1/3 Cup Ketchup in Grams
If you need 1/3 cup of ketchup in grams, the answer is 80 g — measured spooned and levelled, according to USDA. You are probably here mid-recipe, so here is the number first and the explanation second. The rest of this page gives you the full conversion table for ketchup, worked examples from real recipes, the measuring method behind the number, and the mistakes that most often throw this conversion off. All weights here are approximate; a kitchen scale is the final word when precision counts.
The problem with cups, in one paragraph
A cup looks like a fixed unit, but for ketchup it is not. The same cup can hold more or less depending on how the ingredient settled in its container, whether it was spooned in or scooped, and whether it was levelled or heaped. With 1/3 cup of ketchup, the gap between a careful spoon-and-level measure and a careless scoop can be tens of grams — enough to change a recipe. Weighing 80 g instead removes the whole question. It is also faster once you get used to it: put the bowl on the scale, press tare, and pour until the display reads 80. No levelling, no sweeping, no second-guessing. The table below gives you every amount you are likely to need, so you can weigh instead of measuring by volume from now on.
Ketchup cups to grams conversion table
| Cups | Grams | Tablespoons (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 60 g | 3.8 g |
| 1/3 cup | 80 g | 5 g |
| 1/2 cup | 120 g | 7.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 160 g | 10 g |
| 3/4 cup | 180 g | 11.2 g |
| 1 cup | 240 g | 15 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 360 g | 22.5 g |
| 2 cups | 480 g | 30 g |
| 3 cups | 720 g | 45 g |
| 4 cups | 960 g | 60 g |
The tablespoon column is a bonus for recipes that call for a spoonful or two: one tablespoon of ketchup weighs about 15 g. Remember that a cup is 16 tablespoons, so the numbers in the table are just the cup weight divided by 16, rounded sensibly. For small amounts a scale that reads to the gram is far more reliable than a spoon, because a heaped tablespoon can weigh half as much again as a level one.
How the weight was measured
Spooned and levelled means the ingredient was measured the way USDA measures it: spooned into the measuring cup until heaped, then levelled with a straight edge. Never scoop the cup through the bag or jar, and never tap the cup down, because both pack the ingredient and add weight. The source for the 240 g per cup figure is USDA, and the confidence in the value is medium. USDA publishes a standard ingredient weight chart that recipe developers use as a reference, and this page follows it exactly rather than averaging across sources, because an average of two different measuring methods is a number that matches nobody's cup.
Worked examples
Doubling a casserole
Doubling a casserole that uses 1 cup of ketchup means 1/3 cup, or 80 g. Casseroles are forgiving, but the liquid-to-solid ratio still decides whether the result is saucy or dry. Weigh the doubled amount and the larger dish behaves like the original.
A breading station for fried chicken
A breading station for a family pack of chicken often uses 1/3 cup of ketchup, which is 80 g. Weigh it into a shallow dish and you know exactly how much coating you have; when it runs low, weigh out a fresh half-batch rather than topping up by eye. Even coating means even crunch.
A sauce that needs thickening
A sauce recipe calling for 1/3 cup of ketchup needs 80 g. Adding it gradually and whisking as you go is the safe route: you can always add more, but you cannot take it out. Weigh the full amount first, then add it in two or three stages until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
Ketchup in the kitchen: what the numbers mean in practice
Sweet tomato condiment. It is used for Dipping, burgers, glazes and sauces. Knowing the weight helps you shop as well as cook: 1/3 cup is 80 g, so a bag or jar labelled in grams tells you immediately how many cups you have left. That is useful when a recipe calls for a large amount and you are wondering whether to open a second pack. It also helps with substitutions: if you swap ketchup for something else, compare gram weights rather than cup volumes, because two ingredients that fill the same cup can weigh very different amounts.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1/3 cup of ketchup?
1/3 cup of ketchup weighs approximately 80 g, measured spooned and levelled. The figure comes from the USDA value of 240 g per cup. All weights on this page are approximate — verify with a kitchen scale when precision matters.
Why do different sources give different weights for ketchup?
Because a cup measures volume, not weight, and the weight of a volume depends on the measuring method. Spooned and levelled, scooped, sifted and packed cups of ketchup all weigh different amounts. This page follows the USDA method (spooned and levelled) consistently, so all the numbers here agree with each other — which matters more than matching any single outside source.
Can I use a cup instead of weighing ketchup?
Yes, but spoon and level rather than scooping: spoon ketchup into the cup until heaped, then sweep a knife across the top. Scooping packs the ingredient and can add 10 to 20 percent extra weight. For 1/3 cup, fill and level the cup twice. Weighing 80 g is more accurate and, once you are used to it, faster.
Is 80 g exact for 1/3 cup of ketchup?
No — it is approximate. The per-cup value of 240 g comes from USDA, and real-world variation in brand, grind, moisture and packing means your cup may weigh a few grams more or less. For most cooking that is fine; for baking, weigh with a scale and treat the table as your planning guide.
How many cups is 80 g of ketchup?
80 g of ketchup is 1/3 cup — the conversion works in both directions, since 240 g equals one cup. If your recipe is written in grams and your tools are cups, divide the gram weight by 240 to get cups.
What 1/3 cup of ketchup does in a recipe
Ketchup is rarely the star of a dish, but at 80 g for 1/3 cup it carries a lot of weight in sauces, glazes and meatloaf. Its job is usually threefold: sweetness from the sugar, tang from the vinegar, and colour and body from the tomato. In a barbecue sauce, 1/3 cup of ketchup is the base that the other flavours build on — add smoked paprika, a little brown sugar and a splash of vinegar, and the balance shifts without the base changing. In meatloaf, the same amount mixed into the mince keeps it moist and adds a savoury-sweet note, while a second spoonful spread on top caramelises in the oven. Because ketchup is already seasoned, taste before adding extra salt to any dish that includes it. If a recipe calls for ketchup and you only have tomato paste, the swap is not one-for-one: paste is far more concentrated, so start with half the amount and add sugar and vinegar to taste.