One level tablespoon of cheddar cheese weighs about 7.1 g. The word level matters, because a heaped spoon can hold far more than a level one, and the figure on this page assumes the spoon is filled spooned and levelled. The arithmetic behind it is 113 ÷ 16 = 7.1 g, since a cup of cheddar cheese weighs 113 g and a tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup.
The source is King Arthur Baking, and every weight on this page is approximate. For baking and for any recipe where the balance of ingredients matters, weigh the ingredient rather than trusting the spoon alone.
About Cheddar Cheese
Firm, sharp cheese that melts well. Sandwiches, sauces, casseroles and baking. That is why it shows up in recipes measured by the tablespoon: it is used in amounts too small for a cup measure to be practical, yet large enough that guessing the weight can throw a dish off. Knowing that one tablespoon weighs 7.1 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Refrigerate; use within 3-4 weeks.
Worked examples
A pasta sauce for two
A simple pasta sauce for two uses 4 tablespoons of cheddar cheese, about 28.2 g, stirred in at the end of cooking. The cheese melts into the sauce and thickens it, so add it off the heat and stir until it disappears rather than boiling it, which can make it grainy. Taste before adding salt, because the cheese already brings plenty of its own.
A topping for a baked dish
A baked pasta or gratin for four people takes about 6 tablespoons of cheddar cheese, 42.4 g, scattered over the top before it goes into the oven. That amount gives a golden, bubbling crust without burying the dish underneath. Spread it evenly rather than piling it in the middle, and give the dish a few minutes to rest after baking so the topping sets instead of sliding off when you serve it.
A filling for stuffed vegetables
A filling for stuffed peppers or mushrooms uses 3 tablespoons of cheddar cheese, about 21.2 g, mixed with breadcrumbs, herbs and a little seasoning. Three tablespoons is enough to bind the filling and give it richness without making it heavy. Spoon the mixture in loosely rather than packing it tight, because the filling swells slightly as it cooks and a packed filling turns dense.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 2.4 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 7.1 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 14.1 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 21.2 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 28.2 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 35.3 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 42.4 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 49.4 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 56.5 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 63.6 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 70.6 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 77.7 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 84.8 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 91.8 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 98.9 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 105.9 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 113 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 113 g divided by 16 and rounded to one decimal place. Sixteen tablespoons make one cup, which is why the last row of the table matches the cup weight exactly. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
Cups to grams for reference
Most recipes switch between cups and tablespoons, so here is the same ingredient measured in cups. Use this table when a recipe gives a cup amount and you want to weigh it, or when you have already measured in tablespoons and want to check the total.
| Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons | 28.2 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 37.7 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 56.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 75.3 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 84.8 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 113 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 169.5 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 226 g |
How the figure is measured
Cheddar Cheese is measured spooned and levelled: spoon it loosely into the tablespoon, then sweep the top flat with the back of a knife. Do not scoop directly from the bag or jar, because scooping packs the ingredient down and a scooped spoon can weigh far more than a spooned one. The spoon-and-level method is the one the source data assumes, so it is the method that makes the numbers on this page true.
The cup weight of 113 g comes from King Arthur Baking. The tablespoon figure is that cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place, which is why the table is consistent from one row to the next. All results are approximate: brand, grind, humidity and temperature all move the real weight a little, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use these numbers as a guide.
Scaling the recipe up and down
Tablespoons scale cleanly once you know the weight of one spoon. A recipe that calls for 8 tablespoons of cheddar cheese needs 56.5 g, and doubling it to 16 tablespoons means 113 g, exactly one cup. Halving works the same way: 4 tablespoons is 28.2 g, and 2 tablespoons is 14.1 g. The rule that matters is to scale every ingredient by the same factor, because changing one ingredient without changing the others throws the recipe out of balance.
When a recipe gives a weight instead of spoonfuls, work backwards: 100 g of cheddar cheese is about 14.2 tablespoons, and 50 g is about 7.1 tablespoons. Round to the nearest half tablespoon when you are measuring by hand, and accept that the result will be a gram or two off, which is fine for most cooking. For large amounts, stop counting spoons and switch to a cup measure or a scale: counting out 16 tablespoons is slow and error-prone, and a cup is faster and more accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of cheddar cheese?
One tablespoon of cheddar cheese weighs 7.1 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 113 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 2.4 g, and one cup is 113 g.
Can I use a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon?
It is not a good idea. Eating spoons vary widely in size and shape, and a tablespoon from a cutlery drawer can hold noticeably more or less than a standard measuring tablespoon. A set of measuring spoons costs very little and is the only way to make the figures on this page true in your kitchen.
Is 7.1 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 113 g comes from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled, and the real weight of a tablespoon varies with brand, grind, humidity and how the spoon is filled. For most cooking the approximation is fine, and for baking or any recipe that has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
How do I measure cheddar cheese without a scale?
Fill a measuring tablespoon spooned and levelled and level it off with a straight edge. For amounts up to a few tablespoons, that is accurate enough. For larger amounts, use a cup measure: one cup of cheddar cheese is 113 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 28.2 g of cheddar cheese work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 28.2 g. Four tablespoons is a quarter of a cup, so it is a convenient amount to measure with a quarter-cup measure if you have one. The same arithmetic works for any amount: divide the grams by 7.1 to get tablespoons.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scooping directly from the bag, which packs the ingredient down and makes a spoonful weigh far more than a spooned one.
- Leaving the spoon heaped instead of levelling it, which adds an unpredictable extra amount every time.
- Measuring a damp or clumped ingredient without breaking it up first, which leaves air pockets and a short measure.
- Using a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon, since eating spoons vary widely in size.
The thread running through all of these is the same: a tablespoon is only a standard measure when it is filled in the standard way. Measure cheddar cheese spooned and levelled, level it off, and check the weight on a scale when the recipe has to be right, and the numbers on this page will serve you well.