When a recipe lists sesame oil in tablespoons and your scale reads grams, the conversion is 13.5 g per tablespoon. The maths is a single division: one cup of sesame oil weighs 216 g, and one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so 216 ÷ 16 = 13.5 g. That one number unlocks the whole table below, from a single teaspoon at 4.5 g up to a full cup at 216 g.
Every figure here is approximate and comes from USDA, measured poured. Small spoonfuls are the hardest amounts to weigh accurately, so if the recipe matters, check the weight on a kitchen scale.
About Sesame Oil
Toasted sesame oil is dark and intensely nutty; refined sesame oil is neutral. Stir-fries, dressings and marinades; toasted oil is a finishing oil. 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 13.5 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Refrigerate toasted sesame oil after opening.
Worked examples
Roasting a tray of vegetables
A tray of roast vegetables for four people needs 4 tablespoons of sesame oil, about 54 g, tossed with the vegetables before they go into the oven. The oil helps the vegetables brown and crisp at the edges, and it carries the flavour of any herbs or spices you add. Toss the vegetables in a bowl rather than drizzling the oil over them in the tray, so every piece is coated evenly and none of them sits in a puddle.
A marinade for a weeknight dinner
A quick marinade for two chicken breasts or a block of tofu uses 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, about 27 g, mixed with garlic, lemon and herbs. Two tablespoons is enough to coat the food without leaving it greasy, and the oil helps the seasoning cling while the food rests. Leave it for at least twenty minutes, and pat the surface dry before cooking so it browns instead of steaming.
Frying an egg for breakfast
A fried egg needs 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 13.5 g, heated in a small pan until it shimmers. One tablespoon is the right amount for a single egg: enough to stop it sticking and to crisp the edges, without leaving a pool of fat in the pan. If the oil is not hot enough the egg spreads and turns rubbery, and if it is smoking it is too hot, so wait for the shimmer and then crack the egg in.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 4.5 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 13.5 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 27 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 40.5 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 54 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 67.5 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 81 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 94.5 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 108 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 121.5 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 135 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 148.5 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 162 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 175.5 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 189 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 202.5 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 216 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 216 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 | 54 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 72 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 108 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 144 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 162 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 216 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 324 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 432 g |
How the figure is measured
Sesame Oil is a liquid, so it is measured poured: fill the tablespoon to the brim and level it by eye, or pour it into a small jug and read the level. Liquids are the easiest ingredients to measure by volume, because they settle flat and leave no air pockets, but they still cling to the spoon, so let the spoon drip for a moment before you count it as added. For larger amounts, pour into a jug rather than counting spoonfuls, since counting sixteen tablespoons is slow and each pour adds a small error.
The cup weight of 216 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 sesame oil. The key is technique: fill the spoon the way the source data assumes, which for sesame oil is poured. 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 sesame oil is 216 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 sesame oil?
One tablespoon of sesame oil weighs 13.5 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 216 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 4.5 g, and one cup is 216 g.
How many grams is a teaspoon of sesame oil?
One teaspoon of sesame oil weighs 4.5 g, approximately. A teaspoon is a third of a tablespoon, so the teaspoon weight is the tablespoon weight of 13.5 g divided by three. For very small amounts, the teaspoon is the better tool, because it is easier to level accurately than a tablespoon.
How many tablespoons of sesame oil are in 100 g?
About 7.4 tablespoons. The calculation is 100 g divided by 13.5 g per tablespoon, which gives 7.4. In practice, measure 7.4 level tablespoons and accept that the result will be a gram or two off, or weigh the ingredient directly if the recipe needs to be exact.
How many tablespoons of sesame oil are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup, so one cup of sesame oil is 16 tablespoons and weighs 216 g. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons (108 g), a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons (54 g), and three quarters of a cup is 12 tablespoons (162 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.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Measuring a liquid in a dry cup, where it clings to the sides and some of it never reaches the bowl.
- Counting spoonfuls for a large amount instead of switching to a jug or a scale, which lets small errors add up.
- Reading a jug at an angle instead of at eye level, which makes the level look higher or lower than it is.
- Pouring straight from the bottle into the pan, which is almost always more than the recipe asked for.
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 sesame oil poured, 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.