Forum Thermomix

Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: goldfish on August 16, 2012, 06:12:17 am

Title: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: goldfish on August 16, 2012, 06:12:17 am
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 . . . .!! ;) ;D)
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: judydawn on August 16, 2012, 06:21:57 am
I wonder why we are different here gf  ;)  Thanks for posting it, a good reference when we get confused whilst converting overseas recipes.
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: Yvette on August 16, 2012, 06:32:17 am
Thanks Goldfish always wondered how much was a dessert spoon.
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: Cuilidh on August 16, 2012, 06:50:21 am

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

That sounds about right!
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: fundj&e on August 16, 2012, 06:54:22 am
 ;D u lost me at This is true for most English speaking countries........................ :-))

thanks GF i will pin a copy  on the pantry door
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: obbie on August 16, 2012, 07:01:12 am
thanks Goldfish
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: Cuilidh on August 16, 2012, 07:48:56 am
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?
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: goldfish on August 16, 2012, 08:01:20 am
My pleasure ;D  Cuilidh - I know . . . it does get confusing.  I just found this which might help . . . .

http://alldownunder.com/australian-convert/measurement-chart.htm
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: CreamPuff63 on August 16, 2012, 08:42:58 am
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  ;)
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: Cuilidh on August 16, 2012, 09:23:07 am
That's about as good a reason as any, CP!
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: cookie1 on August 16, 2012, 09:48:37 am
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.
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: goldfish on August 16, 2012, 10:24:26 am
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 ;D  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 . .  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: meganjane on August 16, 2012, 11:55:03 am
And don't start on cups!
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: Cuilidh on August 16, 2012, 09:25:23 pm
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
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: fundj&e on August 16, 2012, 09:33:06 pm
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
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: Cuilidh on August 16, 2012, 09:33:46 pm
That makes you a very wise woman, Uni.  Much, much easier to do it that way!
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: knittercook on August 16, 2012, 10:55:58 pm
I have a set of Nigella Lawsons measuring spoons and there is a dessertspoon one, I have always used 15ml for a tbs with no dramas.
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: fundj&e on August 16, 2012, 11:02:16 pm
i have a 1 cup measuring cup that only holds 200mls when i measure it in a AUS cup does this mean that its a uk or  US cup
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: fundj&e on August 19, 2012, 12:04:34 am
look what i found in my draw this morning  :-))
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: goldfish on August 19, 2012, 01:01:12 am
look what i found in my draw this morning  :-))

 ;D ;D ;D   . . .  where did you get that one, Uni??
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: fundj&e on August 19, 2012, 03:32:22 am
who know  ;D
Title: Re: Teaspoons Dessertspoons & Tablespoons
Post by: goldfish on August 19, 2012, 07:41:10 am
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D  understand completely!!!