Convert Shortening from Cup (US) to Grams

How many grams is 1 US cup of shortening?

1 US cup of shortening (vegetable shortening) is 196.8 grams. 2 US cups of shortening is 393.6 grams. 1/2 US cup of shortening is 98.4 grams. 1/4 US cup (0.25 US cup) of shortening is 49.2 grams. Use the converter below for any amount.

  • These figures use the US cup (240 ml), so 1 cup is 196.8 g. A metric cup is slightly larger at 250 ml and holds about 205 g. Use the metric cup converter →
  • Cup sizes are not standard worldwide, so the same cup of an ingredient can weigh more or less depending on the country. What is a cup measurement →

Shortening is 100% solid vegetable fat with no water, sold under brand names such as Crisco and Trex. One metric cup (250 ml) of shortening weighs around 205 grams or 7.23 ounces. When a recipe calls for shortening in cups or tablespoons, converting to grams first removes the uncertainty of scooping from a sticky tub for flaky pie crusts and tender biscuits.

Shortening tubs are sold by weight in the US and by volume elsewhere, while recipes call for cups, tablespoons, or grams. Converting between the three lets you measure once without scraping a sticky cup.

Also known as

  • vegetable shortening
  • Crisco
  • white fat

Butter carries around 15% water and adds dairy flavour, while shortening is pure fat with none. Shortening is lighter per cup (205 g vs 227 g), so weigh when swapping; for the closest result, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water per cup of shortening when replacing butter, and accept a flakier, less flavourful crumb. See what 1 US cup of butter is in grams.

Margarine carries around 15 to 20% water and bakes closer to butter, while shortening is pure fat. They are close in weight (235 g vs 205 g per cup); swap by weight in pastry for a flakier result with shortening, or in cakes for a more tender crumb with margarine. See what 1 US cup of margarine is in grams.

Out of shortening? See shortening substitutes →

No measuring cups? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring cup set keeps every batch the same.

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Shortening Measurement Converter

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Result

196.8 Grams

Common Shortening Conversions

Here are the most common shortening conversions from cups (US) to grams.

Cups (US)Grams
0.25 cups (US)49.2 g
0.5 cups (US)98.4 g
0.75 cups (US)147.6 g
1 cup (US)196.8 g
1.25 cups (US)246 g
1.5 cups (US)295.2 g
2 cups (US)393.6 g
2.5 cups (US)492 g
3 cups (US)590.4 g

Shortening Conversion Chart

The conversion chart below gives a quick reference for converting shortening from Cup (US) to Grams and other measurements.

cup(US)gramscupouncestbsptsp
0.25 cup (US)49.2 g0.24 cup1.74 oz4 tbsp12 tsp
0.5 cup (US)98.4 g0.48 cup3.47 oz8 tbsp24 tsp
1 cup (US)196.8 g0.96 cup6.94 oz16 tbsp48 tsp
2 cup (US)393.6 g1.92 cup13.88 oz32 tbsp96 tsp

For cups to grams with a different ingredient, use the cups to grams converter for a quick-reference table.

For the reverse conversion, see 100 grams of shortening in US cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1 US cup of shortening in grams?
1 US cup of shortening is 196.8 grams. The ratio is fixed, so 2 US cups of shortening is 393.6 grams and 0.5 US cups is 98.4 grams. Use the converter above for any quantity, or check the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts at a glance. Open the shortening converter
How many grams is 1.5 US cups of shortening?
1.5 US cups of shortening is 295.2 grams. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of shortening is 196.8 grams and 2 US cups is 393.6 grams. Type any other amount into the converter above for the exact figure, or use the chart below for the common ones.
What is 2 US cups of shortening in grams?
2 US cups of shortening is 393.6 grams. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 US cup of shortening is 196.8 grams, and you can multiply or divide that figure to match whatever your recipe needs. Enter any amount in the converter above for an exact grams reading.
How many US cups of shortening is 196.8 grams?
196.8 grams of shortening is 1 US cup. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between grams and US cups without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists US cups but you would rather weigh or measure in grams. The converter above and the chart below cover both directions for any amount.
Are shortening and vegetable shortening the same thing?
Yes. Vegetable shortening is another name for shortening, so they are the same ingredient and convert identically. 1 US cup of shortening is 196.8 grams under either name, and 2 US cups is 393.6 grams. Recipes use the two names interchangeably, so you can follow either one without changing quantities or weighing any differently.
What is 1/2 cup (US) shortening in grams?
1/2 US cup of shortening is 98.4 grams. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of shortening is 196.8 grams and 2 US cups is 393.6 grams. Half measures come up often when scaling a recipe down, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other amount, or the chart below for the common ones.
What is 1/4 cup (US) shortening in grams?
1/4 US cup (0.25 US cup) of shortening is 49.2 grams. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of shortening is 196.8 grams and 2 US cups is 393.6 grams. Quarter amounts often come up when scaling a recipe down step by step, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other quantity, or the chart below for the most common amounts.
Is 1 cup of shortening 205 or 197 grams?
A cup of shortening weighs 205 grams in a metric cup (250 ml) and about 197 grams in a US cup (240 ml), since the metric cup holds a little more. Most US recipes mean the US cup, while UK, Australian, and European recipes use the metric cup. The difference is small but worth checking when a recipe is precise. Weigh on a scale for the most reliable result.

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