Teaspoon
A small unit of volume measurement equal to 1/3 of a tablespoon or approximately 5 milliliters.
3 Tsp = 1 Tbsp • 1 Tsp = 4.93 mL • 1 Metric Tsp = 5 mL
The teaspoon is the primary unit of volume measurement for small quantities of ingredients in home kitchens. In the US customary system, one teaspoon is defined as exactly 1/3 of a tablespoon, which equals approximately 4.93 milliliters. For practical purposes, it is standardly rounded to 5 milliliters in the metric system. Because teaspoons are used to measure highly potent ingredients—such as baking powder, baking soda, salt, yeast, and concentrated flavor extracts—even minor deviations can have a catastrophic impact on the texture, rise, and taste of a baked product. A teaspoon of table salt contains far more sodium by weight than a teaspoon of coarse kosher salt due to difference in crystal size and density.
When measuring dry powders with a teaspoon, always fluff the ingredient first, scoop it gently, and level it off with the back of a butter knife. Never compress the powder into the spoon unless specifically instructed by the recipe. For liquid ingredients, surface tension can cause the liquid to dome slightly above the rim of the spoon for maximum accuracy, ensure the liquid is level with the top edge without overflowing.
Using a common tea stirrer spoon from the silverware drawer. These spoon sizes are not standardized and usually hold less than 5 milliliters, leading to under-seasoned or poorly risen baked goods.
US customary teaspoons are 4.93 mL, while standard metric teaspoons used in the UK, Australia, and Canada are exactly 5 mL.
Use for measuring small, potent quantities of dry leaveners, spices, salt, or liquid flavorings like vanilla extract and citrus juices.
1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon = 0.166 fluid ounces = 5 milliliters.
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