Pasta and Rice Conversions (2023)

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Pasta and Rice Conversions (1)

Pasta and Rice Conversions and Equivalents

How frustrating it is when you're making dinner from a great recipe in your favorite cooking magazine and it says you need 2 cups of cooked rice but you don't know how much dry rice you need. Or what if you need to know how many cups of cooked macaroni yields from 1 cup of dry macaroni?

I've been there, so I've created this helpful list of rice and pasta conversions and equivalents that I think will be helpful for all home cooks. I know I'll be referring to it a lot.

How much pasta per person?

The most frequently asked question about pasta is how much dry pasta to cook per person. It depends on a number of factors, including the type of pasta, how it's served, who it's serving, and who it's serving to.

According to pasta maker Barilla, 2 ounces of dry pasta per person is the right amount. This sounds great if the pasta is a side dish to chicken or meat, or if you're serving it as a small appetizer.

Many of my favorite Italian recipes suggest 1 pound (16 ounces) of pasta for four people or 4 ounces per person. That seems like a lot of pasta to me. I usually cook a pound of macaroni box pasta or a pound of spaghetti or fettuccine for the four of us, but there are usually leftovers at the end of the meal.

I'd say 3-4 oz per person should be fine, but it depends on the eater. Another representation of long pasta such as spaghetti or angel hair that appears in recipes and on the internet is the diameter. For example, a 2⅛-inch circumference of pasta is equivalent to 2 ounces of dry pasta or 1 cup of cooked pasta.

I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I measured the circumference of pasta before cooking. i have seen thosepasta measuring toolYou can buy tools with holes of different sizes to measure the circumference, I think I even have one in a drawer somewhere, but it rarely sees the light of day. So maybe I need to give it a try.

Pasta Conversions and Equivalents

1 pound dry pasta (16 ounces)supply4 - 5 people
2 ounces long spaghettiYield1 cup cooked pasta
2 ounces pastaYield1¼ cups cooked
2 oz soup pastaProduction approx.⅔ cup to 1 cup cooked
2 oz shellsProduction approx.1 cup cooked
1 lb dry pastaequal4 cups dry pasta
1 cup dry pastaProduction approx.2 cups cooked pasta
1 lb dry pastaProduction approx.8 cups cooked pasta
2 ounces (1 cup) dry egg noodlesProduction approx.1 cup cooked egg noodles

Pasta and Rice Conversions (3)

How many meters per person?

As with pasta, it depends on whether you serve it as a side dish or add other toppings for a main course. It also depends on who you serve. Then it depends on who you ask.

Many recipes I see call for about 1 cup of rice per serving. Some nutritionists and the USDA say that's too much, and unless you're on a special diet, you should only eat ½ cup of cooked rice per serving; somewhere in the middle works fine.

In our house, since we always use the leftovers for girls' lunches, we usually make more than dinner and divide according to each child's "feel".

Rice liquid ratio

The most common ratio of rice to liquid is 1 to 2 or 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water for 3 cups of cooked rice. The formula is simple: 1-2-3.

So if you are cooking 2 cups of rice, you need to cook with 4 cups of liquid to make 6 cups of rice.

I'm talking liquid here, not water, although most people cook rice in water, as you can try cooking rice in chicken or vegetable stock for extra flavor.

Rice Conversions and Equivalents

1 cup uncooked white riceYield3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup brown riceYield4 cups cooked rice
1 cup long grain riceYield3 cups cooked rice
1 cup Intercooked Instant RiceYield2 cups cooked rice
1 cup raw wild riceYield3 cups cooked wild rice
Assume 1 cup of rice per person.
¾ cup (96 grams) uncooked ricesupply2 people
1 cup (180 g) uncooked ricesupply3 people
2 cups (360 g) uncooked ricesupply6 people
Assume ½ cup of cooked rice per person.
¾ cup (96 grams) uncooked ricesupply4 people
1 cup (180 g) uncooked ricesupply6 people
2 cups (360 g) uncooked ricesupply12 people

