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Measuring Vegetables for Recipes: Pounds to Cups

How Many Cups in a Pound of Vegetables?

Catherine Boeckmann
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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. Use this helpful chart as you create your grocery list to ensure you buy the right amount of veggies.

Now, when a recipe calls for a cup of onions, you’ll know how many to buy and slice!

Vegetable Measurements for Recipes

How Many Cups Are in a Pound?

Asparagus1 pound = 3 cups chopped
Beans (string)1 pound = 4 cups chopped
Beets1 pound (5 medium) = 2–1/2 cups chopped
Broccoli1/2 pound = 3 cups chopped
Cabbage1 pound = 4–1/2 cups shredded
Carrots1 pound = 3–1/2 cups sliced or grated
Celery1 pound = 4 cups chopped
Cucumbers1 pound (2 medium) = 4 cups sliced
Eggplant1 pound = 4 cups chopped (6 cups raw, cubed = 3 cups cooked)
Garlic1 clove = 1 teaspoon chopped
Leeks1 pound = 4 cups chopped (2 cups cooked)
Mushrooms1 pound = 5 to 6 cups sliced = 2 cups cooked
Onions1 pound = 4 cups sliced = 2 cups cooked
Parsnips1 pound unpeeled = 1-1/2 cups cooked and pureed
Peas1 pound whole = 1 to 1-1/2 cups shelled
Potatoes1 pound (3 medium) sliced = 2 cups mashed
Pumpkin1 pound = 4 cups chopped = 2 cups cooked and drained
Spinach1 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 potatoes1 pound = 4 cups grated = 1 cup cooked and pureed
Swiss chard1 pound = 5 to 6 cups packed leaves = 1 to 1-1/2 cups cooked
Tomatoes1 pound (3 or 4 medium) = 1-1/2 cups seeded pulp
Turnips1 pound = 4 cups chopped = 2 cups cooked and mashed

This chart is a great printable to put on your refrigerator! 

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Please share your questions and tips below!

Kitchen Tips and Tables
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

Yvonne (not verified)

1 year 3 months ago

You said at the bottom of the list that this chart should be printable to keep on your refrigerator but I can't see that you made it printable. This is a great list. Can you do that for us?

click on the printer icon at the top of the page. you can print the chart.

Janet (not verified)

2 years 3 months ago

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

Bonnie Willsie (not verified)

3 years 1 month ago

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

Gina Carlisle (not verified)

3 years 2 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)

4 years 9 months ago

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

Stacy (not verified)

4 years 11 months ago

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

Glenda Shiflett (not verified)

5 years 4 months ago

How to measure and can