Q: I live in New Zealand, but I use so many of the wonderful recipes on The Kitchn and from US cookbooks, that I often find myself running to my laptop to Google how many grams are in a stick of butter, or how many grams 6 ounces is.
I've found very utilitarian conversion charts online, but I don't really like hanging ugly things in my kitchen if I can help it — it detracts from the whole effect I'm going for. I've seen that about 3 years ago you posted on conversion charts available, but I'm hoping that perhaps someone has discovered a good-looking downloadable conversion chart somewhere online?
Sent by Ivy
Editor: Ivy, there are indeed a lot of not-so-good-looking charts out there and we haven't seen any good-looking downloadable versions lately. (Readers, any help in this area??)
But we did recently see a tea towel conversion chart that we absolutely love — what about framing this in the kitchen?
• Useful Towel, $22 from Bailey Doesn't Bark
Readers, any more ideas for Ivy?
Related: Good Tool: Measurement Conversion Charts
(Image: Bailey Doesn't Bark)
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I've actually just started doing this for a different reason. I live in the US, but want to start doing my recipes in metric and especially by weight. And I've found that nearly every online resource has a different conversion of flour cups to grams, so I keep editing my charts.
What I have done is stuck some notes on the inside of my cabinet doors above where I cook. They're ugly and hand-written, but at least they're out of sight. I only need to look at the number for a moment, then I get back to putting the ingredients together anyway.
I second the inside-the-cabinet-door technique.
If you're determined to keep the chart in plain sight, type it in a font and layout you like, print it on an appealing paper, and hang it in a frame that coordinates with your kitchen decor. Voila! For the price of a frame and a sheet of pretty paper, you have exactly what you want.
I agree with elionwy...Make your own!! Then it can be attractive as you would like and it would suit you decor perfectly!
In the Saveur 100 this year they noted pages 1072 and 1073 of the Joy of Cooking as really useful for conversions, doubling recipes etc. I was thinking of copying these pages and doing the inside-the-cabinet thing or laminating it so I can just take it out and not worry about paper or a book lying around while cooking.
Here is the link to Saveur.
http://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/Pages-1072-and-1073-of-Joy-of-Cooking
For C to F - I find it easy to do in my head for example - the rule to remember is Double it/Subtract a tenth/Add 32. For example:
200C
Double it = 200 * 2 = 400
Subtract a tenth = 400-40=360
Add 32 = 360- 32 = 392F
If you feel that you want to check yourself on the rule using the boiling point of water 100C/212F
100 * 2 = 200
200 - 20 = 180
180 32 = 212F
Now, isn't that more attractive than a chart? And, good for your brain.
!!! Correcting typo from above !!!
For C to F - I find it easy to do in my head for example - the rule to remember is Double it/Subtract a tenth/Add 32. For example:
200C
Double it = 200 * 2 = 400
Subtract a tenth = 400-40=360
Add 32 = 360 32 = 392F
If you feel that you want to check yourself on the rule using the boiling point of water 100C/212F
100 * 2 = 200
200 - 20 = 180
180 32 = 212F
Now, isn't that more attractive than a chart? And, good for your brain.
!!!I have fat clumsy fingers this afternoon!!!
200C
Double it = 200 * 2 = 400
Subtract a tenth = 400-40=360
Add 32 = 360 32 = 392F
If you feel that you want to check yourself on the rule using the boiling point of water 100C/212F
100 * 2 = 200
200 - 20 = 180
180 32 = 212F
Ah ha! For some reason the blog strips out the plus signs when my post uploads!! I thought I was going nuts for a while?!?!
200C
Double it = 200 * 2 = 400
Subtract a tenth = 400-40=360
Add 32 = 360 plus 32 = 392F
If you feel that you want to check yourself on the rule using the boiling point of water 100C/212F
100 * 2 = 200
200 - 20 = 180
180 plus 32 = 212F
after getting tired of my calling over and over to ask about conversions, my mom got me a nice big magnet that has a lot of the basic measurements on it. I have no idea where she got it, but it is just a big stainless steel magnet that is perfect! it looks good, gives me all of the information I need and the magnet is strong enough to hold up a lot of my favorite recipe print outs.
one of the best stocking stuffers ever.
i'm with eilonwy.
i was lucky enough to have the previous tenant leave a conversion chart taped to the inside of one of our cabinets. VERY HANDY!
Why not make one yourself? Just create a document that works in your kitchen, or see if an artsy friend will hook you up, and get it blown up at a print shop. Then you can mat it and put it in a cool frame and have useable custom art work.
dare I say the iPad is a "good looking conversion chart"
*I still don't see the attraction, however :D
MarthaStewart.com has a this great print out!
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/cooks-helpers
You can make it a magnet or laminate it. :)
For conversions from weight to volume for flour, sugar, and butter, I use a page from Traditional Oven, and then I use this page for all the other ingredients. I make sure that when I post recipes on my food blog they are shown with both weight and volume measurements.