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Pasta and Rice Conversions (5)I'm a stay-at-home dad who loves to cook, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me...read more…

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Comment

  1. Catherine Spark

    If 1/4 cup of raw rice serves 1 person, wouldn't 1 cup of raw rice serve 4 people (not 2 cups for 4 people)? Just asking! 🙂

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      Hi Catherine. 1/4 cup of rice yields about 3/4 cup of cooked rice. I'm assuming 1 cup of rice per person. So depending on how much rice a person eats, 1 cup, 3/4 cup, or 1/2 cup will determine the yield per person.

      reply

  2. Lily Gorman

    This is very helpful! Thank you so much!

    reply

  3. Katrina Marshall

    Thanks so much, I'm doing a rice and beans (Costa Rican) dish and don't want to make as much as they ask for. nice to see this sight

    reply

  4. Karen

    I'm making a rice dish that calls for 350g of rice...I think it will be cooked, how many cups would that be

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      Karen, I'll have to look at the recipe before I say if the rice is cooked or not, but 1 cup of raw rice weighs about 175-185 grams, so you're talking about 2 cups of rice if it's raw. 1 cup of cooked rice weighs about 195-200 grams, so you'll need about 1.88 cups. Hope this helps.

      reply

  5. Florence

    Pasta and Rice Conversions (6)
    This is very helpful. Thanks!

    reply

  6. Sabrina

    Thanks for the conversion! ! 💕

    reply

  7. Adele Farrow

    Is there a different conversion for short grain (eg arbor) rice?

    reply

  8. Baked Georgia

    My local barilla pack recommends an 80g serving. This is 2,82 oz.

    I must say that for a typical weeknight meal I actually eat about 3.5 oz when it's the main course.

    reply

  9. sally

    Does a cup of uncooked quinoa yield the same as a cup of uncooked long grain white rice?

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      Hi Sally, cooking 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of liquid yields 3 cups of cooked quinoa. So your answer is yes. you can findconvert grain here.

      reply

  10. Shantel

    While this might help some people, it was completely useless for me. I asked a simple question and almost no one on the internet could answer me! This is a conversation page and its information is worthless to me. Not just this site.
    I just want to know how many things are raw and cooked. It shouldn't be this hard. It's okay, I'll be my damn self because no one can help me. Your website should actually be about conversions, and I think you can help. I'm sorry you bore the brunt of this. I'm really frustrated and your title on google makes me think you're willing to help. After much searching, I'm going to have to waste food and time and figure it out myself.
    I hope you can help someone else as none of this helped me.

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      Hi Chantel, I almost deleted your comment for two reasons - first, I had no idea what you were asking. "Some things are raw and cooked". something sure? Graph showing conversion rates from uncooked to cooked for rice and pasta. Second, I think the way you ask for help is very rude. Sorry, you didn't get what you wanted, but I don't know what that is.

      reply

  11. Tracy can't sleep

    Thanks for all this information. I'm getting ready to try cooking crayfish etouffee for 400 people for a church festival. My first question was answered here, how to calculate the conversion rate of rice. Thank you so much.

    I think Chantel just wanted a place to complain and found it here.

    Thanks again for the information.

    reply

  12. liana

    Thanks so much for making these conversions! I went to culinary school, I searched the textbooks I kept for this information, to no avail. I usually guess when I'm cooking at home, and sometimes it comes up or very close. But I want something more precise for my needs. My 14 year old niece has started cooking and loves it. So I'm working on a cookbook of cookbooks that are great for cast iron skillets, and I wanted to take some information and compile some "useful" diagrams in the book for converting various things as a resource and reference for her. I paired this book with her first Christmas cast iron skillet. I'm not sure how to translate my guesswork into words and would like to provide her with something more precise, these are perfect! I will make sure to credit your website based on the diagrams I put in the book.
    Thanks again!

