What Is The Difference Between A Tablespoon And A Teaspoon?

The main difference between the two is in their sizes. A teaspoon is smaller and holds up to 5 ml or 0.16 fl oz. whereas a tablespoon that is much bigger in size has the capacity to hold up to 15 ml or 1/2 fl oz. Accordingly, both are used for different purposes.

Spoons have a history that is as ancient as knives. There are strong pieces of evidence that support the theory that the use of spoons has existed as early as the prehistoric era. People in ancient developments made spoons out of wood, bone, rock, gold, silver, and ivory.

There are many ancient texts and scripts that tell us about the use of spoons from Egypt to India to China. Several different designs are changed in every century. Although, the modern design of the spoon is a narrow, elliptical-shaped bowl that ends with a round handle. The current appearance of spoons was only devised in the 1700s, and soon after they became a prominent household item.

Humans created utensils like spoons because that makes it easier for them to prepare, serve and eat different kinds of food. They created 50 variations of spoons that are used for different specific reasons like preparing food or eating.

Mainly spoons have two parts: the bowl and the handle. Bowl is the hollow part of the spoon used to carry the desired item whereas, the handle serves for holding the spoon.

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Types of Spoons

Spoons are created in various designs, sizes, and shapes because they perform different jobs. There’s always a right type of spoon for different types of items, for baking and for measuring. Though there are numerous types of spoons serving different purposes, we will be naming here some prominent ones. The most popular ones are:

Tablespoon
Teaspoon
Sugar Spoon
Dessert Spoon
Beverage Spoon
Coffee Spoon
Serving Spoon

Further insight regarding spoon types can be attained from the video below:

A video discussing spoon types

Tablespoon

Tablespoons came into existence during the Renaissance period. A tablespoon is a large spoon for serving/ eating food. Another usage is as a cooking measure of volume. It is the most essential part of cooking in every recipe book.

A tablespoon is equivalent to 15 ml. It is also the same as 1/16th part of the cup, 3 teaspoons, or 1/2 fluid ounce. However, according to some Australian measurements, 1 tablespoon is equal to 20ml (i.e., 4 teaspoons) which is slightly greater than the US standard which is 15 ml.

Roughly, 1 tablespoon is about 1 typical large dinner spoon. A normal tablespoon contains 6 to 9 grams of dry substance. The measurement of the weight of any substance taken by the tablespoon is not accurate. It is also used to measure liquid ingredients.

Tablespoons are used in our daily routine. It is the most essential part of our cutlery. It is the most common and normal household item.

Stamping machines are producing tablespoons on large scale. This type of spoon is designed to pick the correct amount of food. This is the spoon we usually use to serve food, like soup, cereals, or any other food. Nowadays, every individual in a rich family has a personal tablespoon. In cookbooks, you might see the word tablespoon written as tbsp.

A tablespoon can hold up to 1/2 fl oz. or 15 ml. — A tablespoon can hold up to 1/2 fl oz. or 15 ml

Teaspoon

In the category of spoons, a teaspoon is among the smaller types of spoons. Teaspoons originated in the British Colonial era, it came into existence when tea became the most popular drink.

A teaspoon is a smaller spoon that holds around 2ml. The size of a teaspoon usually ranges from 2.0 to 7.3 ml. A normal teaspoon contains 2 to 3 grams of dry item. However, as a unit of measurement in cooking, it is equal to 1/3rd of a tablespoon.

According to US measurements,1 fluid ounce has 6 teaspoons and 1/3rd cup contains 16 teaspoons. In cookbooks, you might see the word teaspoon abbreviated as tsp.

We generally use teaspoons for adding and mixing sugar and stirring hot drinks like tea or coffee or for eating some foods (ex: yogurt, cakes, ice-creams, etc.). People often use teaspoons for measuring liquid medicines. The head of a teaspoon is usually oval and sometimes round in shape. Moreover, teaspoons are a common part of tea settings.

Below is a conversion table. These measurements are important for cooking and baking.

