Butter is one of the most integral ingredients for any kitchen. Sweet, savory, the number of dishes that need a little dash (or a big lump) of butter is innumerable. We couldn’t go without it, and this delicious yellow treat is what makes so many of our favorites creamy and memorable. But how are you supposed to convert it from sticks into cups?
Sometimes, recipes call for measurements that we don’t quite know what to do with. Conversion can be hard, annoying, and stressful – exactly the attitude you don’t want in your kitchen. However, we are here with our culinary magic to make life that much easier for you and take the frustration out of the situation so that you can get back to enjoying yourself.
Converting Butter Sticks Into Cups
If your recipe is calling for cups of butter, I can see your face looking at the cup and sighing right now. The good news is that there is no need for the sighs and resignation, butter conversion can be made easy so that you know exactly how many sticks need to be thrown in. What could make that whole process easier than a handy conversion table?
| Cups | Sticks | Tablespoons | Ounces | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1/2 | 4 | 2 | 57 |
| 1/2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 113 |
| 3/4 | 1 1/2 | 12 | 6 | 170 |
| 1 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 227 |
| 1 1/4 | 2 1/2 | 20 | 10 | 284 |
| 1 1/2 | 3 | 24 | 12 | 341 |
| 1 ¾ | 3 1/2 | 28 | 14 | 398 |
| 2 | 4 | 32 | 16 | 454 |
As you can see, we pushed the boat out a little here. You don’t just have the conversion from sticks to cups, but also tablespoons, ounces, and grams. All the key conversion rates are laid out here so that you can tackle any recipe that is thrown your way. After all, who wants to be caught short without the right amount of butter they need for the recipe?
What is a Stick of Butter?
For readers outside of the US, the concept of a stick of butter might be a little confusing. Where butter is sold in blocks throughout Europe, the USA sells them in sticks instead. These long yet weighty packages aren’t much different from the European block. It’s just that they are long and thick as opposed to being in the rectangular shape found in the UK and Europe.
Having butter in sticks can be quite useful because of the way many US recipes are written – namely to include things like add one stick of butter as opposed to giving exact measurements in grams. This is partly why we included such a detailed conversion chart; it’s useful for those in the US as well as European readers that might be struggling with US recipes.
What About Margarine?
Margarine is a popular substitute for butter, a spread that can be used in baking and for general cooking or consumption that resembles a lighter version of our favorite dairy treat. It is usually made from vegetable oil, having previously been made with animal fats, and is often marketed as a healthier alternative to butter.
If you are using margarine instead of butter, you might feel worried about the quantities being the same. While margarine doesn’t come in sticks, the good news is that you use the same amount of margarine as you do butter. This means that you don’t have to worry about a whole new conversion system and can get straight down to cooking.
To Conclude
We know how irritating it can be to have to convert your measurements to adapt to new recipes. It’s a frustrating experience, but we hope this guide has been able to take that out and leave you feeling more zen. After all, everyone knows that the best cooking happens when you’re feeling good and relaxed. Everything tastes better, it’s just a fact of life.
If you have more ingredients or general conversions that you are struggling with, you don’t have to worry about that anymore. We have an entire series of guides that are dedicated to helping you with the most pressing conversions. Whether you need to get through the complexity of grams or how much rice to serve a person, we’re here covering it all. Make sure to check it out.