Cup (unit)

Cup (unit) is a volume measurement unit used primarily in cooking to measure liquids and bulk, dry foods. It is widely used in recipes in the United States and is also utilized in some other countries, including Canada and Japan. The cup measures 1/4th of a quart or 1/16th of a gallon. However, the exact volume of a cup can vary between different measurement systems.

History

The concept of the cup as a unit of volume has its origins in historical measurement systems. Early cups were used in domestic settings for measuring ingredients and were often based on household utensils that were readily available. Over time, the cup was standardized in various regions, leading to the development of different cup sizes.

United States Customary Cup

In the United States, the customary cup is defined as exactly 8 U.S. fluid ounces (fl oz), which is equivalent to 236.5882365 milliliters (mL). This definition is used in cooking and nutritional labeling.

Metric Cup

The metric cup is not an official SI unit but is commonly used in countries that have adopted the metric system. It is typically defined as 250 milliliters but can vary by country. For example, in Japan, the traditional cup (合, "gō") is approximately 180 mL, but a metric cup of 200 mL is also used, especially in cooking.

Imperial Cup

The imperial cup was used in the United Kingdom and other countries that used the imperial system of measurements. It is no longer in common use but was defined as 10 imperial fluid ounces, which is approximately 284.131 mL.

Legal Cup

Some countries have defined a "legal" cup for the purpose of nutrition labeling and other legal requirements. For example, in Canada, the legal cup is defined as 250 mL.

Conversion

Conversion between different cup measurements and other units of volume requires careful attention to the specific definitions used. For example, to convert from US customary cups to milliliters, multiply by 236.5882365. To convert from the metric cup to liters, divide by 4.

Usage

The cup is widely used in cooking and baking, both in professional and home settings. It is particularly common in recipes for measuring ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, and water. The use of the cup as a measurement unit allows for easy and practical measurement without the need for precise scales.

See Also

• Liter
• Gallon
• Quart
• Fluid ounce
• Measurement

References

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