277218 Fri Mar 25 08:08:15 -0800 2005 11 31 Home Cooking 0 1464316 I found a recipe for fetuccine alfredo that calls for 1/2 pound grated parmesan cheese...I don't have a kitchen scale, how can I figure out how much this is?? Fri Mar 25 08:08:15 -0800 2005 0 ctmom 1 1464321 For a recipe like that the exact amount of cheese isn't critical, so I think you can assume that the cheese is roughly the same density as water and 1/2 lb will be a piece of approximately one cup in volume (prior to grating). Fri Mar 25 09:09:03 -0800 2005 1464316 0 FlyFish 1 1464330 Or look at the weight on the chunk of parmesan you buy, 1/2 a pound in a block will still be 1/2 a pound when grated. Fri Mar 25 10:52:46 -0800 2005 1464316 0 Jess 1 1464334 A pint's a pound, the world around. Fri Mar 25 11:13:15 -0800 2005 1464316 0 Kitchenette 2 1464347 For water, and not in countries that use Imperial measurements. An Imperial pint of water weighs 20 ounces, a US pint weighs 16. I'm inclined to agree with Jess, just buy 1/2 lb of cheese, I've never seen it sold any way other than by weight, so it shouldn't be a problem. The problem with figuring out volume equivalents is that how much grated parm weighs depends on how it's grated. If it's powder-fine and fluffy when you measure it, you can probably get around 4 cups out of a pound. If it's coarser or packed at all, the volume will be smaller. This is the big reason weight is so much better a measuring system for non-liquids... Fri Mar 25 12:19:51 -0800 2005 1464334 0 MikeG 3 1464354 the problem is I already have cheese in the fridge... Fri Mar 25 12:55:22 -0800 2005 1464347 0 ctmom 4 1464357 You could make a balance beam, using a known weight, a 6oz can of tomato paste is probably about 7oz. Maybe you are a fisherman or have a fisherman in the family. I fish and have a lot of various weights. If you have whole cheese, figure a piece the size of a deck of playing cards is ~3-4 oz. If the cheese is grated; I buy grated cheese from the deli, comes in a plastic container that would hold 16 oz of liquid. I think the container, filled to ~1/2" from the top is ~$5, I think the cheese is ~$9-10/lb, thus a 16 oz container holds about 1/2 lb. I googled the info below: Cheese 1/4 lb grated = 1 cup 1 lb = 2-2/3 cup Fri Mar 25 13:18:49 -0800 2005 1464354 0 Alan408 4 1464381 Well, if you can't get an "eyeball" weight with your hand, then I would go with about 2 cups of very finely grated cheese as a starting point. Alfredo "sauce" always needs adjusting anyway - depends on the age and moisture content of the particular piece of cheese, etc., and then minor variations in consistency aren't really an issue as long as it tastes good. And for a sauce made only with cheese, butter and a little cream, it's pretty hard for it not to taste good no matter what exact proportion of ingredients you end up with. :) Fri Mar 25 17:27:14 -0800 2005 1464354 0 MikeG 1 1464359 Just grate enough cheese to make a pile that looks sufficient. If it isn't enough, grate more. Not so hard. Fri Mar 25 13:58:11 -0800 2005 1464316 0 Jim H. 1 1464379 For regular cheese, it's about 1 cup = 1/4 pound. For parmesan, I usually grate it on my microplane so it ends up pretty fluffy and light. I might guess closer to 1 cup = 2 oz = 1/8 pound. So I think you want about 4 cups of fluffy, grated parmesan. Fri Mar 25 16:43:38 -0800 2005 1464316 0 Jujubee 1 1464451 This online conversion tool should help you: Link: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/cookingconversions.asp Sat Mar 26 23:13:32 -0800 2005 1464316 0 Nancy Berry 2 1464458 Wow!!! What a great website. Thanks so much for the link. Sun Mar 27 02:34:04 -0800 2005 1464451 0 Shaebones