Convert Tablespoon (US) (tbsp) to Dessertspoon (UK) (dessertspoon (UK)) instantly.
About these units
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.
Dessertspoon (UK) (dessertspoon (UK))
A UK dessertspoon traditionally holds 10 milliliters, exactly double a teaspoon and two-thirds of a tablespoon. It served as an intermediate measure in older British recipes, frequently used before strict metrication took hold. Historically, its capacity varied between 8–12 mL, reflecting differences in cutlery styles and household practices. Many Victorian and Edwardian cookbooks reference dessertspoons extensively, making familiarity with the unit essential for culinary historians. Although largely obsolete in modern British cooking, the dessertspoon survives in heritage recipes, some baking traditions, and specialized kitchen contexts where small-to-medium quantities of liquid or spice must be measured.