Quick answer: A cup is a volume unit, just like ml and fl oz. When conversions are enabled, CookBook keeps cup measurements as volumes. Converting a cup straight to grams isn’t reliable because grams measure weight, and the weight inside a cup changes with each ingredient.
Volume vs weight in a nutshell
- Volume units: cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, millilitre, fluid ounce.
- Weight units: gram, kilogram, ounce, pound.
One cup of flour and one cup of honey both fill the same space, but one weighs far more than the other. That’s why CookBook converts cups to another volume unit by default.
Why CookBook doesn’t auto-convert cups → grams
Accurate cup-to-gram values depend on:
- The ingredient itself (flour vs sugar vs butter).
- How it’s prepared (scooped, sifted, packed, grated).
Without that detail, the app could be off by 30 % or more - so we avoid automatic cup → gram swaps.
Need cups in grams? Use the built-in Volume-Weight Tool
- In the ingredient list, look for the scales icon next to a cup measure.
- Tap the icon.
- The tool shows trusted volume-to-weight results, if we have density data for that ingredient.
If your exact item isn’t listed, type a similar ingredient (with roughly the same density) for an estimated conversion.
Tip
If you prefer to stay in cups, set Side menu ☰ → Settings → Conversions → Recipe conversions to Do not convert. Otherwise, cups will keep turning into their equivalent mL or fl oz - exactly how professional recipe software handles volumetric units.