Convert Dessertspoon (US) (dessertspoon) to Tablespoon (US) (tbsp) instantly.
About these units
Dessertspoon (US) (dessertspoon)
The US dessertspoon, though rarely used today, traditionally equals 2 teaspoons or about 10 mL. Unlike the UK version, it never gained strong cultural traction in American cooking. Most US recipes skip directly from teaspoons to tablespoons, leaving the dessertspoon as a historical curiosity that occasionally appears in antique cookbooks. Despite its near-obsolescence, understanding the dessertspoon is important for culinary historians and those interpreting older domestic manuals.
Tablespoon (US) (tbsp)
The US tablespoon is defined as 14.7868 mL, though commonly rounded to 15 mL in nutritional labeling and informal cooking contexts. In American cooking, the tablespoon is indispensable for measuring oils, spices, and small liquid quantities. It is also widely used in medicine for dosing liquid medications at home, though modern practice increasingly recommends milliliters for clarity. Its relationship—3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon and 16 tablespoons = 1 cup—allows American cooks to scale recipes easily, making it a cornerstone unit of the US culinary measurement system.