Michel wrote on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:46:09 -0600:

>> Do you have a favorite conversion calculator site to share?

> My brain? We here in Canada are still hampered by remnants of
> the Imperial system. Butter is sold by the 454g. Although
> Canada is metric (litres, kg, etc), you cannot buy 500g of
> butter in a single brick, or 100g for that matter, a much more
> efficient purchase and common in Europe.

> Most recipes are still written in Imperial avoirdupoids and
> fluid measures but more recent ones provide metric
> equivalences. However US publications rarely provide metric
> equivalences which makes them much less useful here.

> Many of the recipes I use are in Imperial, so you need to have
> measuring tools with both scales or you are reduced to quick
> mental calculations.

> Living with an antiquated and inefficient system based on the
> length of the foot of a long-dead monarch, you quickly learn:

> 1 lb = 454g
> 1 kg = 2.2 lb
> 1/2 lb = 227g

> 1 tbsp = 15ml
> 1 tsp = 5ml
> 1 cup = 250ml (roughly)

> From that you should be able to perform most routine
> calculations by dividing and multiplying the values.

It makes very little difference if you use less exact conversions:
1 lb = 400g will usually do and most US measuring jugs have both metric
and customary volume scales (probably need them to sell in Canada.)
Just to be picky, 1 tablespoon = 2.5 teaspoons.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not