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      You're welcome, Liana.

      reply

  13. Joan

    In pkg rice like rice mironi - is that instant rice? ? ?

    reply

  14. Kevin

    When we googled "recipe calls for 3 cups of cooked rice" was the first thing that popped up. Thanks for taking the time to put together this content!

    reply

  15. Kevin

    When we googled "recipe calls for 3 cups of cooked rice" was the first thing that popped up. Thanks for taking the time to put together this content!

    reply

  16. Larry Lowry

    Good information.

    reply

  17. Nicky

    My recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of cooked white rice. How much dry rice and how much liquid. thank you for your help. Nicky

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      Hi Nikki, if you look at the graph, you will see that 1 cup of raw white rice yields 3 cups of cooked rice, so if you halved the 3 cups to 1 1/2 cups, raw would be 1/2 cup. The ratio of rice to liquid is 1 to 2, so 1/2 cup of uncooked rice needs 1 cup of liquid to cook 1 1/2 cups.

      reply

  18. damage

    How about arbor rice. How Much Does 1 Cup of Raw Arbor Rice Yield? I'm not talking about risotto, you have to use 4 cups of water to make 1 cup of arbor. If you cook arborio like any other rice, what is the yield?
    Thanks

    reply

    • G. Stephen Jones

      Hi Kazy, Personally I've never made arbor rice like basmati but when I looked it up most sources say 1 part arbor rice to 1.5 parts liquid (water or broth) .

      reply

  19. jane sifke

    I wish I could save it to my Pinterest so I can find it when I need it. My memory is very poor.

    reply

  20. Mel McGowan

    I need to know how much uncooked rice to substitute for 1 1/2 cups of uncooked pasta? ? anyone ? ? 🤔🤔

    reply

Comment

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FAQs

How much rice can I substitute for pasta? ›

Instead of using elbow pasta, sub in two cups of any white rice—rinse the rice until the water runs clear if you don't want your mac to be too starchy, or, if you prefer a thicker, gummier mouthfeel, just rinse it once.

How much does 2 oz of dry pasta weigh after cooking? ›

Is the nutritional information listed on each box of pasta for cooked or uncooked pasta? The recommended pasta serving size is 2 ounces (56 g) of uncooked pasta, which equals approximately 1 cup (200 g) of cooked pasta.

How much cooked rice is 1 cup dry? ›

As a general rule, 1 cup of uncooked rice will equal about 3 cups of cooked rice. Leftover rice can be used later in the week to make fried rice or chicken rice casserole.

How much cooked pasta is 2 cups dry? ›

So, if you have two cups of dried elbow pasta, you will get 4 and a half cups of cooked pasta.

What keeps you more full pasta or rice? ›

Fibre can also help you to keep full for longer, so consider choosing pasta over rice if you tend to feel hungry quickly after meals. Pasta is also higher in protein at 5.1g per 100g Vs. 2.6g.

What makes you more full rice or pasta? ›

In terms of rice vs pasta, although rice contains fewer calories for an equal-sized serving, pasta provides more fiber and protein, which both have been shown to increase satiety, helping you stay fuller for longer.

Is 2 oz dry pasta 1 cup cooked? ›

Two ounces of any dry long pasta, such as spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, angel hair, or bucatini, is equal to 1 cup of cooked pasta.

How much is 4 oz of dry pasta? ›

Use the following guide: Small pasta (such as macaroni, conchiglie, or cavatelli): Four ounces equals about 1 cup uncooked. That will give you about 2 1/2 cups cooked pasta, enough for 2 or 3 servings. – Medium pasta (such as rigatoni or mostaccioli): Four ounces measures about 3 cups.

How much dry pasta is 1 cup cooked? ›

A single serving size of pasta is typically about two ounces of dry pasta—amounting to about a cup of cooked pasta.

Is 1 cup dry rice 2 cups cooked? ›

One cup of uncooked rice will yield approximately three cups cooked.

