1/3 Cup Tomato Paste in Grams
87.3 g — that is what 1/3 cup of tomato paste weighs, spooned and levelled, per USDA. It sounds like a small detail, but in baking and in any recipe written in grams, it is the detail that decides whether the result matches the recipe writer's kitchen. Cups are convenient and grams are accurate, and this page bridges the two for tomato paste with a full table, practical examples, and the method notes that make the number trustworthy. Treat every figure here as approximate and check it against a scale when the stakes are high.
Why this number is worth knowing
Tomato Paste shows up in recipes written both ways — cups in American cookbooks, grams in European ones — and translating between them is where most kitchen errors happen. Knowing that 1/3 cup of tomato paste is about 87.3 g means you can follow either kind of recipe without converting on the fly, and you can scale a recipe up or down without the rounding errors that creep in when you convert cup by cup. It also means you can compare recipes: if two recipes for the same dish call for very different amounts of tomato paste, the gram weights make the difference obvious in a way cups never do. Keep the table below bookmarked and the conversion becomes second nature.
Tomato Paste cups to grams conversion table
| Cups | Grams | Tablespoons (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 65.5 g | 4.1 g |
| 1/3 cup | 87.3 g | 5.5 g |
| 1/2 cup | 131 g | 8.2 g |
| 2/3 cup | 174.7 g | 10.9 g |
| 3/4 cup | 196.5 g | 12.3 g |
| 1 cup | 262 g | 16.4 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 393 g | 24.6 g |
| 2 cups | 524 g | 32.8 g |
| 3 cups | 786 g | 49.1 g |
| 4 cups | 1048 g | 65.5 g |
The tablespoon column is a bonus for recipes that call for a spoonful or two: one tablespoon of tomato paste weighs about 16.4 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 262 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
A breading station for fried chicken
A breading station for a family pack of chicken often uses 1/3 cup of tomato paste, which is 87.3 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 tomato paste needs 87.3 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.
Meal prep for the week
Cooking in bulk is where weighing earns its keep. A week of lunches built around 1/3 cup of tomato paste starts with 87.3 g measured once, and the portions come out identical across five containers. That consistency is what makes meal prep actually work instead of turning into five slightly different meals.
How accurate is this conversion?
The figure on this page — 87.3 g for 1/3 cup of tomato paste — is approximate, and it is honest to say so. The source value is 262 g per cup, spooned and levelled, from USDA, and the confidence in that value is medium. Real kitchens vary: the same ingredient from a different brand, a different grind, or a different storage history can weigh a few grams more or less per cup. For everyday cooking that variation does not matter. For baking, where a few grams can change the outcome, it does — which is why the advice on this page is always the same: use the table for planning and converting, and verify with a kitchen scale when the recipe matters. The scale is the only measuring tool that measures what is actually in the bowl.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1/3 cup of tomato paste?
1/3 cup of tomato paste weighs approximately 87.3 g, measured spooned and levelled. The figure comes from the USDA value of 262 g per cup. All weights on this page are approximate — verify with a kitchen scale when precision matters.
Can I use a cup instead of weighing tomato paste?
Yes, but spoon and level rather than scooping: spoon tomato paste 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 87.3 g is more accurate and, once you are used to it, faster.
Is 87.3 g exact for 1/3 cup of tomato paste?
No — it is approximate. The per-cup value of 262 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 87.3 g of tomato paste?
87.3 g of tomato paste is 1/3 cup — the conversion works in both directions, since 262 g equals one cup. If your recipe is written in grams and your tools are cups, divide the gram weight by 262 to get cups.
How do I measure tomato paste without a scale?
Use the spoon-and-level method: spoon tomato paste into a dry measuring cup until it is heaped above the rim, then level it with the back of a knife. Do not scoop the cup through the bag and do not tap it down. For 1/3 cup, repeat for a second cup. It is less accurate than weighing 87.3 g, but it is the best cup method available.