If I Don't Have 2/3 Cup What Can I Use
So you’re mid-recipe, and *bam*—it calls for ⅔ cup. Your measuring cups are a cruel joke, right? You have ½ cup. You have ¾ cup. But where’s the ⅔ cup? Gone. Lost in the d...
So you’re mid-recipe, and bam—it calls for ⅔ cup. Your measuring cups are a cruel joke, right?
You have ½ cup. You have ¾ cup. But where’s the ⅔ cup? Gone. Lost in the drawer abyss, probably with a dozen rogue pens.
Don’t panic. You can fix this. Let’s get clever with math and a little kitchen magic.
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The Simple Math Fix
First, know this: ⅔ cup is not ½ cup plus a splash. That’s chaos.
Use a ¼ cup measure. Fill it twice. That’s ½ cup. Then fill it again, but only halfway. You get an extra ⅛ cup.
Wait—that’s ⅝ cup total, not ⅔. Close, but no cookie. Let’s try the real trick.
Grab your ⅓ cup measure. Fill it once? That’s ⅓. Fill it twice? Bingo. Two-thirds cup.
No ⅓ cup either? Use a 1 cup measure. Fill it to the ⅔ line. Your cup probably has those marks. Check now. I’ll wait.
The Spoon-Pile Method
No markings? Fine. Let’s get medieval with spoons.
One ⅔ cup equals: 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. That’s a pile of spoons, but it works.
What Is Half Of 2/3 Cup Liquid at George Vaughan blog
Count it out: 1 tablespoon is 3 teaspoons. So 10 tablespoons = 30 teaspoons. Add 2 more = 32 teaspoons total. Fun fact: 32 teaspoons is exactly ⅔ cup because math is a beautiful liar.
Or just use a shot glass if you’re desperate. Most hold about 1.5 ounces, and ⅔ cup is 5.33 ounces. That’s three shot glasses plus a tiny sip. Cheers to baking.
The Cupboard Hacks You Already Own
Sometimes the best tool is hiding in plain sight. Grab a yogurt container—the small ones (like 6 ounces). Fill it to the brim, then drink a bit (or pour out) until you have about 5.3 ounces. Weird? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
Use a mug with a known volume. Most coffee mugs hold 10-12 ounces. Fill to a bit over halfway (around ⅔ of the mug’s height). But calibrate your mug first. Trust nothing.
My favorite hack? A reusable water bottle with measurement lines. Yes, I’ve done it. Desperate times, crumbly cookies.
The “Eyeball It” Danger Zone
Can you just guess? No, you cannot. ⅔ cup is a surprisingly specific amount. Too much? Your brownies become bricks. Too little? Your cake is a sad pancake.
But here’s a visual trick: ⅔ cup looks like two-thirds of a tennis ball in volume. Or a medium apple, squished. Or your cat’s head if your cat is very small. Do not measure using your cat.
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Instead, use your hand. A clenched fist (not mailing it in, but a real fist) is about ½ cup. Add a generous thumb-sized blob. That’s roughly ⅔ cup. Roughly is the enemy of good baking, but it beats tears.
Quirky Facts to Impress Your Friends
Did you know the ancient Romans used a unit called a quartarius? That’s about ⅔ of our cup. They measured wine this way. History is delicious.
In Japan, ⅔ cup is called “nibun no san” and used in traditional mochi recipes. You can bet they didn’t lose their measuring cups. Rude.
Also: ⅔ cup of sugar weighs about 135 grams. But ⅔ cup of flour weighs only 80 grams. Same volume, different weight. That’s why using the right cup matters so much—science is sneaky.
The Final Cheat Code
If all else fails, use a scale. No, really—a digital scale is your hero. Weigh the ingredient. For water, milk, or oil: ⅔ cup = 160 grams (rounded). For flour: 80 grams. For sugar: 135 grams. Write that down.
No scale? Okay, last resort: call a neighbor. Ask if they have a ⅔ cup. You’ll bond over the missing-cup mystery. Or just borrow their cat. (Don’t.)
Remember: ⅔ cup is exactly two ⅓ cups, or 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons, or a small yogurt cup minus a sip. You’ve got this. Now go bake something and prove that the drawer abyss won’t win.
