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Milk, Human, Mature, Fluid (For Reference Only)
Human mature breast milk is included in the USDA nutritional database as a reference entry with a density of approximately 1.04 g/ml—comparable to cow's whole milk (1.030–1.035 g/ml) and slightly denser due to its unique fat globule composition and lactose profile. The "(For Reference Only)" designation in the original USDA data reflects that this is not a commercial food ingredient. This conversion page is intended for infant feeding measurement (precisely measuring expressed breast milk for bottle feeding), lactation tracking, neonatal clinical nutrition, and food science reference. A cup of human mature breast milk weighs approximately 246 g; a tablespoon weighs approximately 15.4 g.
What is Milk, Human, Mature, Fluid (For Reference Only)?
Human mature breast milk is included in the USDA nutritional database as a reference entry with a density of approximately 1.04 g/ml—comparable to cow's whole milk (1.030–1.035 g/ml) and slightly denser due to its unique fat globule composition and lactose profile. The "(For Reference Only)" designation in the original USDA data reflects that this is not a commercial food ingredient. This conversion page is intended for infant feeding measurement (precisely measuring expressed breast milk for bottle feeding), lactation tracking, neonatal clinical nutrition, and food science reference. A cup of human.
Volume measurements can drift because settling, packing, and texture change the amount of ingredient inside the same spoon or cup. When gram values look surprising, structure is usually the reason rather than an error. Use the same fill method each time and verify by weight.
Chef note:Chef-level consistency starts when one reference cup is matched to a gram baseline.
Quick convert
- US cup = 236.588 mL
- 1 tbsp = 14.787 mL
- 1 tsp = 4.929 mL
Kitchen Conversion Chart
Cups, tbsp, tsp, mL and oz — all in one printable reference for oils, liquids, dairy and sauces.
Dairy specifics
Dairy products (milk, cream, yogurt, cheese) have different fat and water percentages. Volume hides these differences; weight keeps sauces, batters, and doughs consistent.
- Fat content shifts density; pick the correct milk/cream/fat level if variants exist.
- For cheese, shredded vs grated vs cubed changes volume—prefer grams.
FAQ
- How does human breast milk density compare to cow's milk?
- Human mature breast milk (approximately 1.04 g/ml) is slightly denser than cow's whole milk (1.030–1.035 g/ml). The difference is small—less than 3 g per cup—and reflects the distinct fatty acid and lactose composition. Both are heavier than water by volume.
- When would this volume-to-gram conversion be useful?
- This conversion is relevant for infant feeding measurement when accurately converting expressed breast milk from volume (ml or oz) to weight (grams), for clinical nutrition calculations in neonatal care, and for food science or lactation research contexts. It is not a cooking or culinary ingredient.