The introduction of the spoon has increased the level of hygienic food and beverages. They kept viral and bacterial contamination away from the food and drink.
In a traditional kitchen, teaspoon and tablespoon is considered common cutlery item, and they can be found in every household. Most of these spoons come with the same decoration.
Therefore, many people consider them the same and find it hard to distinguish them. And they interchange one with another.
However, with closer observation, the difference between these two types of spoons can be seen clearly.
Key Takeaways
- A teaspoon is a small unit of measurement used in cooking and baking, equivalent to 5 milliliters (mL) or about 1/3 of a tablespoon.
- A tablespoon is a larger unit of measurement, also used in cooking and baking, equivalent to 15 milliliters (mL) or 3 teaspoons.
- The primary distinction between a teaspoon and a tablespoon is their size and capacity, three times larger than a teaspoon.
Teaspoon vs Tablespoon
The difference between Teaspoon and Tablespoon is that a teaspoon is a part of the kitchen cutlery that is designed for stirring hot or cold beverages in the cup and is used for measuring cooking ingredients; it holds around hold 5 millilitres of liquid in a scoop; while a tablespoon is a part of the kitchen cutlery that is designed for eating & food serving, it holds around hold 15 millilitres of liquid in a scoop.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Teaspoon | Tablespoon |
|---|---|---|
| What is it | a part of the kitchen cutlery that is designed for stirring hot or cold beverages in the cup and is used for measuring cooking ingredients | a piece of kitchen cutlery that is designed for eating & food serving and is used for measuring cooking compounds |
| Abbreviation | tsp | tbsp |
| Length | 3.5 inches to 4.5 inches | 5 inches to 6 inches |
| Size | Smaller | Medium |
| Came to existence | British colonial era | Renaissance period |
| Capacity | 5 millilitres | 15 millilitres |
What is Teaspoon?
The teaspoon is a part of the kitchen cutlery designed for stirring hot or cold beverages in the cup and is used for measuring cooking ingredients. In the list of spoons, a teaspoon falls in the smaller types of spoon category.
While the spoon has existed with humanity for a long time, a teaspoon is relatively new. The origin of the teaspoon can be found during the British colonial era when tea became a trendy household drink.
Stirring sugar in a hot cup of tea became challenging for large spoons. To solve this problem, British people first started using a teaspoon.
The normal length of most teaspoons is in-between 3.5 inches to 4.5 inches. They suppose to hold 5 millilitres of liquid in a scoop.
For this reason, many people use a teaspoon for measuring liquid medicines. Although spoons cannot measure the weight of any substance accurately, many people use them to measure powdery cooking ingredients with them.
A standard scoop teaspoon holds 2 to 3 grams of dry substance.
For this reason, the mention of a teaspoon can be found in every recipe book. In most recipe books, the abbreviation of a teaspoon is marked with the term “tsp”.
Through this instruction, a sheaf shares how many cooking ingredients are required.
What is Tablespoon?
The tablespoon is a part of the kitchen cutlery designed for eating & food serving and is used for measuring cooking compounds. In the list of spoons, a tablespoon falls in the medium types of spoon category.
Spoons have been present with mankind for a long time. Many historians found archaeological evidence in ancient Egyptian civilization.
In Europe, the tablespoon becomes popular during the Renaissance period. During this time, rich people used to have their tablespoons for eating.
However, tablespoons became everyday household items after the industrial revolution. Now, large-scale production of tablespoons has become possible with stamping machines.
The average length of most tablespoons is in-between 5 inches to 6 inches. They suppose to hold 15 millilitres of liquid in a scoop.
For this reason, many people use a tablespoon for measuring liquid substances. Like any other spoon, a tablespoon also cannot accurately measure the weight.
However, in daily life, many people also use it to measure dry substances. A standard scoop tablespoon holds 6 to 9 grams of dry materials.
A tablespoon measurement is also an essential part of every recipe book. In most recipe books, the abbreviation of a tablespoon is marked with the term “tbsp”.
Main Differences Between Teaspoon and Tablespoon
- The teaspoon is a part of the kitchen cutlery designed for stirring hot or cold beverages in the cup, while the tablespoon is a part of the kitchen cutlery designed for eating & food serving.
- The abbreviation of a teaspoon is “tsp”. On the other hand, the abbreviation of a tablespoon is “tbsp”.
- The average length of most teaspoons is around 3.5 inches to 4.5 inches long. However, the average size of most tablespoons is 5 inches to 6 inches long.
- In the list of spoons, a teaspoon falls in the smaller types of spoon category. On the other hand, in the list of spoons, a tablespoon falls in the medium types of spoon category.
- Teaspoons existed during the British colonial era, while tablespoons existed during the Renaissance period.
- A regular teaspoon can hold 5 millilitres of liquid in a scoop. However, a normal tablespoon can hold 15 millilitres of juice in a spoon.
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
I think the comparison table provided is very helpful in summarizing the key differences between teaspoons and tablespoons.
The article effectively highlights the importance of teaspoons and tablespoons in cooking and the distinctions between them. Very informative and practical.
I found this article to be both entertaining and enlightening. Learning about the history of teaspoons and tablespoons was quite enjoyable.
It’s fascinating how the uses of teaspoons and tablespoons have historical roots. I never thought about the evolution of these common kitchen utensils before.
This is a very educational article, but it’s also quite humorous to think that teaspoons were initially used to stir sugar in tea.
I never knew the lengths and capacities of teaspoons and tablespoons varied so much. This is quite an eye-opener.
This article is a great resource for understanding the historical and practical differences between teaspoons and tablespoons.
The inclusion of the comparison table is a great way to provide a clear visual representation of the differences between teaspoons and tablespoons.
I appreciate the clear explanations and in-depth detail provided about the history and differences between teaspoons and tablespoons.
Very interesting and informative article about the different uses and origins of teaspoons and tablespoons. It’s important to know the differences when cooking.
I agree, knowing the capacity differences between teaspoons and tablespoons when measuring ingredients is crucial for accurate cooking.