1 teaspoon of sesame oil weighs 4.5 g. A teaspoon is one forty-eighth of a cup, and a cup of sesame oil is 216 g poured, so the maths is 216 ÷ 48 = 4.5 g. The same cup divided by 16 gives the tablespoon weight of 13.5 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.
Toasted sesame oil is dark and intensely nutty; refined sesame oil is neutral. It is used for stir-fries, dressings and marinades; toasted oil is a finishing oil.
All figures on this page are approximate, and they come from USDA, measured poured. 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 | 4.5 g |
| 2 tsp | 9 g |
| 3 tsp | 13.5 g |
| 4 tsp | 18 g |
| 5 tsp | 22.5 g |
| 6 tsp | 27 g |
| 7 tsp | 31.5 g |
| 8 tsp | 36 g |
| 9 tsp | 40.5 g |
| 10 tsp | 45 g |
| 11 tsp | 49.5 g |
| 12 tsp | 54 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 | 13.5 g |
| 2 tbsp | 27 g |
| 3 tbsp | 40.5 g |
| 4 tbsp | 54 g |
| 5 tbsp | 67.5 g |
| 6 tbsp | 81 g |
| 7 tbsp | 94.5 g |
| 8 tbsp | 108 g |
| 9 tbsp | 121.5 g |
| 10 tbsp | 135 g |
| 11 tbsp | 148.5 g |
| 12 tbsp | 162 g |
| 13 tbsp | 175.5 g |
| 14 tbsp | 189 g |
| 15 tbsp | 202.5 g |
| 16 tbsp | 216 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 | 54 g |
| 1/3 cup | 72 g |
| 1/2 cup | 108 g |
| 2/3 cup | 144 g |
| 3/4 cup | 162 g |
| 1 cup | 216 g |
One cup of sesame oil weighs 216 g, so a quarter cup is 54 g and half a cup is 108 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 USDA, measured poured. Oil is a liquid, so there is nothing to level: pour it into the measuring spoon until it reaches the rim, and hold the spoon level so it does not spill. A cup of sesame oil weighs 216 g, which is where the teaspoon figure of 4.5 g comes from. Oil clings to the spoon, so a thin film stays behind when you tip it out; that film is part of why spoon measures are approximate. Temperature plays a small part too, because cold oil is slightly denser than warm oil, but the difference across normal kitchen temperatures is tiny. What matters far more is the spoon itself: measuring spoons vary a little between brands, so use the same set for the whole recipe and the error stays consistent.
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 sesame oil measured two different ways can give two different weights, and the USDA value assumes the poured method every time.
Worked examples
A vinaigrette for two
A simple vinaigrette for two people uses 2 teaspoons (9 g) of sesame oil whisked with 1 teaspoon of vinegar and a pinch of salt. The oil is the body of the dressing, and measuring it by the spoon keeps the ratio of fat to acid steady, so the dressing coats the leaves instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl. Whisk it in a little at a time and the dressing emulsifies; pour it all in at once and it splits.
A marinade for chicken
A marinade for two chicken breasts calls for 4 teaspoons (18 g) of sesame oil mixed with lemon juice, garlic and herbs. The oil carries the flavour into the meat and keeps the surface from drying out in the pan, and because the amount is small, the spoon is the right tool. If the marinade looks oily rather than clinging to the chicken, you have used too much, and the excess will smoke in the pan before the chicken is cooked.
Oil in a small loaf cake
A small loaf cake that serves four uses 6 teaspoons (27 g) of sesame oil in place of some of the butter, which keeps the crumb moist for days. Six teaspoons is 27 g, or 2 tablespoons, and weighing the oil instead of counting spoons is faster and more accurate at this amount. Too much oil and the cake turns heavy and greasy; too little and it dries out by the next day, so the spoon count matters more here than in a dressing.
Practical guidance
Measuring oil by the spoon
Pour the oil into the spoon over the bowl or pan, and hold the spoon level. A thin film stays on the spoon when you tip it out, so the first spoonful delivers slightly less than the full 4.5 g and later spoonfuls deliver slightly more as the film builds up. That is normal, and it is why the figures here are approximate. If the amount matters, weigh the oil: put the bowl on the scale, press tare, and pour until the display shows the number you need.
Common mistakes with oil
The most common mistake is measuring oil with a cutlery teaspoon instead of a measuring spoon, which can hold anywhere from 3 ml to 7 ml. Another is pouring straight from the bottle into the pan and guessing, which almost always adds more than the recipe asked for. A third is forgetting that oil in a cold pan behaves differently from oil in a hot one: cold oil soaks into food, while hot oil seals the surface, so the amount matters less than the temperature.
Scaling and when to weigh
Scaling with spoons is easy once you know the weight of one spoon. To measure 100 g of sesame oil, count out about 22.2 teaspoons, and for 50 g, about 11.1 teaspoons. Halving a recipe that calls for 4 teaspoons means using 2 teaspoons, or 9 g, and doubling it means 8 teaspoons, or 36 g. 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.
Storage. Refrigerate toasted sesame oil after opening.
- 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 sesame oil?
One level teaspoon of sesame oil weighs approximately 4.5 g. That figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 216 g by 48, and it assumes the ingredient is measured poured. All figures on this page are approximate, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
How many teaspoons of sesame oil make 100 g?
About 22.2 teaspoons of sesame oil weigh 100 g, and about 11.1 teaspoons weigh 50 g. Count out the spoons level, and switch to a scale for large amounts, since counting dozens of spoonfuls invites mistakes.
How many teaspoons of sesame oil are in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon, so 1 tablespoon of sesame oil weighs approximately 13.5 g, which is three times the teaspoon weight of 4.5 g. Use the tablespoon table on this page when a recipe switches between the two units.
Does a heaped teaspoon of sesame oil weigh more?
Yes, a heaped teaspoon weighs noticeably more than a level one, and the difference is biggest for light, fluffy ingredients. Always level the spoon with the back of a knife unless the recipe specifically says heaped, because recipes that give spoon measures assume a level spoon.
Can I swap sesame oil for another oil by weight?
Yes, by weight, most cooking oils are close enough to swap gram for gram in baking and dressings, because they all weigh around 216 g per cup. The flavour changes, though, so a strong-flavoured oil will show through in a delicate cake. Swap by weight, not by spoon, and taste the result.
How should I store sesame oil?
Refrigerate toasted sesame oil after opening. Keeping it stored properly also keeps its weight consistent, since an ingredient that has absorbed moisture or gone stale will not weigh the same per spoon as a fresh one.