Shallot converter: whole shallots, cups, grams

Shallot converter

A recipe calls for one shallot but your bag is full of different sizes, or you need half a cup of minced shallot and you're not sure how many to peel. A medium shallot bulb weighs about 40 g. Convert between whole shallots and chopped cups, grams, or ounces to prep exactly the right amount.

Shallot size ranges from a 20 g small to a 60 g large (triple the weight). Picking the right size means two shallots in a vinaigrette or pan sauce comes out as intended.

How much does a shallot weigh?

A medium, or average, shallot weighs about 40 g, with a small one around 20 g and a large one around 60 g.

Out of shallot? See shallot substitutes →

Want a stronger, bolder flavour? Standard onions (70–150 g) are larger and work for everyday cooking. See our Onion converter.

Spring onions (10–25 g) are even more delicate with a fresh, herbaceous bite. See our Spring Onion converter.

Enter an amount, pick your units, and set the size for counting whole shallots.

Size applies to whole shallots (small / medium / large).

Result

0.25 cups

Common Shallot conversions

Quick reference for shallot at medium size. Switch the size in the converter above for small or large.

shallotsCups (chopped)
1 shallot0.25 cups
2 shallots0.5 cups
3 shallots0.75 cups
4 shallots1 cup
5 shallots1.25 cups
6 shallots1.5 cups

Shallot conversion chart

The chart below shows how whole shallots (medium size) convert to cups, grams and ounces.

shallotscupscups (US)gozlbkg
1 shallot0.25 cups0.26 cups (US)40 g1.41 oz0.09 lb0.04 kg
2 shallots0.5 cups0.52 cups (US)80 g2.82 oz0.18 lb0.08 kg
3 shallots0.75 cups0.78 cups (US)120 g4.23 oz0.26 lb0.12 kg
4 shallots1 cup1.04 cups (US)160 g5.64 oz0.35 lb0.16 kg
5 shallots1.25 cups1.3 cups (US)200 g7.05 oz0.44 lb0.2 kg

Shallot varieties and best uses

The conversions above are the same whatever variety you use; the difference is what each is good for. Here is how the common shallot varieties compare.

VarietyBest for
French (common) shallotDressings, vinaigrettes, and raw use: classic small grey-brown shallot with fine, complex flavour.
Banana shallot (echalion)Quick prep and large volumes: elongated, milder, and easy to peel.
Asian (pink) shallotSouth-East Asian cooking and frying: small, sweet, and crispy when deep-fried.

Which should I pick?

For dressings, vinaigrettes, and pan sauces, the common French shallot is the default: milder and more complex than onion, with a hint of garlic. Banana shallots (echalions) are larger and easier to peel, useful when a recipe needs a big volume of shallot quickly. Asian (pink) shallots are smaller, sweeter, and the pick for South-East Asian dishes like crispy fried shallots and Thai curries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the size of a medium shallot?
A medium shallot weighs about 40 g, which works out to roughly 0.25 cups (0.26 US cups) of chopped flesh. Shallots come in a range of sizes depending on the season, variety and where they were grown, so weight and cup figures shift accordingly. Use the size selector above to match what you actually have, then read the exact conversion for any amount.
How much does a medium shallot weigh?
A medium shallot weighs about 40 g, with a small one around 20 g and a large one near 60 g. That range changes the weight of any recipe that counts shallots by the piece, so set the size selector to match what you actually have before trusting a cup or gram figure.
How much does an average shallot weigh?
An average shallot is the same as a medium one: about 40 g. A small shallot is lighter at around 20 g and a large one heavier at about 60 g, so the size you actually have changes the total for any recipe that counts shallots by the piece rather than by weight.
Which shallot variety should I use?
For dressings, vinaigrettes, and pan sauces, the common French shallot is the default: milder and more complex than onion, with a hint of garlic. Banana shallots (echalions) are larger and easier to peel, useful when a recipe needs a big volume of shallot quickly. Asian (pink) shallots are smaller, sweeter, and the pick for South-East Asian dishes like crispy fried shallots and Thai curries.
How much does a large shallot weigh?
A large shallot weighs about 60 g, noticeably more than a medium, or average, one at 40 g or a small one at 20 g. Set the size selector to large to convert cups, grams and ounces for the bigger shallots you actually have on the counter.

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