Convert Shortening from Teaspoon to Cup

How many cups is 1 teaspoon of shortening?

1 teaspoon of shortening (vegetable shortening) is 0.02 cups. 2 teaspoons of shortening is 0.04 cups. 1/2 teaspoon of shortening is 0.01 cups. 1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) of shortening is 0.01 cups. Use the converter below for any amount.

  • These figures use the metric cup (250 ml). A US cup is slightly smaller at 240 ml, so it holds a little less. Use the US 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 teaspoon here is the 5 ml standard, the same in the UK, Europe, and Australia. A US teaspoon is fractionally smaller at about 4.9 ml. When teaspoon size matters →
  • 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 teaspoon of butter is in 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 teaspoon of margarine is in 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

0.02 Cup

Common Shortening Conversions

Here are the most common shortening conversions from teaspoons to cups.

TeaspoonsCups
0.25 tsp0.01 cups
0.5 tsp0.01 cups
1 tsp0.02 cups
2 tsp0.04 cups
3 tsp0.06 cups
4 tsp0.08 cups
6 tsp0.12 cups
8 tsp0.16 cups
12 tsp0.24 cups

Shortening Conversion Chart

The conversion chart below gives a quick reference for converting shortening from Teaspoon to Cup and other measurements.

tspcupgramsouncescup(US)tbsp
1 tsp0.02 cup4.1 g0.14 oz0.02 cup (US)0.33 tbsp
2 tsp0.04 cup8.2 g0.29 oz0.04 cup (US)0.67 tbsp
3 tsp0.06 cup12.3 g0.43 oz0.06 cup (US)1 tbsp
4 tsp0.08 cup16.4 g0.58 oz0.08 cup (US)1.33 tbsp

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1 teaspoon of shortening in cups?
1 teaspoon of shortening is 0.02 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 2 teaspoons of shortening is 0.04 cups and 0.5 teaspoons is 0.01 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 cups is 1.5 teaspoons of shortening?
1.5 teaspoons of shortening is 0.03 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 teaspoon of shortening is 0.02 cups and 2 teaspoons is 0.04 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 teaspoons of shortening in cups?
2 teaspoons of shortening is 0.04 cups. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 teaspoon of shortening is 0.02 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 cups reading.
How many teaspoons of shortening is 0.02 cups?
0.02 cups of shortening is 1 teaspoon. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between cups and teaspoons without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists teaspoons but you would rather weigh or measure in cups. The converter above and the chart below cover both directions for any amount.
How much is 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening in cups?
Vegetable shortening is another name for shortening, so 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening is 0.02 cups, exactly the same as shortening. The figure does not change with the name: 2 teaspoons is 0.04 cups and 0.5 teaspoons is 0.01 cups. Use the converter above for any quantity, or read the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts.
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 teaspoon of shortening is 0.02 cups under either name, and 2 teaspoons is 0.04 cups. Recipes use the two names interchangeably, so you can follow either one without changing quantities or weighing any differently.
What is 1/2 tsp shortening in cups?
1/2 teaspoon of shortening is 0.01 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 teaspoon of shortening is 0.02 cups and 2 teaspoons is 0.04 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 tsp shortening in cups?
1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) of shortening is 0.01 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 teaspoon of shortening is 0.02 cups and 2 teaspoons is 0.04 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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