Convert Shortening from Cup (US) to Tablespoon

How many tablespoons is 1 US cup of shortening?

1 US cup of shortening (vegetable shortening) is 16 tablespoons. 2 US cups of shortening is 32 tablespoons. 1/2 US cup of shortening is 8 tablespoons. 1/4 US cup (0.25 US cup) of shortening is 4 tablespoons. Use the converter below for any amount.

  • These figures use the US cup (240 ml). A metric cup is slightly larger at 250 ml, so it holds a little more. 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 →
  • A tablespoon here is the 15 ml metric standard, about 16.67 to a metric cup, the same size as a UK tablespoon. A US tablespoon is smaller at 14.79 ml, so US cooks measuring with US spoons need slightly more. An Australian tablespoon is larger at 20 ml, so it holds about a third more. When tablespoon size matters →
  • One metric tablespoon of shortening weighs about 12.3 grams. A US tablespoon (14.79 ml) holds about 12.1 grams and an Australian tablespoon (20 ml) about 16.4 grams.
  • A little over or under won't ruin the bake, though it can nudge the final taste or colour.

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 tablespoons.

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 tablespoons.

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

Enter a value and pick your units.

Result

16 Tablespoon

Common Shortening Conversions

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

Cups (US)Tablespoons
0.25 cups (US)4 tbsp
0.5 cups (US)8 tbsp
0.75 cups (US)12 tbsp
1 cup (US)16 tbsp
1.25 cups (US)20 tbsp
1.5 cups (US)24 tbsp
2 cups (US)32 tbsp
2.5 cups (US)40 tbsp
3 cups (US)48 tbsp

Shortening Conversion Chart

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

cup(US)tbspcupgramsouncestsp
0.25 cup (US)4 tbsp0.24 cup49.2 g1.74 oz12 tsp
0.5 cup (US)8 tbsp0.48 cup98.4 g3.47 oz24 tsp
1 cup (US)16 tbsp0.96 cup196.8 g6.94 oz48 tsp
2 cup (US)32 tbsp1.92 cup393.6 g13.88 oz96 tsp

This is a volume conversion, so the result is the same for every ingredient. Use the cups (US) to tablespoons volume converter to switch between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, and millilitres without weighing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1 US cup of shortening in tablespoons?
1 US cup of shortening is 16 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 2 US cups of shortening is 32 tablespoons and 0.5 US cups is 8 tablespoons. 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 tablespoons is 1.5 US cups of shortening?
1.5 US cups of shortening is 24 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of shortening is 16 tablespoons and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. 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 tablespoons?
2 US cups of shortening is 32 tablespoons. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 US cup of shortening is 16 tablespoons, and you can multiply or divide that figure to match whatever your recipe needs. Enter any amount in the converter above for an exact tablespoons reading.
How many US cups of shortening is 16 tablespoons?
16 tablespoons of shortening is 1 US cup. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between tablespoons and US cups without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists US cups but you would rather weigh or measure in tablespoons. 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 16 tablespoons under either name, and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. 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 tablespoons?
1/2 US cup of shortening is 8 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of shortening is 16 tablespoons and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. 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 tablespoons?
1/4 US cup (0.25 US cup) of shortening is 4 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of shortening is 16 tablespoons and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. 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.

Other Ingredients

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