In the kitchen or baking, you usually employ 1/4, 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 cups. At first, they are frustrating. Especially if your recipe calls for you to use 2/3 cup. And you only have 1/4 cup on hand. Thus the question is: how many 1/4 cups do you need? So that you’ll have 2/3 cups?
The easy answer is about 2 and 2/3 of a 1/4 cup = 2/3 cup.
Since you can’t pour 2 and 2/3 into one 1/4 cup, you’ll be a measuring magician. We’ll start small.
Table of Contents
Fractions in the Kitchen
1 cup is one ginormous slice of pizza.
- Divide it into 4 equal-sized pieces so each is 1/4 cup.
- Divide it into 3 equal-sized pieces so each is 1/3 cup.
- 2/3 cup = 2 of the 3 equal-sized pieces.
We are attempting to find out how many 1/4 parts make up 2/3 of a pizza.
Changing Fractions to Have the Same Denominator
So we can compare 1/4 and 2/3. We need to have the same denominator.
- 1/4 = 3/12
- 2/3 = 8/12
Now we know:
- One 1/4 cup = 3/12 of a cup
- 2/3 cup = 8/12 of a cup
Now, divide 8 by 3: 8 ÷ 3 = 2 and 2/3.
2 and 2/3 of a 1/4 cup is equal to 2/3 cup, then.
Step-by-Step Math
Here’s the second answer:
2/3 ÷ 1/4 = ?
Divide 2/3 by the reciprocal of 1/4 that is 4/1:
2/3 × 4/1 = 8/3 = 2 and 2/3
The math is letting you know you will need to use 2 and 2/3 of a 1/4 cup.
A Kitchen Shortcut Made Easy
You can’t actually add 2 and 2/3 together so that is the cutcorner:
- Scoop out 1/4 cup two times. That is 1/2 cup.
- You now have a teensy bit more, 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons.
- Add this amount extra to the bowl.
That is only 2/3 cup.
Why Accuracy Is Necessary When Baking
It isn’t hard to adapt while cooking. An additional pinch of salt or dash of additional milk won’t kill you. But baking is chemistry. It is measured because the recipe is wet to dry ratio.
- Too much flour = dry, heavy cake.
- Too much sugar = too sweet cookies.
- Too much milk = too wet batter.
- Too little butter = dry, crumbly cake.
Thus, you would be aware of how to take 2/3 cups in terms of 1/4 cups.
Applications in the Kitchen in Daily Life
There are some applications in daily life in the kitchen of such a conversion:
- Cookies: Your recipe calls for 2/3 cup sugar. Spoon two times 1/4 cup and then two-thirds of the third remaining spoonful.
- Pancakes: 2/3 cup milk is needed. Scoop two times 1/4 cup and include a bit more.
- Rice: 2/3 cup raw rice needed. Measure 2 times 1/4 cup and a little more.
- Cake mix: About 2/3 cup flour needed. Measure 2 times 1/4 cup and a little more again.
You will also get used to the estimate of the “little” scoop after a few practice tries.
Measuring in Tablespoons
Another method of being more accurate, or in tablespoons, is as follows:
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
- 2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
Substitute the crude approximation of 2 and 2/3 of the 1/4 cup measuring spoons with 10 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons. That is more accurate especially if you are baking.
The Water Visualization Trick
If you are not a visualizer, you can use the water trick:
- Fill a glass to the 1/4 cup level with water.
- Repeat to get 1/2.
- Add in about two-thirds of a second 1/4 cup of water.
You now have 2/3 cup water. Same taste with any liquid ingredient and an authentic fractions-in-action activity.
Fractions for Kids
Fractions for kids to learn are just playing around. Rather than numbers on paper, they have fractions as real food which they get to eat.
- Model 2 1/4 cups = 1/2 cup.
- Model 2 and 2/3 of a 1/4 cup = 2/3 cup.
Make students measure rice or flour so that fractions aren’t in the air.
A concrete way math can be experiential.
What People Do Wrong
When attempting to measure incorrectly 2/3 cup instead of 1/4 cups, what people do is:
- Measure two 1/4 cups individually (which will be 1/2 cup, short).
- Measure three 1/4 cups (they measure 3/4 cup, too much) too.
- Too much in a recipe since scoops are not level and their measurement is not exact.
The solution: use never something less than two 1/4 cup scoops and almost two-thirds of a third scoop.
Why Recipes Use 2/3 Cup
You ever wonder why recipes don’t just ask for 1/2 or 3/4 cup. Symmetry.
2/3 cup is a “just right” amount, larger than 1/2 cup but smaller than 3/4 cup. It provides cookies, cakes, sauces, and breads with just the right texture. That’s why it appears so often in sweet or baked good recipes.
Quick Conversion Chart
Here’s something to have on hand:
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
- 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons
- 2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
- 3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
If you don’t have an exact measuring scoop, you can scoop quickly.
What If You Need More Than 2/3 Cup?
Well, eventually there’s going to be a need for more. In the case where the only measurement device you have to use is a 1/4 cup, you use the following:
- 1 cup = 4 scoops of 1/4 cup
- 1 1/2 cups = 6 scoops of 1/4 cup
- 2 cups = 8 scoops of 1/4 cup
- 2/3 cup = 2 and 2/3 scoops of 1/4 cup
In this way, you can convert all to 1/4 cup only.
FAQs
If I take 3 scoops of 1/4 cup?
That is 3/4 cup, which is more than 2/3 cup.
How can I measure exactly without measuring the cup for 2/3?
Measured in tablespoons. 2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons.
Why 2/3 cup, not 1/2 or 3/4?
Because 2/3 is in the middle and has more taste and texture.
What do I have when I scoop out my 1/4 cup by accident?
Too little or too much. Level with a knife or spoon to be just right.
How many scoops of 1/4 cup make 2/3 cup? Two and a half scoops, at least. That is, two full scoops of 1/4 cup and a little bit more than half of the third scoop.
This kitchen hack assures your recipes always turn out so great even when you are a mile away from any measuring cups. Baking cookies to cake mix or cooking rice, the hack assures perfect measurement and delectable taste.
