Convert Sour Cream from Tablespoon to Cup (US)

How many US cups is 1 tablespoon of sour cream?

1 tablespoon of sour cream (soured cream) is 0.06 US cups. 2 tablespoons of sour cream is 0.13 US cups. 1/2 tablespoon of sour cream is 0.03 US cups. 1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of sour cream 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 sour cream weighs about 15 grams. A US tablespoon (14.79 ml) holds about 14.8 grams and an Australian tablespoon (20 ml) about 20 grams.
  • A little over or under won't ruin the bake, though it can nudge the final taste or colour.

Sour cream is cream cultured with lactic acid bacteria, giving it a thick, spoonable texture and a mild tang. One metric cup (250 ml) of sour cream weighs around 250 grams or 8.82 ounces. It is used in cakes and quick breads for tenderness, in dips and dressings for body and bite, and as a topping for baked potatoes and chilli.

Tubs of sour cream are sold by weight, but recipes ask for cups or tablespoons. Converting between the two stops you over-spooning into a delicate cake batter or short-measuring a dressing.

Also known as

  • soured cream
  • cultured cream

Cream cheese is denser and milder than sour cream, with similar fat content but no live cultures to give the same tang. They are close in weight (230 g vs 250 g per cup), so swap 1:1 by volume in cake batters or frostings; expect a slightly richer, less tangy result with cream cheese. See what 1 tablespoon of cream cheese is in US cups.

Plain yoghurt and sour cream share a tangy flavour, though yoghurt is lighter and thinner. They are close in weight (258 g vs 250 g per cup), so swap 1:1 by volume in cakes and dressings; for thicker dips or frostings, sour cream holds its shape better. See what 1 tablespoon of plain yoghurt is in US cups.

Greek yoghurt is strained yoghurt with a thick texture close to sour cream. They are close in weight (260 g vs 250 g per cup) and swap 1:1 in baking and dips, though Greek yoghurt brings a sharper tang and less fat. See what 1 tablespoon of greek yoghurt is in US cups.

Buttermilk is a thin, pourable tangy liquid, while sour cream is thick and spoonable. To use sour cream in place of buttermilk, thin it with milk in a 3:1 ratio until pourable; flavour and acidity stay close. See what 1 tablespoon of buttermilk is in US cups.

Crème fraîche is richer and more stable under heat than sour cream, with higher fat content and a slightly milder tang. They are close in weight (230 g vs 250 g per cup), so swap 1:1 by volume in dips and dressings; for cooked sauces, crème fraîche is less likely to split. See what 1 tablespoon of crème fraîche is in US cups.

Mayonnaise is mostly oil and egg, with a milder tang than sour cream. They are close in weight (230 g vs 250 g per cup), so swap 1:1 in slaws, dressings, and chocolate cake batters; expect a richer, less tangy result with mayonnaise. See what 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise is in US cups.

Heavy cream is uncultured, so it lacks the tang of sour cream though it shares a high fat content. They are close in weight (240 g vs 250 g per cup); stir 1 teaspoon of lemon juice into 1 cup of heavy cream to mimic the tang when swapping in dips or dressings. See what 1 tablespoon of heavy cream is in US cups.

Out of sour cream? See sour cream substitutes →

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

Nail small amounts, get spoons

Sour Cream Measurement Converter

Enter a value and pick your units.

Result

0.06 Cup (US)

Common Sour Cream Conversions

Here are the most common sour cream 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)

Sour Cream Conversion Chart

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

tbspcup(US)cupgramsouncestsp
1 tbsp0.06 cup (US)0.06 cup15 g0.53 oz3 tsp
2 tbsp0.13 cup (US)0.12 cup30 g1.06 oz6 tsp
3 tbsp0.19 cup (US)0.18 cup45 g1.59 oz9 tsp
4 tbsp0.25 cup (US)0.24 cup60 g2.12 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 sour cream in US cups?
1 tablespoon of sour cream is 0.06 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 2 tablespoons of sour cream 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 sour cream converter
How many US cups is 1.5 tablespoons of sour cream?
1.5 tablespoons of sour cream is 0.09 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of sour cream 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 sour cream in US cups?
2 tablespoons of sour cream is 0.13 US cups. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 tablespoon of sour cream 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 sour cream is 0.06 US cups?
0.06 US cups of sour cream 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 sour cream and soured cream the same thing?
Yes. Soured cream is another name for sour cream, so they are the same ingredient and convert identically. 1 tablespoon of sour cream 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 sour cream in US cups?
1/2 tablespoon of sour cream is 0.03 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of sour cream 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 sour cream in US cups?
1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of sour cream is 0.02 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of sour cream 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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