1 teaspoon of panko weighs 1.04 g. A teaspoon is one forty-eighth of a cup, and a cup of panko is 50 g spooned and levelled, so the maths is 50 ÷ 48 = 1.04 g. The same cup divided by 16 gives the tablespoon weight of 3.1 g, and there are 3 teaspoons in every tablespoon. If you cook from recipes written in cups and spoons, this page is the bridge between the two, and the worked examples show the conversion inside real dishes rather than in isolation.
Panko is the lightest ingredient on this entire site: a teaspoon holds just 1.04 g, and a cup is only 50 g. Those airy Japanese flakes are the whole point of panko — they fry up crisper and lighter than any other crumb, because the flakes are large, dry and full of air. That lightness is also why the spoon table matters so much: a heaped spoon of panko can hold half as much again as a level one, and a coating that is half as thick again is a coating that falls off in the pan. Panko is measured by the spoon for single portions — one piece of fish, one chicken breast, one gratin top.
All figures on this page are approximate, and they come from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled. When a recipe has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
Conversion table
One teaspoon is one forty-eighth of a cup, so every figure in this table is the cup weight divided by 48, rounded to two decimal places. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
| Teaspoons | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 1.04 g |
| 2 tsp | 2.08 g |
| 3 tsp | 3.12 g |
| 4 tsp | 4.17 g |
| 5 tsp | 5.21 g |
| 6 tsp | 6.25 g |
| 7 tsp | 7.29 g |
| 8 tsp | 8.33 g |
| 9 tsp | 9.38 g |
| 10 tsp | 10.42 g |
| 11 tsp | 11.46 g |
| 12 tsp | 12.50 g |
The tablespoon figures are included too, because most recipes switch between teaspoons and tablespoons, and 3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon.
| Tablespoons | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 3.1 g |
| 2 tbsp | 6.2 g |
| 3 tbsp | 9.4 g |
| 4 tbsp | 12.5 g |
| 5 tbsp | 15.6 g |
| 6 tbsp | 18.8 g |
| 7 tbsp | 21.9 g |
| 8 tbsp | 25.0 g |
| 9 tbsp | 28.1 g |
| 10 tbsp | 31.2 g |
| 11 tbsp | 34.4 g |
| 12 tbsp | 37.5 g |
| 13 tbsp | 40.6 g |
| 14 tbsp | 43.8 g |
| 15 tbsp | 46.9 g |
| 16 tbsp | 50.0 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every tablespoon figure is the cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place.
Cups to grams for reference
When a recipe jumps from spoons to cups, use this table instead of counting out 16 tablespoons. Every figure is the cup weight multiplied by the fraction, rounded to one decimal place, and all figures are approximate.
| Cups | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 12.5 g |
| 1/3 cup | 16.7 g |
| 1/2 cup | 25.0 g |
| 2/3 cup | 33.3 g |
| 3/4 cup | 37.5 g |
| 1 cup | 50.0 g |
One cup of panko weighs 50 g, so a quarter cup is 12.5 g and half a cup is 25.0 g. Those two figures cover most everyday scaling, and the full table above covers the rest.
How the measurement works
The figure on this page comes from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled. Light, airy Japanese breadcrumbs; very low density per cup. Crispy coatings for fried and baked foods.
All results on this page are approximate. Ingredient weights vary with brand, humidity, temperature and how firmly you pack the spoon, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use the numbers here as a guide. The method matters more than the number itself, because the same spoon of panko measured two different ways can give two different weights, and the King Arthur Baking value assumes the spooned and levelled method every time.
Worked examples
Coating a single chicken breast
A single chicken breast takes about 8 teaspoons (8.33 g) of panko pressed onto the floured, egged surface, and the weight tells you how little panko a single portion actually needs. Press the flakes on firmly and let the coated breast rest for five minutes, or the coating falls off in the pan and burns on the tray.
A crispy topping for a gratin
A gratin for one is finished with 4 teaspoons (4.17 g) of panko tossed with a little melted butter, and the spoon measure keeps the topping light and shattering instead of thick and bready. Scatter the panko evenly and do not press it down, or it clumps and browns in patches.
