ENTERTAINMENT

Temperatures, Weights and Measures
Cookery books from different countries, even different periods in the same country use different units of measurements. They are a minefield of confusion. Change to metric system in recent times has made life easier, but many people are resistant to change. I read somewhere, “if God had meant humans to use the metric system, he'd have given us ten fingers!!"
I have attempted below to make some sense of this confusion, hope you will find what you are looking for.

Oven Temperature
Always warm the oven for at least 10 minutes or until the indicator light goes out telling you that the desired temperature has been reached. Oven temperatures vary. Fan ovens should be kept around 10-15° C lower than ordinary ones.
Fahrenheit (°F) Centigrade (°C) Gas Oven Mark Description
475°F 246°C 9 Very Hot
450°F 232°C 8 Very Hot
425°F 218°C 7 Fairly Hot
400°F 204°C 6 Fairly Hot
375°F 191°C 5 Moderately Hot
350°F 177°C 4 Warm
325°F 163°C 3 Warm
300°F 149°C 2 Cool
275°F 135°C 1 Cool
250°F 121°C ½ Very Cool
225°F 110°C ¼ Very Cool


Metric and Imperial Weights
It is a good idea to have one large weighing scale that will measure up to 5 kg. A smaller scale, the type often used by people on a diet, is good for measuring very small quantities accurately.
Grams lb/oz (Pounds) Grams lb/oz (Pounds)
10 gm. 0.5 oz. 400 gm. 14 oz.
20 gm. 0.75 oz. 425 gm. 15 oz.
25 gm. 1 oz. 450 gm. 1 lb. (Pound)
50 gm. 2 oz. 500 gm. 1 lb. 2 oz.
75 gm. 3 oz. 700 gm. 1 lb. 9 oz.
110 gm. 4 oz. 750 gm. 1 lb. 10 oz.
150 gm. 5 oz. 1 kg. 2 lb. 3 oz.
175 gm. 6 oz. 1.25 kg. 2 lb. 12 oz.
200 gm. 7 oz. 1.50 kg. 3 lb. 5 oz.
225 gm. 8 oz. 1.75 kg. 3 lb. 14 oz.
250 gm. 9 oz. 2 kg. 4 lb. 6oz.
275 gm. 9.5 oz. 2.25 kg. 4 lb. 15 oz.
300 gm. 10.5 oz. 2.50 kg. 5 lb. 8 oz.
350 gm. 12 oz. 2.75 kg. 6 lb. 1 oz.
375 gm. 13 oz. 3 kg. 6 lb. 10 oz.


Volumes/Liquid Measure
Spoons and cups are slightly different sizes, not only in different countries but even within the same country. Therefore, it is a good idea to buy a set of measuring spoons. They are available from all good kitchen stores and often come on a chain, so that they do not get separated.
Buy a measuring jug that has litres, millilitres, pints and fluid ounces marked.
Milliliters FL./OZ./Gallons Pints
1.25 ml. 1/4 Table Spoon
2.5 ml. 1/2 Tea Spoon
5 ml. 1 Level Tea Spoon
15 ml. 1/2 fl. oz. (fluid ounce)
20 ml. 1 dessertspoon
30 ml. 1 fl. oz. (fluid ounce)
50 ml. 2 fl. oz.
59 ml.
74 ml.
118 ml. 4 fl. oz.
150 ml. 0.5 (UK) pint
200 ml. 0.66 pint
240 ml. 8 fl. oz.
300 ml. 10 fl. oz. 0.5 pint
425 ml. 15 fl. oz. 075 pint
480 ml. 16 fl. oz. 1 US pint
600 ml. 20 fl. oz. 1 pint
700 ml. 23 fl. oz. 1.25 pints
850 ml. 28 fl. oz. 1.5 pints
1 33 fl. oz. 1.75 pints
1.2 1 quart 2 pints
2 3.2 pints
3800 1 US gallon
4800 1 UK gallon 8 pints


Old Pakistani Measures
1 Masha 8 Ratti 1 Gram
1 Tola 12 Masha 12 Gram
1 Chhatank 5 Tola 160 Gram
1 Pao 4 Chhatank 225 Gram
1 Ser 4 Pao 1 Kilogram