1 tablespoon of pistachios weighs 7.5 g. That is the short answer, and it comes from dividing the cup weight of 120 g by 16, because one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup: 120 ÷ 16 = 7.5 g. If you are standing in the kitchen with a spoon in one hand and a recipe in the other, that number is all you need, and the tables below cover every amount from one teaspoon to two cups.
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.
About Pistachios
Shelled pistachio kernels, green and mildly sweet. Baklava, salads, pesto and ice cream. 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 7.5 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Airtight container in a cool place; refrigerate for longer.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 2.5 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 7.5 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 15 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 22.5 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 30 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 37.5 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 45 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 52.5 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 60 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 67.5 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 75 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 82.5 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 90 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 97.5 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 105 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 112.5 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 120 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 120 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 | 30 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 40 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 60 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 80 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 90 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 120 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 180 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 240 g |
Worked examples
A granola batch for the week
A tray of homemade granola uses 8 tablespoons of pistachios, about 60 g, mixed through the oats before baking. Eight tablespoons across a whole tray means a spoonful of granola has a few pieces in it, which is the right balance. Stir the granola halfway through baking so the nuts on top do not burn while the ones underneath stay pale.
A smoothie or a breakfast bowl
A breakfast bowl or a smoothie for one person takes 2 tablespoons of pistachios, about 15 g, sprinkled on top or blended in. Two tablespoons is a sensible single serving: enough to add flavour and texture without overwhelming the bowl. If you are blending them in, add them last and pulse briefly, so they break up without turning the whole bowl gritty.
A batch of cookies
A batch of cookies for a dozen people uses 4 tablespoons of pistachios, about 30 g, folded into the dough at the end. Four tablespoons spread through a whole batch gives a nut in most bites without making the cookies crumbly. Chop them roughly rather than finely, so they keep some texture, and fold them in last so they do not get crushed by the mixing.
How the figure is measured
Pistachios 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 120 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.
Storage and keeping
Storage. Airtight container in a cool place; refrigerate for longer. Keeping pistachios properly stored matters for the conversion as well as for the flavour, because an ingredient that has absorbed moisture or dried out weighs differently per spoon than a fresh one. Store it as the data file recommends and check it before you measure: if it has clumped, hardened or gone stale, the spoon weight will be off and the recipe will be too.
Buy pistachios in amounts you will use within its storage life, and keep it in a sealed container rather than an open bag, which lets in air and moisture. Label the container with the date you opened it, so you are not guessing later whether it is still good. A fresh ingredient measures more predictably than an old one, and predictable measuring is what makes the numbers on this page useful in a real kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of pistachios?
One tablespoon of pistachios weighs 7.5 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 120 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 2.5 g, and one cup is 120 g.
How many tablespoons of pistachios are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup, so one cup of pistachios is 16 tablespoons and weighs 120 g. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons (60 g), a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons (30 g), and three quarters of a cup is 12 tablespoons (90 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 7.5 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 120 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 pistachios 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 pistachios is 120 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
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 pistachios 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.