What is 2 oz dry rice cooked? ›

The ratio of uncooked to cooked rice is 1:3. So whatever amount you have of uncooked rice, you simply multiply it by 3, and you have the amount of cooked rice.

How many cooked cups is 2 oz dry pasta? ›

SHELLS
BARILLA PASTA - PRODUCT YIELDS
DRY PASTA - 2-OUNCE SERVINGCUPS COOKED PASTA
Medium Shells3/4 cup1-1/8 cups
Large Shells3/4 cup1-1/4 cups
Jumbo Shells3/4 cup1-1/4 cups

How much dry pasta is 8 oz cooked? ›

Dry pasta guidelines
Type of PastaUncooked AmountCooked Amount
Rigatoni3 cups/8 oz.4 cups
Rotini3 cups/8 oz.4-1/2 cups
Spaghetti8 oz5 cups
Thin Spaghetti8 oz.4-1/2 cups
9 more rows
Jun 17, 2019

What is 2 cups of cooked pasta? ›

Generally 8 ounces of short pasta (like macaroni) is about 2 cups.

Why is pasta considered unhealthy? ›

Pasta is high in carbs, which can be bad for you when consumed in large amounts. It also contains gluten, a type of protein that causes issues for those who are gluten-sensitive.

Is it okay to eat rice and pasta everyday? ›

By over-consuming easily digestible carbohydrates, you can harm your cardiovascular system. When you eat pasta, your body releases a lot of insulin. In the long run, this can cause insulin to make it harder to utilize carbohydrates and increase bad blood fats. That, in turn, is bad for your heart health.

What is the healthiest rice? ›

Although sometimes harder to find, black rice is the number one nutritional rock star among rice varieties. 1 It's high in fiber and nutrients that lower cholesterol, promote healthy digestion, and stave off chronic disease.

Which is healthiest rice or pasta? ›

Rice contains vitamins and minerals that pasta does not, including folic acid, B vitamins (unless the pasta is fortified), iron, and zinc, but Rizzo says the amounts are very small. For those following a gluten-free diet, rice is a good option.

Is pasta harder to digest than rice? ›

Pasta as a low fat staple food is very suitable for weight loss, because it can provide more energy with the same amount of intake & can maintain longer periods of activity. Rice is more digestible and rich in resistant starch, which is very beneficial to our intestinal bacteria.

What is better for diabetics rice or pasta? ›

Indeed, people with type 2 diabetes who ate a 50-gram (g) serving of pasta experienced lower spikes in blood sugar than they did after eating equal portions of white bread, potato, or rice, according to past clinical studies referenced in a study published in the April 2021 issue of BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

How many cups is 1 cup dry pasta? ›

Because 1 cup of dry pasta equals about 2 cups of cooked noodles, 1 pound of dry pasta yields 8 cups cooked.

How much dry pasta is 1lb cooked? ›

Depending on the type of pasta, the amount can change. If cooking with long strands of pasta like angel hair or spaghetti, a good rule of thumb is that one pound is equal to two cups.

How do you measure dry pasta vs cooked? ›

Use a measuring cup to portion dried pasta.

For example, when cooking a semolina penne, Barilla says to measure 2/3 cup dried pasta for 1 1/4 cups of cooked pasta; if you're cooking rotini, use 1/2 cup of dried pasta for 1 cup cooked.

Is 8 oz of dry pasta 1 cup? ›

Generally 8 ounces of short pasta (like macaroni) is about 2 cups.

How many servings is 8 oz of dry pasta? ›

Editor's Note: All uncooked pasta should equal 8 ounces. For those noodles that can fit into measuring cups, we've provided the cup measurement. These numbers are for packaged and dry pasta, which contains about 6 servings.

How many ounces of dry pasta for 2 servings? ›

When you cook pasta, 2 ounces (56 g) of dry pasta per person is a good rule of thumb to follow.

