Measuring Up Uncommon Weights and Volumes

Kitchen conversions between weight and volume sometimes are obvious and easy. A cup of water is 8 ounces whether tallied by a scale or by volume. And most sticks of butter are conveniently marked to make switching between ounces, tablespoons and cups effortless.

But plenty of commonly used ingredients aren't nearly so intuitive. How many cups are in 28-ounce can of tomatoes? What does 1 ounce of chopped parsley mean in volume? Do dairy products weigh out the same as water?

To suss it out, we gathered our scales and measuring cups to sort out the weight and volume equivalencies of some the most common ingredients that didn't have obvious conversions.

Kitchen Conversions

CANNED GOODS

Ingredient Weight / Volume 14½-ounce can crushed tomatoes411 grams / 1½ cups 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained 794 grams / 2½ cups 15-ounce can tomato sauce 425 grams / 1½ cups14½-ounce can diced tomatoes 411 grams / 1¾ cups
6-ounce can tomato paste 170 grams / 13 tablespoons15½-ounce can chickpeas, drained 439 grams / 1⅓ cups15½-ounce can kidney beans, drained439 grams / 1½ cups15½-ounce can white beans, drained439 grams / 1½ cups

PRODUCE

Ingredient Weight / Volume 1 large yellow onion, peeled (About 3 cups chopped)13 ounces / 368 grams 1 large shallot, peeled (½ cup chopped) 2½ ounces / 71 grams 1 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves ⅝ ounce / 18 grams1 cup roughly chopped parsley leaves 1⅛ ounces / 32 grams ½ cup fresh dill fronds, lightly packed ¼ ounce / 7 grams½ cup chopped fresh dill ½ ounce / 14 grams1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves⅒ ounce / 3 grams

DAIRY

IngredientWeight / Volume16-ounce tub sour cream454 grams / 2 cups 5.3-ounce container Greek yogurt 150 grams / ⅔ cup 5.3-ounce container regular yogurt 150 grams / ⅔ cup8-ounce container crème fraiche 227 grams / 1 cup 1 pint heavy cream (16 fluid ounces) 454 grams / 2 cups1 pint half and half (16 fluid ounces) 454 grams / 2 cups
½ gallon whole milk (64 fluid ounces)1,814 grams / 8 cups