What Is Dessertspoon (Us)?
A dessertspoon in the United States is an old kitchen unit used to measure volume. It is mainly used for food and cooking, not for science. One US dessertspoon is equal to 2 US teaspoons. This makes it smaller than a tablespoon but bigger than a teaspoon.
Today most US recipes use teaspoons, tablespoons and cups, so the dessertspoon is not very common. Still, you may see it in older cookbooks or traditional family recipes.
Definition
The dessertspoon US is a unit of volume in the US customary system. It is used for both liquids and dry ingredients in cooking.
The exact size is
- 1 dessertspoon US equals 2 US teaspoons
- 1 dessertspoon US equals one third of a US fluid ounce
- 1 dessertspoon US is about 9.86 millilitres
In decimal form
- 1 dsp US is about 9.8578 mL
- 1 dsp US is about 0.3333 US fluid ounce
- 1 dsp US is about two thirds of a US tablespoon since 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons
History / Origin
The idea of a dessertspoon comes from European table settings. Long ago, people used different spoons for soup, dessert and tea. These spoon sizes later became rough measuring units in cooking.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, English speaking countries often used teaspoon, dessertspoon and tablespoon as kitchen measures. A dessertspoon was understood as a spoon used to eat soft desserts, like pudding or custard. Its size was between a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
Over time, the US standardised more on teaspoons, tablespoons, cups and fluid ounces. The dessertspoon stayed in some older recipes but was not used much in new cookbooks. In some other countries, the word dessertspoon is linked to a round metric value, often 10 millilitres, but the US dessertspoon is a little smaller.
Symbol & Abbreviation
There is no single official symbol for the US dessertspoon, but several short forms are commonly used in cooking texts.
- dsp
- dspn
- dstspn
- desertspoon or dessertspoon written out in full
When it matters that it is the US version and not a metric version, it may be explained in words, for example by saying dessertspoon US in the recipe notes.
Current Use Around the World
Today, the dessertspoon US is not a main unit in modern cookbooks. However, it still appears in a few places.
- United States Older recipes, family recipe cards and some traditional dishes may list dessertspoon as a measure. Most new recipes use teaspoons, tablespoons and cups instead.
- United Kingdom and other English speaking countries The word dessertspoon is also known, but its size may follow local habits or metric rules, often close to 10 millilitres, which is slightly larger than the US dessertspoon.
- Online cooking communities Some people still use dsp or dessertspoon in shared recipes. When this happens, you should check which standard they follow US or metric.
For clarity, many cooks now rewrite old recipes that use dessertspoons into teaspoons, tablespoons or millilitres. This makes the recipe easier to follow for everyone.
Example Conversions
Here are some useful conversions between dessertspoon US and other common units.
Between dessertspoons and teaspoons
- 1 dessertspoon US equals 2 US teaspoons
- 2 dessertspoons US equal 4 US teaspoons
- 3 dessertspoons US equal 6 US teaspoons
- 4 dessertspoons US equal 8 US teaspoons
Between dessertspoons and tablespoons
In the US
- 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons
- 1 dessertspoon equals 2 teaspoons
So
- 1 dessertspoon US equals two thirds of a US tablespoon
- 1 tablespoon US equals 1.5 dessertspoons US
- 3 dessertspoons US equal 2 tablespoons US
Between dessertspoons and millilitres
- 1 dessertspoon US is about 9.86 mL
- 2 dessertspoons US are about 19.7 mL
- 3 dessertspoons US are about 29.6 mL which is close to 1 US fluid ounce
- 6 dessertspoons US are about 59.1 mL which is close to 2 US fluid ounces
Between dessertspoons and cups
In the US, 1 cup equals 8 fluid ounces. Since 1 dessertspoon equals one third of a fluid ounce, we can link dessertspoons to cups.
- 1 dessertspoon US equals 1 divided by 24 US cup which is about 0.0417 cup
- 6 dessertspoons US equal 1 US fluid ounce
- 24 dessertspoons US equal 1 US cup
Related Units
The dessertspoon US is closely linked to these volume units
- Teaspoon US The base small spoon measure in US cooking. 1 dessertspoon US equals 2 teaspoons US.
- Tablespoon US A common medium spoon measure. 1 tablespoon US equals 3 teaspoons US or 1.5 dessertspoons US.
- US fluid ounce A liquid measure used on bottles and in some recipes. 1 dessertspoon US equals one third of a US fluid ounce.
- US cup A larger kitchen measure used in many recipes. 1 cup US equals 8 US fluid ounces or 24 dessertspoons US.
- Millilitre mL A metric volume unit used worldwide. 1 dessertspoon US is about 9.86 mL.
- Metric dessertspoon In some countries, a dessertspoon is taken as exactly 10 mL, which is slightly larger than the US dessertspoon.
FAQs
How big is a US dessertspoon in teaspoons
One US dessertspoon equals 2 US teaspoons. If a recipe calls for 1 dessertspoon and you only have a teaspoon, just use 2 level teaspoons.
How many millilitres are in a US dessertspoon
One dessertspoon US is about 9.86 millilitres. For easy home use, many people round this to 10 mL, but the exact US value is a little smaller.
Is a US dessertspoon the same as a metric dessertspoon
No, they are not exactly the same. A metric dessertspoon is usually set to 10 mL. The US dessertspoon is about 9.86 mL, so it is slightly smaller.
Can I use an eating spoon as a dessertspoon measure
Everyday spoons used at the table can be different sizes, so they are not very accurate for measuring. For best results, use proper measuring spoons marked in teaspoons and tablespoons, then convert from dessertspoons.
Why do most modern recipes not use dessertspoons
Modern recipes try to be clear and simple. Teaspoons, tablespoons, cups and millilitres are now the most common units. Using fewer units makes recipes easier to understand and follow, so the dessertspoon is used less often.
How do I convert an old recipe that uses dessertspoons
Use these simple rules
- Replace 1 dessertspoon with 2 teaspoons
- Or replace 1 dessertspoon with two thirds of a tablespoon
- Or replace 1 dessertspoon with about 10 mL, if a small rounding error is acceptable
Choose the method that fits the tools you have in your kitchen.
Is the dessertspoon used in professional cooking
Professional kitchens usually prefer precise metric units like millilitres and litres or standard US units like teaspoons, tablespoons, fluid ounces and cups. The dessertspoon is rare in modern professional recipes, but chefs may still understand it when reading old cookbooks.