How do you measure 1 cup of dry pasta? ›

Put it in your palm.

To measure out 1 cup of dry pasta, use your palm as a guide (fill a closed fist). This works best for smaller noodle shapes like macaroni or rigatoni.

How much is 3 4 cup uncooked rice cooked? ›

As a side dish for 4 people, you will need 2 cups of cooked rice, which is roughly 3/4 cup of uncooked rice. As a main dish, you will need 4 cups of cooked rice, which is about 1 1/4 cups of uncooked rice.

How much is 1 2 cup rice when cooked? ›

How much does 1/2 cup dry rice make cooked? 1/2 cup dry rice will typically yield about 1-1.5 cups cooked, depending on the type of rice being used.

How much dried rice makes 3 cups cooked? ›

(1 cup dry rice yields about 3 cups cooked.) Combine the rice, oil, and water in a medium saucepan, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat.

How much is 1 3 cup uncooked rice cooked? ›

Once cooked, the 1/3-cup dry equals about 1/2-cup, which is a decent single serving.

How many calories is a 1 2 cup of rice? ›

White rice has 368 calories per 1/ 2 cup dry grains, which is equivalent to one serving.

How much cooked rice is 1 1 2 cup dry? ›

OK, here's the rule of thumb for rice, 1 cup of uncooked rice makes 2 cups of cooked rice, so if you want 1 cup of cooked rice, use 1/2 cup uncooked rice. Use double the liquid, meaning for every cup of uncooked rice you need 2 cups of water or whatever liquid you are using.

How many cups is 2 oz rice cooked? ›

To convert 2 ounces to cups, you can simply use 1/4 cup as a substitute. To get the number of cups from fluid ounces, you divide the number of ounces by 8. So 2 ounces divided by 8 equals 1/4 cup.

How many grams is 1 4 cup of uncooked rice cooked? ›

(1/4 Cup Uncooked (45g) = 1 Cup Cooked)

How much is 1.5 cups of dry rice cooked? ›

Measure this amount in a measuring cup. The water will be added next. Based on the calculations shared above, 1.5 cups of rice will need 3 cups of water added for cooking. This will yield about 4.5 cups of rice.

How do I measure 2 oz of cooked pasta? ›

Measuring Spaghetti and Other Long Pastas

Place a bunch of spaghetti between your thumb and forefinger. 1 serving of pasta, or 2 oz. (57 g), will be equivalent to a bunch of pasta between your fingers with a diameter of 7/8 inch (24.26 mm). This is the diameter of a United States quarter.

How much is 3 oz of cooked pasta? ›

cooked = 1 oz. raw) Track macros, calories, and more with MyFitnessPal.

How many cups is 2 oz dry? ›

Two dry ounces are equal to a 1/4 cup, but how do you measure it? Simply grab a measuring cup and fill it with the dry ingredients you're using. For example, if you need 2 oz of flour, fill your measuring cup to the 1/4 cup mark for accurate results.

What is 8 oz of cooked pasta? ›

A standard 8 oz package of dry pasta yields 2 cups of cooked pasta, which is 4 oz per cup. Therefore, 8 oz of cooked pasta is equal to two cups. When measuring dry pasta, it is best to use a kitchen scale for the most accurate measurements.

How many cups is 12 oz of dry pasta? ›

For popular shapes such as penne, fusilli, rotini and radiatore, 12 oz (375 g) equals about 4 cups (1 L). The same weight of smaller pasta such as macaroni or tubetti equals 2-3/4 cups (675 mL). For larger and bulkier shapes such as farfalle, you'll need about 6 cups (1.5 L).

How many cups is 6 oz of pasta? ›

To answer the common question, 6 oz is equivalent to 0.75 cups.

How many ounces of pasta is 1 cup? ›

One cup of cooked pasta is equal to approximately 8 ounces of cooked pasta.

