International Recipe Conversions
A recipe from a UK food blog, an Australian cooking show, or a French pastry school uses different measurement systems — and they are not interchangeable. A UK tablespoon is 20% larger than a US tablespoon. An Australian cup is 250 mL; a US cup is 237 mL. UK “strong flour” is US “bread flour.” This guide covers every country-specific difference you will encounter when working with international recipes.
The Hidden Problem: Cup and Spoon Sizes Vary by Country
The biggest source of international recipe errors is the assumption that cups and tablespoons are universal. They are not. A recipe from Australia calling for 1 tablespoon of baking powder specifies 20 mL; using a US tablespoon (14.79 mL) delivers 26% less leavening. In bread and pastry, that difference is the gap between success and failure.
Pro Tip: Always Convert to Grams
The safest way to work with international recipes is to convert all measurements to grams and milliliters. Grams are identical worldwide — there is no “UK gram” vs “US gram.”
Cup & Spoon Sizes by Country
| Country | Teaspoon | Tablespoon | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 4.93 mL | 14.79 mL | 236.6 mL |
| United Kingdom | 5.92 mL | 17.76 mL | 284 mL (½ pint) |
| Australia | 5 mL | 20 mL | 250 mL |
| Canada | 5 mL | 15 mL | 250 mL |
| New Zealand | 5 mL | 15 mL | 250 mL |
| Europe (metric) | 5 mL | 15 mL | — (uses mL/g) |
Tablespoon Cross-Country Conversion
| Amount | Equivalent | In mL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 US tbsp | 0.83 UK tbsp / 0.74 AU tbsp | 14.79 mL |
| 2 US tbsp | 1.66 UK tbsp / 1.48 AU tbsp | 29.57 mL |
| 3 US tbsp | 2.5 UK tbsp / 2.22 AU tbsp | 44.36 mL |
| 1 UK tbsp | 1.20 US tbsp / 0.89 AU tbsp | 17.76 mL |
| 1 AU tbsp | 1.13 UK tbsp / — | 20 mL |
UK vs US Ingredient Name Reference
| UK Name | US Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Plain flour | All-purpose flour | 10–12% |
| Strong bread flour | Bread flour | 12–14% |
| Self-raising flour | Self-rising flour | 8–10% + leavening |
| Wholemeal flour | Whole wheat flour | 13–14% |
| Cornflour | Cornstarch | ~0% (starch) |
| Caster sugar | Superfine / baker's sugar | — |
| Icing sugar | Powdered / confectioner's sugar | — |
| Demerara sugar | Raw / turbinado sugar | — |
| Single cream | Light cream (18–30% fat) | — |
| Double cream | Heavy whipping cream (36%+ fat) | — |