Convert Shortening from Tablespoon to Cup (US)

How many US cups is 1 tablespoon of shortening?

1 tablespoon of shortening (vegetable shortening) is 0.06 US cups. 2 tablespoons of shortening is 0.13 US cups. 1/2 tablespoon of shortening is 0.03 US cups. 1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of shortening is 0.02 US cups. 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 tablespoon of butter is in US cups.

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 tablespoon of margarine is in US cups.

Out of shortening? See shortening substitutes →

No measuring spoons? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring spoon set keeps small amounts accurate.

Nail small amounts, get spoons

Shortening Measurement Converter

Enter a value and pick your units.

Result

0.06 Cup (US)

Common Shortening Conversions

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

TablespoonsCups (US)
1 tbsp0.06 cups (US)
2 tbsp0.13 cups (US)
3 tbsp0.19 cups (US)
4 tbsp0.25 cups (US)
6 tbsp0.38 cups (US)
8 tbsp0.5 cups (US)
10 tbsp0.63 cups (US)
12 tbsp0.75 cups (US)
16 tbsp1 cup (US)

Shortening Conversion Chart

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

tbspcup(US)cupgramsouncestsp
1 tbsp0.06 cup (US)0.06 cup12.3 g0.43 oz3 tsp
2 tbsp0.13 cup (US)0.12 cup24.6 g0.87 oz6 tsp
3 tbsp0.19 cup (US)0.18 cup36.9 g1.3 oz9 tsp
4 tbsp0.25 cup (US)0.24 cup49.2 g1.74 oz12 tsp

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1 tablespoon of shortening in US cups?
1 tablespoon of shortening is 0.06 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 2 tablespoons of shortening is 0.13 US cups and 0.5 tablespoons is 0.03 US cups. 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 US cups is 1.5 tablespoons of shortening?
1.5 tablespoons of shortening is 0.09 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of shortening is 0.06 US cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.13 US cups. Type any other amount into the converter above for the exact figure, or use the chart below for the common ones.
What is 2 tablespoons of shortening in US cups?
2 tablespoons of shortening is 0.13 US cups. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 tablespoon of shortening is 0.06 US cups, and you can multiply or divide that figure to match whatever your recipe needs. Enter any amount in the converter above for an exact US cups reading.
How many tablespoons of shortening is 0.06 US cups?
0.06 US cups of shortening is 0.96 tablespoons. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between US cups and tablespoons without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists tablespoons but you would rather weigh or measure in US cups. 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 tablespoon of shortening is 0.06 US cups under either name, and 2 tablespoons is 0.13 US cups. Recipes use the two names interchangeably, so you can follow either one without changing quantities or weighing any differently.
What is 1/2 tbsp shortening in US cups?
1/2 tablespoon of shortening is 0.03 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of shortening is 0.06 US cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.13 US cups. 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 tbsp shortening in US cups?
1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of shortening is 0.02 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of shortening is 0.06 US cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.13 US cups. 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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