If you are converting a recipe from cups to grams, start here: 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut weighs 5.3 g. The cup weight is 85 g, and since there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, the division is 85 ÷ 16 = 5.3 g. Multiply that by the number of tablespoons in your recipe and you have the weight.
This page gives you the full tablespoon table, a cups table for cross-checking, and worked examples from real cooking. All figures are approximate and come from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
About Shredded Coconut
Sweetened shreds of dried coconut flesh; very light per cup. Macaroons, cakes, curries and granola. 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 5.3 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Airtight container, cool and dry, up to 6 months.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 1.8 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 5.3 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 10.6 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 15.9 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 21.2 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 26.6 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 31.9 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 37.2 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 42.5 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 47.8 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 53.1 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 58.4 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 63.8 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 69.1 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 74.4 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 79.7 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 85 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 85 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 | 21.2 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 28.3 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 42.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 56.7 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 63.8 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 85 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 127.5 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 170 g |
Worked examples
A fruit loaf or a tea bread
A fruit loaf for a family uses 8 tablespoons of shredded coconut, about 42.5 g, soaked first and then folded into the dough. Eight tablespoons makes the loaf properly fruity rather than sparsely dotted. Soak the fruit in hot water or tea for twenty minutes before baking, which plumps it up and stops it from drawing moisture out of the loaf while it bakes.
A batch of muffins
A batch of twelve muffins uses 4 tablespoons of shredded coconut, about 21.2 g, folded into the batter. Four tablespoons spread across a dozen muffins means every muffin gets some fruit, and folding it in at the end stops the fruit from sinking to the bottom. Toss the fruit in a spoonful of flour first, which helps it stay suspended in the batter instead of sinking.
A bowl of morning oatmeal
A bowl of oatmeal for one person takes 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut, about 10.6 g, stirred in while the oats are still hot. Two tablespoons sweetens the bowl and adds texture without needing extra sugar. Add the fruit at the end of cooking so it softens slightly but keeps its shape, rather than boiling it into the porridge.
How the figure is measured
Shredded Coconut 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 85 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.
When precision matters most
Not every recipe needs weighing. A soup, a stew or a marinade will forgive a tablespoon of shredded coconut more or less, because the balance of flavours is broad and you can adjust it at the end. Baking is different: a cake, a loaf or a batch of biscuits depends on the ratio of ingredients, and being out by a few tablespoons of shredded coconut can change the texture, the rise or the sweetness.
Use the scale whenever the amount is large, whenever the recipe is one you have never made before, and whenever the ingredient is doing structural work rather than just adding flavour. For a single tablespoon in a savoury dish, a level spoon is accurate enough. For 42.5 g, which is 8 tablespoons, the spoon is a slow way to measure and a scale is both faster and more accurate. The habit to build is simple: weigh the ingredients that matter, spoon the ones that do not, and know which is which before you start cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of shredded coconut?
One tablespoon of shredded coconut weighs 5.3 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 85 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 1.8 g, and one cup is 85 g.
How many tablespoons of shredded coconut are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup, so one cup of shredded coconut is 16 tablespoons and weighs 85 g. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons (42.5 g), a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons (21.2 g), and three quarters of a cup is 12 tablespoons (63.8 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 5.3 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 85 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 shredded coconut 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 shredded coconut is 85 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 shredded coconut 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.