How many oz of cooked pasta is a serving? ›

Cooked measurements: We got down to it and found that a single 2-oz. serving of the dry penne cooked up to a heaping cup. Both the cooked spaghetti and the elbow mac measured in at a scant cup per serving. Dry measurements: Wanna cook up a single serving of pasta but don't feel like busting out the food scale?

How much does 1 cup of dry pasta weigh? ›

Food Equivalents
AmountEquivalent
Long (spaghetti, fettuccine)4 oz (125 g) uncooked long pastaHas about the same diameter as a 25-cent coin
Short-shaped (macaroni, penne)4 oz (125 g) 1 cup (250 mL) uncooked1 cup (250 mL) uncooked 2 cups (500 mL) cooked

What can I substitute for pasta? ›

6 Healthy Alternatives to Traditional Pasta
  • Zucchini Noodles or “Zoodles” Zucchini is low in saturated fat and sodium, and very low in cholesterol. ...
  • Squash Noodles. ...
  • Quinoa Pasta. ...
  • Rice Pasta. ...
  • Black Bean Pasta. ...
  • Shirataki Noodles.

How much pasta equals 1 cup cooked? ›

Two ounces of any dry long pasta, such as spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, angel hair, or bucatini, is equal to 1 cup of cooked pasta.

How much rice does 1 2 cup make? ›

1/2 cup dry rice will typically yield about 1-1.5 cups cooked, depending on the type of rice being used. To make sure you have enough rice for your recipe, it is best to measure out the desired amount beforehand and adjust as necessary based on the cooking method and quantity of water used.

What can a serving of cooked rice fit into? ›

The proper portion size for one serving of rice is 1/2-cup cooked, which is about the size of a cupcake wrapper.

How can I substitute rice and pasta? ›

4 Carb Recipes That Are Healthier and Tastier Than Pasta or Rice
  1. Amaranth. Amaranth – whether popped, puffed, or ground into flour – is rich in niacin (or vitamin B3), which lowers bad and raises good cholesterol levels and protects against heart disease.
  2. Quinoa. ...
  3. Buckwheat. ...
  4. Farro.
Mar 9, 2020

What healthy grains can replace pasta? ›

Grains (e.g., farro, quinoa, etc)

Both farro, especially the quick-cooking type, and barley would be terrific in recipes like minestrone soup. Or try either as a sub in your favorite macaroni and cheese recipes. Quinoa, (and its relative, millet) is actually a seed with a slightly vegetal flavor.

How many cups is 2 oz of pasta cooked? ›

It will definitely depend on the size and shape. But generally, 2 ounces of dry pasta like penne or bow tie is about 1/2 cup. Once cooked, that amount yields 1 to 11/4 cups.

How many cups is 4 oz cooked pasta? ›

– Medium pasta (such as rigatoni or mostaccioli): Four ounces measures about 3 cups. You'll have about 3 cups of cooked pasta, enough for 3 servings.

How much is 1 4 cup uncooked rice cooked? ›

White Rice: 1/4 cup of dry rice yields approximately 3/4 cup of cooked rice. Brown Rice: 1/4 cup of dry rice yields approximately 1/2 cup of cooked rice.

How much rice does 1 3 cup make? ›

A: 1/3 cup dry makes roughly 1 cup cooked RightRice. So, the full bag will be roughly 4 cups of cooked RightRice.

Is 1 cup of cooked rice enough for 1 person? ›

A typical single serving of rice is 1/2 cup for a side dish or 1 cup for a main dish per person. So one cup of cooked rice will serve 1-2 people. One cup of uncooked rice amounts to about 3 cups of cooked rice, so it will serve 3-6 people.

How much is a serving of pasta? ›

A single serving size of pasta is typically about two ounces of dry pasta—amounting to about a cup of cooked pasta.

Is 1 cup of cooked rice too much? ›

The best way to maintain your weight in a healthy range while eating rice is to exercise portion control. It is advisable to limit your consumption of rice to 1 cup of cooked rice per day.

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