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In Australia, a tablespoon is equivalent to four teaspoons. This is in contrast to the US, UK, and New Zealand, where a tablespoon holds three teaspoons. The difference arises because an Australian tablespoon measures 20ml, while in the US, UK, and New Zealand, a tablespoon is 15ml.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of teaspoons in a tablespoon in Australia | 4 |
| Number of teaspoons in a tablespoon in the US, UK and New Zealand | 3 |
| Australian tablespoon in milliliters | 20 ml |
| US, UK and New Zealand tablespoon in milliliters | 15 ml |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's tablespoon measurement
In Australia, a tablespoon is defined as 20 millilitres or 4 teaspoons. This is in contrast to the US, UK, and New Zealand, where a tablespoon is 15 millilitres or 3 teaspoons.
The difference between the Australian tablespoon and those of other countries can be confusing, especially when following recipes. Australian recipes are usually written using the 20-millilitre tablespoon, but it's common to find 15-millilitre tablespoons sold in local kitchenware stores. This discrepancy can cause imbalances in baking when measuring concentrated ingredients such as baking powder or yeast. Therefore, it's important to check the size of your measuring spoon and adjust the quantities if necessary.
The abbreviation for tablespoon is 'tbsp', 'tbsp', 'tbs', or 'T', with the capital 'T' representing the larger measurement. Meanwhile, the abbreviation for teaspoon is typically 'tsp' or 't', and it is usually not capitalised to show it is a smaller unit.
It is worth noting that a dessert spoon, a unit of volume used in the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, holds 10 millilitres. This is between the sizes of a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
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Teaspoon abbreviation
A teaspoon, abbreviated as "tsp.", is a unit of measurement (volume) typically used in cooking and baking. A tablespoon, abbreviated as "tbsp." or "tbs.", is also a unit of volume used in cooking and baking. One tablespoon equals three teaspoons. However, the measurements vary in different parts of the world.
In Australia, a standard tablespoon holds 20ml or 4 teaspoons. In the US, UK, and New Zealand, a tablespoon holds 15ml or 3 teaspoons. This is also the standard metric system measurement for a tablespoon. While Australia uses the metric system, its tablespoon measurement differs.
It is important to note that the abbreviations "tsp." and "tbsp." for teaspoon and tablespoon, respectively, can be confusing due to their similarity. As such, some recipe writers prefer to spell out the full words instead of using abbreviations.
These units of volume are particularly useful for measuring smaller amounts of ingredients, such as spices, oils, extracts, and liquids, that would be impractical to weigh on a scale or measure in cups.
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Metric system
The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement that uses the metre, litre, and gram as its basic units. It is used around the world as a standardised system of measurement, with most countries having adopted it as their primary system of measurement. The metric system is also known as the International System of Units (SI).
The metric system provides a standardised way of measuring various quantities, including length, mass, capacity, and temperature. It is based on a decimal system, which means that each unit is divided into ten equal parts. For example, one metre is divided into 100 centimetres, and one litre is divided into 1000 millilitres. This makes it easy to convert between different units within the system.
When it comes to measurements in the kitchen, the metric system is often used to measure ingredients, with quantities specified in grams, millilitres, or litres. This is particularly useful for baking, where precise measurements are important for achieving the desired results.
In Australia, the metric system is used, and the official definition of a tablespoon as a unit of volume is unique. The Australian metric tablespoon is defined as 20 millilitres or 4 teaspoons. This is different from the international metric tablespoon, which is defined as exactly 15 millilitres or 3 teaspoons. The Australian metric tablespoon was established in the 1970s during the country's metrication process.
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Imperial system
The imperial system, also known as the British Imperial System, is a traditional system of weights and measures that was used officially in Great Britain from 1824 until the adoption of the metric system in 1965. The Weights and Measures Act of 1824 and the Act of 1878 established the British Imperial System, which included units commonly used in Britain such as inches, pounds, gallons, and tons. The imperial system is used to measure length, weight, distance, height, and volume.
The imperial system evolved from the thousands of Roman, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and customary local units employed in the Middle Ages. Traditional names such as pound, foot, and gallon were widely used, but the values designated to these units varied over time and across different trades and products. Early attempts to standardise measurements included the establishment of royal standards, which took the name Winchester, after the ancient capital of Britain.
The new imperial gallon was defined in 1826, replacing the various wine, ale, and corn gallons previously in use. The imperial gallon was defined as equal in volume to 10 pounds avoirdupois of distilled water weighed at 62 °F with the barometer at 30 inches, or 277.274 cubic inches (later corrected to 277.421 cubic inches). The imperial gallon is about 17% larger than the US gallon, which is based on the Queen Anne wine gallon.
While the UK has transitioned to the metric system for many applications, imperial units remain in widespread use among the public. Imperial units are still used in the UK for road signage, with height and width restrictions given in both metric and imperial units. Traders may also accept requests from customers specified in imperial units, and scales that display both unit systems are commonplace in retail. Government documents aimed at the public may give body weight and height in imperial units as well as in metric. A survey in 2015 found that many people did not know their body weight or height in both systems. As of 2017, people under 40 preferred the metric system, while those aged 40 and over preferred the imperial system.
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Converting measurements
In the imperial system, one tablespoon equals 0.5 fluid ounces (or 14.79 millilitres). In the metric system, a tablespoon equals 15 millilitres. However, there are variations depending on the country. For example, in Australia, a tablespoon is 20 millilitres or four teaspoons. In the US, UK, and New Zealand, a tablespoon is 15 millilitres or three teaspoons.
It's important to note that the abbreviations for teaspoon and tablespoon are often not capitalised, with 'tsp' and 'tbsp' being commonly used. When writing recipes, it's best to spell out these measurements to avoid confusion.
Converting between different measurement systems can be straightforward. For instance, to convert teaspoons to millilitres, multiply the number of teaspoons by five. Similarly, to convert tablespoons to millilitres, multiply the number of tablespoons by 15.
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Frequently asked questions
In Australia, one tablespoon equals four teaspoons.
An Australian tablespoon contains 20 millilitres.
An Australian teaspoon contains 5 millilitres.
