Lesson one, part two: Forget the American measurements!

We remain the only nation in the developed and underdeveloped universe that still uses our own bogus measurement system.  Forget it.  Good cooks should be able to understand the Metric system, which is used everywhere but the United States.

U.S. = LAME

METRIC SYSTEM: Decimal system, based on multiples of 10.

Basic unit of weight: gram

Basic unit of length: meter

Basic unit of volume: liter

+ prefixes to denote larger or smaller units of measurement

Example: 1 kg = 1,000 g

It's incredibly easy.

Here is some basic yet integral information about measurements:

1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces

1 egg white = 2 fluid ounces

To convert ounces to grams: multiply ounces by 28.35

To convert pounds to grams: multiply pounds by 453.59

To convert F to C (degrees): (xF-32)/1.8 = xC

To convert fluid ounces to millimeters: Multiply fl.oz. by 30

To convert millimeters to fluid ounces: Divide millimeters by 30

Prefixes:

kilo = 1,000

hecto = 100

deka = 10

deci = 1/10

centi = 1/100

milli = 1/1,000

1 pound = 16 ounces

1 gallon = 4 quarts = 128 fluid ounces

1 quart = 2 pints = 32 fl.oz.

1 pint = 2 cups = 16 fl.oz.

1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 8 fl.oz.

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 1/2 fl.oz.

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds