Sauce, Hot Chile, Sriracha: How Many Grams in a Tablespoon?
Sriracha is a smooth, thick hot sauce made from sun-ripened red chili peppers blended with vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. At 1.319 g/ml, it is one of the densest common cooking sauces—over 30% heavier than water per unit volume—because of its high concentration of ground peppers and dissolved sugars. A tablespoon of sriracha weighs approximately 19–20 g; a full cup weighs around 315 g. The thick, gel-like consistency means air pockets can form when spooning into a measure; always scrape the sides for an accurate reading.
Quick convert
- US cup = 236.588 mL
- 1 tbsp = 14.787 mL
- 1 tsp = 4.929 mL
Reference table
| tbsp | g |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 | 39 |
| 3 | 59 |
| 4 | 78 |
| 5 | 98 |
| 6 | 117 |
| 7 | 137 |
| 8 | 156 |
| 9 | 176 |
| 10 | 195 |
| 11 | 215 |
| 12 | 234 |
| 13 | 254 |
| 14 | 273 |
| 15 | 293 |
| 20 | 390 |
| 25 | 488 |
| 30 | 585 |
FAQ
- Why is sriracha so much heavier than other hot sauces?
- Sriracha's density of 1.319 g/ml reflects its thick chili paste base and high sugar content. Thin vinegar-based hot sauces (like Tabasco) are close to 1.0 g/ml. Sriracha is fundamentally different in texture—it is a concentrated chili paste thinned with vinegar—which is why it weighs over 30% more per cup than water.
- How many grams is 1 tablespoon of sriracha?
- Approximately 19–20 g per tablespoon, based on a density of 1.319 g/ml and a standard US tablespoon of 14.787 ml. This is noticeably heavier than a tablespoon of most thin sauces or vinegars, which weigh 15–16 g.
- Does the brand of sriracha affect the gram weight?
- Slightly. The USDA value (1.319 g/ml) is based on Huy Fong Foods sriracha. Other brands vary in pepper content, sugar level, and water content, which can shift the density by a few percent. For most cooking purposes the difference is negligible, but weigh directly for precision in baking applications.