Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons

[goldfish]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_a_dessert_spoon_and_a_tablespoon

Best Answer
A teaspoon is the smallest of the three common elongated spoons. A dessert spoon is the middle size. Tablespoons are larger and are most commonly used for serving or mixing, rather than eating.

A dessert spoon used as a unit of measurement is two teaspoons, and a tablespoon used as a unit of measurement is three teaspoons, thus a tablespoon is 1.5 dessert spoons.

Teaspoon = approx. 5 ml
Dessertspoon = approx. 10 ml
Tablespoon = approx. 15 ml

This is true for most English speaking countries except for Australia, where a tablespoon is defined as 20 ml, and so equals 4 teaspoons or 2 dessert spoons.

( . . . . and then take away the first number you thought of . . . .!! )

[judydawn]

I wonder why we are different here gf    Thanks for posting it, a good reference when we get confused whilst converting overseas recipes.

[Yvette]

Thanks Goldfish always wondered how much was a dessert spoon.

[Cuilidh]

( . . . . and then take away the first number you thought of . . . .!! )

That sounds about right!

[fundj&e]

  u lost me at This is true for most English speaking countries........................

thanks GF i will pin a copy  on the pantry door

[obbie]

thanks Goldfish

[Cuilidh]

I seem to remember something along these lines being discussed some time ago and the consensus is that the American measurements are different from the English and the Australian ones .. is that right?  At the time I meant to take a note of the thread for further reference but forgot.  It's all very confusing.

If the various 'spoon' sizes are different for different countries, does that mean that the 'cup' sizes are different too?

[goldfish]

My pleasure   Cuilidh - I know . . . it does get confusing.  I just found this which might help . . . .

http://alldownunder.com/australian-convert/measurement-chart.htm

[CreamPuff63]

must be something to do with the early convict ships not having any spoons when they shipped them out from the Old Dart so they made up their own 

[Cuilidh]

That's about as good a reason as any, CP!

[cookie1]

I found that a lot of spoon sets around actually say 15ml for the tablespoon, not 20ml. I ended up buying a set of these so it makes it easier when I make English recipes. No thinking involved. I think the dessertspoon was done away with when metric conversion came in.

[goldfish]

I think the dessertspoon was done away with when metric conversion came in.

I think you're right, Cookie1 . . . I was thinking about it earlier.  I remember growing up with dessertspoons - but then they seemed to disappear.  It could be that they're called by another name now?? Who knows?  But I do have some of my mother's and some of my aunt's that I insist should become family heirlooms   I also have several of the old tablespoons that my aunt had.  I've never bothered to test how much they hold . . to me they're tablespoons pure and simple . . 

[meganjane]

And don't start on cups!

[Cuilidh]

I figured this question was going to drive me nuts until I could find some sort of conversions so I found the following sites which may (or may not!) be interesting or useful when converting ingredients.  They are all fairly similar, but each offers something that the others don't or are easier to follow than the others.  I was hoping to find just one page that had a list of straight conversions - Australian - English - American, but no such luck.  I'm sure there is something out there, but I gave up on the search.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/BritishEquiv.htm
http://www.convertalot.com/kitchen_measurements_converter.html
http://recipeland.com/howto/Australian-Cooking-Measurements-142

and this one could be handy if you are following an American recipe that refers to their can sizes:

http://www.wwrecipes.com/convert.htm#Some%20Australian%20Conversions

[fundj&e]

i am not going to read those links Marina ,i am 2 confused

i am going to buy  sets of cups and spoons form the US and the UK on ebay