Tablespoon	Teaspoon	Cup	US Fluid OZ	Milliliters
1 tablespoon	3 teaspoons	1/16th cup	1/2 oz.	15 ml
2 tablespoons	6 teaspoons	1/8th cup	1 oz.	30 ml
4 tablespoons	12 teaspoons	1/4th cup	2 oz.	59.15 ml
8 tablespoons	24 teaspoons	1/2 cup	4 oz.	118.29 ml
12 tablespoons	36 teaspoons	3/4th cup	6 oz.	177 ml
16 tablespoons	48 teaspoons	1 cup	8 oz.	237 ml

Measurement chart

Difference between a Table and a Teaspoon

The biggest difference between a table and a teaspoon is their size. A tablespoon is bigger in size as opposed to a teaspoon.
A teaspoon came into existence in the British colonial era, whereas, tablespoons were made during the Renaissance period.
A teaspoon is a part of a cutlery set where it is used for stirring sugar in beverages like tea and coffee whereas, a tablespoon is a part of a cutlery set that best serves eating purposes.
For the measurement, a teaspoon is often abbreviated as “tsp” while “tbsp” denotes measurement as per tablespoon.
The volume of a teaspoon is 5ml however, the volume of a tablespoon is three times greater than is, 15 ml.
The usages of these spoons are quite different. For example, the teaspoon is used for dosing medicines, measuring minute or smaller quantities like salt, sugar, spices, and herbs, and for stirring the drinks. Tablespoons normally act as serving spoons and are used majorly for eating purposes.
The standardized length of a teaspoon varies between 3.5 to 4.5 inches, whereas the standard longitudinal parameter of a tablespoon varies between 5-and 6 inches.
We have a slight classification under teaspoons. There are two types; Long-handled and short-handled. On the other hand, tablespoons have no further types.

Spoons can also be used for measuring ingredients

Need for Existence

Have you ever wondered why we have separate types and classifications of spoons? For measurement? No. Because in that case, we can easily take 1/3rd of a tablespoon to measure 1 teaspoon.

Basically, the need aroused with the increased use of tea and coffee. The history dates back to the era of 1660 in England, where the need or idea of it first originated. Initially, we had a tablespoon as the sole spoon, a multi-tasker. But as time passed the need for smaller ones raised with the increased urge to consume beverages.

Back in the time, when tea was making its share in the world’s priority, the tablespoon was big enough (sometimes not even able to fit in the smaller cups for stirring. Thus, the smaller spoons were needed with smaller scoops to easily get into any sized cup and perform the desired function of stirring.

Teaspoons were basically invented for small teacups

Philosophy Behind Existence

The discovery of a teaspoon clearly can relate to the modern-day survival of the fittest. It’s a fact that, as time passes, the definition of being “fit” keeps on evolving. The criteria keep on changing, making room for innovation every time.

For example, a tablespoon that had been serving as an all-purpose spoon for centuries failed to do the need full at one point and it was soon replaced and restricted. How cruel! Well, that’s how it works.

The discovery of the teaspoon was also not the end. It further evolved. Long-handled and short-handled, again to do the further aroused needs full. There is indeed an important message if one is smart enough to grasp it!

In order to survive, retain and sustain, you need to evolve. You need to change, you need to adapt. You need to upgrade yourself as per the requirements.

You have to grasp every single indication of surroundings that keeps on changing its color. You need to see the trends and the ever-changing priorities. The philosophy behind it is simple yet complex. It is you can say the mechanism underlying natural selection that drives evolution.

Conclusion

Tablespoons are used for serving and eating some types of food like cereals while teaspoons are used for adding sugar to and stirring hot drinks like tea or coffee or for eating sweet dishes (desserts). While a tablespoon contains about 15ml, a teaspoon holds 5ml. Therefore we can say that a tablespoon is actually equivalent to three teaspoons. This is the major dissimilarity between tablespoon and teaspoon.

Teaspoons and tablespoons are considered very common household cutlery items and they are usually easily found in every kitchen, household, and restaurant.

However, in the earlier days spoon was considered an item of the aristocracy. During the old Renaissance period, only the rich people had their personal spoon, which was prohibited to share with others. Similarly, teaspoons came into existence during the British colonial era. As a matter of fact, the main purpose of the teaspoon was to stir sugar in little teacups.

In this modern age, most people not only use spoons for eating, serving, and stirring; they have now become an essential part of cooking books, everyone uses them for easy kitchen measurements.