For mozzarella cheese, the tablespoon-to-grams conversion is 7 g per tablespoon. One cup weighs 112 g, so the calculation is 112 ÷ 16 = 7 g, and one teaspoon, a third of a tablespoon, is 2.3 g. Those three numbers cover almost every recipe that lists mozzarella cheese by the spoon.
All figures on this page are approximate, taken from USDA and measured spooned and levelled. Use the tables below for the exact amount you need, and check with a kitchen scale when the result has to be right.
About Mozzarella Cheese
Mild, stretchy cheese that melts smoothly. Pizza, pasta bakes, caprese and sandwiches. 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 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Refrigerate; use within 2 weeks.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 2.3 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 7 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 14 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 21 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 28 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 35 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 42 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 49 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 56 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 63 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 70 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 77 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 84 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 91 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 98 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 105 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 112 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 112 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 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 37.3 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 56 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 74.7 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 84 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 112 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 168 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 224 g |
Worked examples
A topping for a baked dish
A baked pasta or gratin for four people takes about 6 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese, 42 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 mozzarella cheese, about 21 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.
A salad topping for lunch
A lunch salad for one person takes 2 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese, about 14 g, crumbled or grated over the top. Two tablespoons adds flavour and protein without turning a light salad into a heavy one. Add the cheese last, after the dressing, so it sits on top where you can see it and the dressing does not make it soggy.
How the figure is measured
Mozzarella 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 112 g comes from USDA. 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.
When you do not have a scale
Not every kitchen has a scale, and a tablespoon measure is a perfectly good tool for small amounts of mozzarella cheese. The key is technique: fill the spoon the way the source data assumes, which for mozzarella cheese is spooned and levelled. A level spoon is the standard, and a heaped spoon is a different measurement altogether, so level the top with a straight edge and do not guess.
For amounts larger than a few tablespoons, a cup measure is more reliable than counting spoons, because each spoonful adds a little error and the errors add up. One cup of mozzarella cheese is 112 g, which is 16 tablespoons, so if a recipe calls for a cup, use the cup measure rather than counting sixteen spoonfuls. And when a recipe has to work the first time, borrow or buy a scale: it costs less than a single failed bake, and it removes the biggest source of variation in home cooking, which is the way ingredients pack into a spoon or a cup.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of mozzarella cheese?
One tablespoon of mozzarella cheese weighs 7 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 112 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 2.3 g, and one cup is 112 g.
Is 7 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 112 g comes from USDA, 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 mozzarella 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 mozzarella cheese is 112 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 28 g of mozzarella cheese work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 28 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 to get tablespoons.
Why does a tablespoon of mozzarella cheese weigh so little compared with a tablespoon of butter?
Because grated or crumbled cheese is mostly air. A tablespoon of butter weighs 14.2 g, while a tablespoon of mozzarella cheese weighs 7 g, since the pieces do not pack tightly into the spoon. Pressing the cheese down would change the weight, which is why the figure assumes it is spooned and levelled, not packed.
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 mozzarella 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.