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Measuring Vegetables for Recipes: Pounds to Cups Conversions | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Measuring Vegetables for Recipes: Pounds to Cups

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How Many Cups in a Pound of Vegetables?

Catherine Boeckmann
May 4, 2022
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Measuring vegetables for recipes is not always easy. The following equivalent measurements will help you convert a vegetable’s weight (in pounds) on the grocery scale to the amount (in cups) that you need for a recipe.

Now when a recipe calls for a cup of onions, you’ll know just how much to slice!

Vegetable Measurements for Recipes

Asparagus 1 pound = 3 cups chopped
Beans (string) 1 pound = 4 cups chopped
Beets 1 pound (5 medium) = 2–1/2 cups chopped
Broccoli 1/2 pound = 3 cups chopped
Cabbage 1 pound = 4–1/2 cups shredded
Carrots 1 pound = 3–1/2 cups sliced or grated
Celery 1 pound = 4 cups chopped
Cucumbers 1 pound (2 medium) = 4 cups sliced
Eggplant 1 pound = 4 cups chopped (6 cups raw, cubed = 3 cups cooked)
Garlic 1 clove = 1 teaspoon chopped
Leeks 1 pound = 4 cups chopped (2 cups cooked)
Mushrooms 1 pound = 5 to 6 cups sliced = 2 cups cooked
Onions 1 pound = 4 cups sliced = 2 cups cooked
Parsnips 1 pound unpeeled = 1-1/2 cups cooked and pureed
Peas 1 pound whole = 1 to 1-1/2 cups shelled
Potatoes 1 pound (3 medium) sliced = 2 cups mashed
Pumpkin 1 pound = 4 cups chopped = 2 cups cooked and drained
Spinach 1 pound = 3/4 to 1 cup cooked
Squash (summer) 1 pound = 4 cups grated = 2 cups salted and drained
Squash (winter) 2 pounds = 2-1/2 cups cooked and pureed
Sweet potatoes 1 pound = 4 cups grated = 1 cup cooked and pureed
Swiss chard 1 pound = 5 to 6 cups packed leaves = 1 to 1-1/2 cups cooked
Tomatoes 1 pound (3 or 4 medium) = 1-1/2 cups seeded pulp
Turnips 1 pound = 4 cups chopped = 2 cups cooked and mashed

This chart should be printable to put on your refrigerator! Please share your questions and tips below!

Cooking & Recipes
Vegetables
Measuring

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Comments

Janet (not verified)

8 months ago

I need a conversion chart for herbs! Especially basil and sage

Bonnie Willsie (not verified)

1 year 5 months ago

I have a recipe that call for 2 lb. off copped peppers how any cup would that be

Gina Carlisle (not verified)

1 year 7 months ago

I am using a recipe that calls for 12 ounces of Yukon Gold Potatoes. I don't have a scale & have 10 small Yukons on hand (bought individually, not in a weighed bag).
I know they vary in size but just thinking of an average-sized small potato, yellow, red, or gold, approximately how many would equal 12 ounces?

Hi, Gina. This is a tough one. As you know, potatoes vary in size. An average size (think medium) Yukon Gold potato is about 5 ounces. So if you have smaller ones, 4 would be close to 12 ounces. It might be worth asking around, friend/neighbor, to borrow a food scale to be certain.

Colleen Bensch (not verified)

3 years 2 months ago

I was wondering how many cups are in 1 pound of sliced green pepper?

Stacy (not verified)

3 years 3 months ago

Thanks for sharing. I've always just measured 1 lb for 2 cups!

Glenda Shiflett (not verified)

3 years 8 months ago

How to measure and can

James Odell (not verified)

3 years 11 months ago

How many cups of diced rutabaga are in 1 pound of rutabaga found in the grocery store.

Loretta Baker (not verified)

4 years ago

Hi I have 2 , 24 ounce bogs of Petite Yukon Gold Potatoes , i need 2.5 pounds for a soup recipe for a crock pot cut in 2 inch chunks , How many potatoes or cups would that be..?