Panko in a meatball mix
A meatball mix for two takes 5 teaspoons (5.21 g) of panko stirred in with the mince and egg, and the flakes absorb moisture without making the meatballs heavy. Dry crumbs swap 1:1 by volume, but panko is far lighter by weight — 1.04 g per teaspoon against 2.33 g for breadcrumbs — so the same volume of panko weighs less than half as much, which is why a panko coating feels lighter and crisper.
Practical guidance
Spoon panko in lightly and level it with the back of a knife, but never press it down: panko is mostly air, and packing it can nearly double the weight per spoon, which is the single biggest error in any panko recipe. Do not shake the spoon to settle the flakes, and do not try to fit one more flake in. If you cook with panko often, weigh it — the scale removes the biggest variable in the whole recipe, and panko is the ingredient where the scale earns its keep.
Panko and regular breadcrumbs are not interchangeable by the spoon: panko weighs 1.04 g per teaspoon and breadcrumbs weigh 2.33 g, so a recipe written for breadcrumbs needs more than twice the volume of panko to get the same weight. Panko also absorbs less oil when fried, which is why it stays crisp. Store panko sealed and dry for up to six months; it goes stale fast in an open bag, and stale panko tastes of cardboard.
Scaling with spoons is easy once you know the weight of one spoon. To measure 100 g of panko, count out about 96.0 teaspoons, and for 50 g, about 48.0 teaspoons. Halving a recipe that calls for 4 teaspoons means using 2 teaspoons, or 2.08 g, and doubling it means 8 teaspoons, or 8.33 g. The key is to scale every ingredient by the same factor, because changing one ingredient without changing the others throws the recipe out of balance. For large amounts, switch to a cup measure or a scale, since counting out teaspoons one by one is slow and error-prone, and a cup is faster and more accurate.
When should you weigh panko instead of measuring it? Whenever the recipe has to work the first time, and whenever the amount is large. A kitchen scale 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 cup or a spoon. Put the bowl on the scale, press tare, and add the panko until the display shows the number you need. There is nothing to wash afterwards except the bowl, and the result is the same every time. For small amounts, a level spoon is accurate enough, and for anything where precision matters, the scale is the tool to reach for.
Storage. Airtight container, cool and dry, up to 6 months.
- Level every spoon with the back of a knife.
- Use spoons for small amounts, and a scale for large ones.
- Keep the same spoon for the whole recipe so errors stay consistent.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1 teaspoon of panko?
One level teaspoon of panko weighs approximately 1.04 g. That figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 50 g by 48, and it assumes the ingredient is measured spooned and levelled. All figures on this page are approximate, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
Why is panko so light per teaspoon?
Because it is made from large, airy flakes of crustless bread that trap a lot of air. A cup of panko weighs only 50 g — lighter than any other ingredient on this site. That is also why pressing the spoon down changes the weight so much: you are squeezing out the air.
Can I use panko instead of breadcrumbs?
By weight, yes — panko weighs 1.04 g per teaspoon and breadcrumbs weigh 2.33 g, so matching the weight takes more than twice the volume of panko. But recipes swap them 1:1 by volume, because a coating is judged by coverage, not by weight. Panko gives a lighter, crisper coating, which is usually an improvement — just do not use it where a fine crumb must bind, because it is too coarse to hold a mixture together.
Does panko absorb less oil than breadcrumbs?
Yes. The large, dry flakes absorb less oil when fried, which is why panko-coated food stays crisper and feels less greasy. It is the main reason panko exists, and the reason it costs more than regular breadcrumbs.
How many teaspoons of panko are in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon, so 1 tablespoon of panko weighs approximately 3.1 g, which is three times the teaspoon weight of 1.04 g. Use the tablespoon table on this page when a recipe switches between the two units.
How should I store panko?
Airtight container, cool and dry, up to 6 months. Keeping it stored properly also keeps its weight consistent, since an ingredient that has absorbed moisture or dried out will not weigh the same per spoon as a fresh one.