Ever start a recipe and hit the line “add 1 oz of butter”, then stare at your block like it’s a maths test? You’re not alone. Many recipes use ounces, but most of us measure butter in tablespoons, grams, or just slice off a bit and hope for the best.
Here’s the simple answer for one ounce of butter, plus quick ways to measure it in both UK and US kitchens, without the stress.
How much is 1 ounce of butter in real kitchen terms?
One ounce of butter is a small piece, about what you’d use to finish a pan sauce or grease a tin well. The key thing is that butter is sold by weight, so a kitchen scale is the most accurate way to measure it, especially for baking.
In everyday terms, 1 oz of butter is:
- About 28 g of butter (just under 30 g)
- About 2 tablespoons of butter
- A chunk roughly the size of 2 stacked £1 coins in footprint (thickness varies)
If you’re cooking, “about right” often works. If you’re baking, those few grams can change the texture.
Quick conversions: 1 oz butter in grams, tablespoons, and teaspoons
For standard butter (not whipped):
- 1 oz = 28 g (28.35 g exact)
- 1 oz = about 2 tablespoons
- 1 oz = about 6 teaspoons
Spoon measures are handy, but they’re less exact than weighing. A heaped spoon can quietly turn into an extra 5 g, and that adds up fast in pastry.
What does 1 oz look like from a block or stick?
In the UK, butter often comes in 250 g blocks. One ounce (28 g) is a small slice off the end, roughly a “two-tablespoon” chunk.
In the US, butter is commonly sold in sticks with wrapper markings. If your wrapper shows tablespoons, you can cut to 2 tablespoons, and you’re there.
Measuring 1 ounce of butter without a scale
No scale? No problem. You can still get close enough for most cooking, and reasonably close for baking if you’re careful.
The most reliable methods at home are:
- Using the wrapper markings (best if you have them)
- Doing quick block fractions (good for UK blocks)
- Measuring tablespoons (fine for sauces and frying)
Precision matters most in cakes, biscuits, and pastry. For buttered veg or scrambled eggs, it’s forgiving.
Use the wrapper marks and block maths (UK-friendly and US-friendly)
For a 250 g block, 28 g is a bit over one-tenth, around 11%. If you cut the block into 10 even slices, one slice gets you close to 1 oz.
For US sticks, 1 oz equals 2 tablespoons, and many wrappers mark this clearly. Cut on the line, done.
Use measuring spoons (best for cooking, less so for baking)
Pack the butter into a tablespoon, then level it off with a knife. Use 2 level tablespoons for about 1 oz.
One catch: melted butter is measured by volume, and recipes vary. If the recipe is fussy (brownies, shortbread), weighing in grams is safer.
Common recipe swaps and mistakes with 1 oz of butter
Small amounts can still confuse. The biggest trip-ups are salt, substitutes, and tiny measurement errors.
Salted vs unsalted: will 1 oz change the taste?
Salt levels in salted butter vary by brand. With 1 oz, the difference is usually small. If you’re using salted butter in baking, reduce any added salt by a small pinch.
Why being a few grams off matters in baking
In baking, extra butter can make biscuits spread more, pastry turn greasy, and cakes feel heavy. In frying or sautéing, being a bit off won’t ruin dinner. When you can, follow recipes in grams for repeat results.
Conclusion
One ounce of butter is about 28 g, or about 2 tablespoons. For baking, a scale keeps things steady and repeatable. For everyday cooking, wrapper marks and spoon measures work well. Save these conversions somewhere handy; next time a recipe asks for 1 oz, you’ll move on without breaking stride.
