Cooking Guide: Weights, Measures, Temperatures and Times

We bring you a handy cooking guide that will give you a clear understanding of the weights, measurements, temperatures and timings used in all the articles on our blog.

 

1. Weights

 

Weights are given in grams or kilograms (kg.) with the corresponding figure of ounces (oz.) or pounds (lb.) indicated in brackets.

In the bulk of the recipes, the weight in grams is rounded off to the nearest multiple of 25 grams for convenience and ease in weighing.

Where, however, weighing must necessarily be done accurately e.g. for cakes, pastries, biscuits, icings, etc., the rounding off to grams has been done to the nearest multiple of 5 grams according to the following conversion table:

 

Oz.	Exact conversion in grams (rounded off)	Corresponding grams rounded off to the multiple of 5 as given in the recipes
½	14	15
1	28	25
1 ½	42	40
1 ¾	50	50
2	57	55
2 ½	71	70
3	85	85
3 ½	99	100
4	113	115
4 ½	127	125
5	142	140
6	170	170
7	198	200
8	227	225
9	255	255
10	284	285
11	312	310
12	340	340

 

For ingredients available in cans or packets, the net weights of the ingredients in grams have been indicated in brackets as a guide.

In most cases, it will not matter if a can or packet of slightly different weight is used. The exceptions are condensed milk and gelatine; and in the latter case, the use of strong gelatine (e.g. of any standard international make) is recommended.

 

2. Measures

Where actual volumetric measurement has to be done, the measures are given in millimetres (ml.) or litres with the corresponding figure of imperial fluid ounces (fl.oz.) or pints in brackets.

The approximate conversion rate of 30 ml. = 1 fl.oz. has been used.

Other measures used are:

a. Teacup

Measures full to the brim. The average Indian teacup is about 210 ml. (7 fl.oz.) and corresponding adjustments should be made if using larger size teacups.

 

b. Teaspoon

For liquids, measure full to the brim. For solids, use a heaped spoon unless the recipe specifically states level spoon. The volumetric content is about 5 ml. (⅙ fl.oz.)

 

c. Tablespoon

Measure as for teaspoon. The volumetric content is about 15 ml. (½ fl.oz.) or approximately equal to 3 teaspoons.

 

2. Temperatures

 

The recipes state whether the oven should be slow, moderate/medium, hot or very hot and give the indicative temperature in degrees Celcius or Fahrenheit as a guide.

The actual instructions of the oven manufacturer should be referred to for further guidance and adjustments made according to experience and results, where necessary.

 

Oven	°F	°C	Gas Mark
Slow	250-300	121-149	½, 1, 2
Moderate/Medium	325-375	163-190	3, 4
Hot	400-450	204-233	5, 6, 7
Very Hot	475-500	246-260	8, 9

 

3. Times

The preparation and cooking times stated against individual recipes are merely indicative and are given purely by way of guidance for meal planning. Actual timings will certainly vary from individual to individual.

The time for cutting vegetables, etc., is included in the preparation time but the times for soaking, freezing, etc., as also the times for preparing ingredients in the form of recipes (e.g. cake mixture, pastry, etc.) has not been included.