU tablespoon = 15 milliliters (exactly)
What is a US tablespoon (tbsp)?
- Description: Common volume measure in American kitchens
- Symbol: tbsp or T
- Common uses: Baking, cocktail mixing, medication dosing
- Definition: 1 US tablespoon ≈ 14.79 milliliters (exactly 14.7868 ml)
Conversion formula
To convert EU tablespoons to US tablespoons:
US tbsp = EU tbsp × 0.986
For reverse conversions:
EU tbsp = US tbsp ÷ 0.986 (or × 1.0142)
Example calculations
- Converting 5 EU tablespoons to US:
5 EU tbsp × 0.986 = 4.93 US tbsp
- Converting 12 US tablespoons to EU:
12 US tbsp × 1.0142 ≈ 12.17 EU tbsp
Conversion tables
EU tablespoons to US tablespoons
| EU tbsp | US tbsp |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.99 |
| 2 | 1.97 |
| 3 | 2.96 |
| 4 | 3.94 |
| 5 | 4.93 |
| 6 | 5.92 |
| 7 | 6.90 |
| 8 | 7.89 |
| 9 | 8.87 |
| 10 | 9.86 |
US tablespoons to EU tablespoons
| US tbsp | EU tbsp |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.01 |
| 2 | 2.03 |
| 3 | 3.04 |
| 4 | 4.06 |
| 5 | 5.07 |
| 6 | 6.09 |
| 7 | 7.10 |
| 8 | 8.11 |
| 9 | 9.13 |
| 10 | 10.14 |
A brief history of tablespoon measurements
Tablespoons as measurement tools date back to medieval Europe, where people used actual eating spoons for portioning ingredients. The problem? Spoon sizes varied wildly between regions. In 18th century France, chefs began standardizing measures to improve recipe consistency, a practice that spread across Europe. The metric system’s adoption in the 1900s solidified the 15ml EU tablespoon.
The US took a different path. When the country developed its customary units, it based the tablespoon on older English wine gallons. This created the 14.79ml standard still used today. Interestingly, some American cookbooks from the 1920s actually rounded tablespoons to 15ml for simplicity, creating temporary alignment with Europe. But by the 1950s, precise nutritional labeling pushed the US back to its original definition.
Interesting facts
- The difference between EU and US tablespoons (0.21ml) equals about 4 drops of water. Small, but enough to affect delicate recipes.
- Australian tablespoons are 20ml, creating a third standard that confuses international cooks.
- Pharmaceutical companies prefer EU tablespoons for consistency in liquid medications.
- In 1999, a German bakery chain recalled 50,000 croissants due to a US-EU tablespoon conversion error in their almond paste recipe.
- Modern digital scales often include both tablespoon standards, letting users choose before measuring.
FAQ
The difference comes from historical measurement systems. EU tablespoons align with metric standards (15ml), while US tablespoons (14.79ml) follow customary units.
For small quantities (1-2 tbsp), it’s usually fine. For baking or larger amounts, use precise conversions to avoid texture issues.
Multiply EU tablespoons by 0.986. For 5 EU tbsp, use 4.93 US tbsp. Our converter above does this automatically.
Many European spoons show both metric (15ml) and imperial units. Check labels for 'ml' or 'tbsp' to confirm.
Most countries standardized in the 20th century. The US kept its traditional volume, while EU nations adopted metric equivalents.