Convert European centiliters to milliliters easily.
1 cl x 10 = 10 ml
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Ever found yourself mid-recipe, staring at "cl" in the ingredients list and wondering how that translates to milliliters? You’re not alone. While centiliters are second nature in European kitchens, they can trip up cooks elsewhere. The good news? Converting cl to ml is simpler than folding egg whites into batter. Let’s break it down so you can get back to creating culinary magic.
Unit definitions
What is a centiliter (cl)?
A centiliter is a metric unit of volume equal to one hundredth of a liter. Symbol: cl. Commonly used in Europe for measuring liquids like wine, spirits, and recipe ingredients. Definition: 1 cl = 0.01 liters = 10 milliliters.
What is a milliliter (ml)?
A milliliter is a metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter. Symbol: ml. Used globally for small liquid measurements in cooking, medicine, and science. Definition: 1 ml = 0.001 liters = 0.1 centiliters.
Conversion formula
The conversion couldn’t be simpler:
1 centiliter (cl) = 10 milliliters (ml)
To convert cl to ml, multiply by 10. For ml to cl, divide by 10.
Example calculations
- Converting 25 cl to ml:
25 cl × 10 = 250 ml
(Pretty handy for that 25 cl wine bottle that’s actually 250 ml) - Converting 5 cl to ml:
5 cl × 10 = 50 ml
(Perfect for measuring vanilla extract without overdosing your cake)
Conversion tables
Centiliters to milliliters
| Centiliters (cl) | Milliliters (ml) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 20 |
| 3 | 30 |
| 4 | 40 |
| 5 | 50 |
| 6 | 60 |
| 7 | 70 |
| 8 | 80 |
| 9 | 90 |
| 10 | 100 |
Milliliters to centiliters
| Milliliters (ml) | Centiliters (cl) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 1 |
| 20 | 2 |
| 30 | 3 |
| 40 | 4 |
| 50 | 5 |
| 60 | 6 |
| 70 | 7 |
| 80 | 8 |
| 90 | 9 |
| 100 | 10 |
From revolution to resolution: A brief history of liquid measurements
The metric system’s origins trace back to 18th-century France, born from the chaos of revolution. While milliliters became the global standard for precise mesurement, centiliters found particular favor in European kitchens and bars. This preference isn’t arbitrary—using cl for beverage measurements creates cleaner numbers (a 75 cl wine bottle sounds better than 750 ml, doesn’t it?). Meanwhile, milliliters dominated medical and scientific fields due to their finer granularity.
Interesting facts
- Cocktail connection: Many professional bartenders prefer centiliters for mixing drinks—it’s why your cocktail recipe might call for "4 cl vodka" instead of 40 ml.
- The 10x factor: The cl-to-ml conversion is the easiest in the metric system, making it perfect for quick mental math while cooking.
- Label lingo: Next time you’re in Europe, check alcohol bottles. You’ll often see "cl" rather than "ml" for wines and spirits.
- Prefix power: "Centi-" means hundredth, while "milli-" means thousandth. This explains why 1 liter = 100 cl = 1000 ml.
- Global oddity: Some countries like Sweden list both units on products, while UK labels often use ml exclusively despite being metric.
FAQ
Centiliters represent 1/100th of a liter, while milliliters are 1/1000th. This means 1 cl equals 10 ml. The main difference is their scale within the metric system.
Centiliters are more common in Europe for measuring beverages like wine or spirits. It’s a cultural preference rooted in historical metric system adoption.
Just multiply the centiliter value by 10. For example, 5 cl becomes 50 ml. It’s one of the simplest conversions in the metric system.
Absolutely. Since 1 cl equals 10 ml, substituting them won’t affect measurements. Just ensure you adjust quantities correctly (e.g., 2 cl becomes 20 ml).
Some European measuring cups and jiggers for cocktails feature centiliter markings. Most digital scales allow switching between cl and ml for precision.